The Child Welfare System is comprised of many stakeholders including providers, courts, advocates, the public, and most importantly, the families served. As part of its reform effort, DHS has improved its communication with and accountability to these stakeholders. In recent months the Department has:

• Hosted a series of regular, ongoing Town Hall meetings, in locations throughout Philadelphia, which provide an opportunity for the public to learn about DHS reform efforts and express their concerns and suggestions to the DHS Acting Commissioner and management staff. Upcoming Town Hall meetings are scheduled for November 8th (at the Lonnie Young Recreation Center) and November 29 (location to be determined).

• Created an online suggestion box, through which stakeholders and the public can make suggestions or raise concerns. The suggestion box can be accessed at dhs.phila.gov (click on Suggestions).

• Created a Web site to keep the public apprised of progress its reform effort. The Web site, which is regularly updated, can be accessed at dhs.phila.gov (click on Action Plan).

• Held a widely-publicized public hearing on its Plan for Services for FY-2009.

• Developed a series of DHS Reform Updates, which are distributed to an extensive list of child welfare stakeholders.

• Developed and widely distributed DHS Newsflash, a newsletter about the Department’s reform efforts and other DHS initiatives.

• Initiated frequent contact with local media. The Acting Commissioner contributed to an Inquirer on-line forum and met with the paper’s editorial board. He has also been a guest on WHYY’s Radio Times and has been interviewed by other radio, television and print outlets.