Mary Wilson – Children & Youth Assistant Administrator
570-724-5766 

The Family Services department works closely with community stakeholders and other agencies to assist families in accessing needed services.  The department also puts a strong focus on Family Engagement and Family Finding efforts for the families we serve.  The goal is to surround the family with positive supports that can assist with strengthening the family so that both parents and children can succeed without the intervention of services.

The Family Services department puts a strong focus on child abuse prevention efforts throughout the year.  During the months of April and May the department does community outreach to educate people on prevention efforts.  Outreach is completed with community groups along with the school districts within the county. 

The Family Services department provides both General Protective and Child Protective services to families and children in need. 

GPS
General Protective Services (GPS) are services to families who, for many reasons, need assistance in providing a safe, nurturing, and stable setting for their children.   Some examples of this are access to medical care, appropriate child care or supervision, drug and alcohol addiction, mental health needs, education, and housing.   These are some of the reasons the Agency may work with the family and connect parents with community resources.

CPS
Child Protective Services (CPS) are the responsibility of the Family Services Intake department.  The primary function of the intake caseworker is to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect.  The Intake staff are responsible for investigating reports when children have been injured by their parents or caretakers. 

If you suspect or witness child abuse, please call 1-800-932-0313

Foster Care:
Family Service’s Foster Care unit supports current resource parents. They also work at recruiting new families to help those in need. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Resource Parent, contract Trisha Tanner at 570-724-5766.

The Drug Endangered Children’s Alliance (DEC)
The Tioga County Drug Endangered Children effort is a multi-disciplinary cooperative effort involving all professional disciplines that work with children in our county. The purpose of our DEC team is to address Drug Endangered Children issues with the primary goal of establishing a multi-disciplinary effort for the appropriate identification and intervention of children who have been exposed to or live in dangerous environments as a result of manufacturing, cultivation, possession, distribution or use of drugs by a parent or caregiver.  This multi-disciplinary collaborative effort also assists in improving the relationships and the collaboration between DEC partner agencies and bring disciplines together to respond to these children in an efficient and appropriate way.  This response promotes the health and safety of children in Tioga County that are found in dangerous environments.  We are committed to this endeavor and the positive working relationships that the Drug Endangered Children Alliance has allotted us. The DEC alliance meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 8am at the Tokishi Building in Wellsboro. The meeting is open to all community members. Contact Michele Regalbuto to be added to the email list at 570-724-5766. Also check out Tioga County’s DEC Facebook page.

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