PA Citizen Review Panels
Regional CRPs

What are Citizen Review Panels (CRPs)?

CRPs provide opportunities for community members to take an active role in protecting children from abuse by partnering with county agencies and the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) to identify strategies for child welfare system improvement. The federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) (Public Law 93-247) and Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law (23 Pa. C.S. § 6343.1) charge the CRPs with examining policies, procedures, and practices of state and local child welfare system agencies and, where appropriate, specific cases to evaluate the extent to which those agencies are effectively discharging their child welfare responsibilities. CRPs may review the state CAPTA plan, child protection standards, or any other topic that they consider important to ensure the well-being of children served by the child welfare system.

Currently, there are three regional CRPs, as well as a statewide CRP consisting of Pennsylvania’s longstanding Youth Advisory Board (YAB). The regional CRPs are comprised of volunteer members that meet in their respective regions and, while influenced by local, regional, and statewide concerns, are charged to make recommendations for statewide improvements. In 2021, 33 volunteers served among three regional panels, representing hundreds of volunteer hours. Since their inception in 2010, CRPs have made dozens of recommendations to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within annual reports written by the panel members themselves. The DHS is required to respond annually to the panels’ recommendations in writing.



Where are the current regional CRPs located?

Currently, there are three regional CRPs from the North Central, Southeast, and Southwest areas of the Commonwealth. Please click on the regions below to get more information on each panel and to meet our CRP members.


Southwest Southwest Southeast North Central Northwest Southeast

COMING SOON!


In April 2024, DHS will begin recruitment of volunteers who live or work in the following counties to form the Northwest CRP: Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Venango, and Warren.  DHS is looking for diversity in race, gender, background, socioeconomic status, and job title for membership. Some examples of possible roles of members include: