Pennsylvania’s Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) was established in December 1988 by Act 1988-151 [11 P.S. §§ 2231-2238 relating to the Children’s Trust Fund Act (CTFA)]. It operates under the administration of the 15-member CTF Board which is composed of legislators appointed by the House and Senate and citizens appointed by the governor and is supported by the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), a dual deputate of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). The deputy secretary of the Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) serves as the executive director and carries out the duties and responsibilities assigned by the board through OCDEL’s Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports.
The Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund Board believes that:
- Every child has the right to be safe, nurtured, and protected from abuse and neglect.
- Every child should be given the opportunity to reach his or her fullest potential by having access to Children’s Trust Fund projects.
- Every child has the right to grow up in a supportive, stable, permanent family.
- Every community should be trusted and supported to make decisions about services most appropriate for its children and families.
- The social, economic, cultural, and racial diversity of Pennsylvania’s communities should be respected.
The Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund Board has adopted the following guiding principles and core values:
- We aspire to be a catalyst to influence public policy and to change social attitudes that promote and tolerate violence against children.
- We strive to improve the lives of children by initiating prevention programs that strengthen families, build communities, and empower individuals to protect and nurture their children.
- We encourage collaboration among public and private agencies, replication of innovative community-based programs, strong leadership, flexibility, and diversity.
- We recognize our responsibilities as stewards of public trust, never losing sight of children’s urgent need to be free from abuse and neglect.
- We are passionately committed to ensuring the safety of children in Pennsylvania.
Board Members
- Bruce Clash, Chair
- Rep. Ann Flood
- Dr. Rachel Berger
- Rep. Donna Bullock
- Paul DiLorenzo
- Philip Falvo
- Sen. Art Haywood
- Nacole Hough
- Kristi Lyons
- Cathleen Palm
- Rodney Wagner