The Pennsylvania Juvenile Act provides the chief vehicle for intervening in the lives of children arguably in need of State protection. The Act recognizes nine categories of dependent children and balances the rights of children to be protected and the rights of families to be free of State intrusion. The second major law, the Child Protective Services Law, is primarily a child abuse reporting statute that integrates reporting and investigation of child abuse and provides for the swift delivery of protective services. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act provides procedures to ensure against unnecessary placement of children in foster care, adequate case planning, and periodic case review. Finally, a number of State regulations delineate the responsibilities of County agencies, the requirements for foster care programs, the placement of children and placement planning and services, child protective services, and administrative and financial requirements. These various laws and regulations are compared, contrasted, and interpreted in terms of their procedures and safeguards. Case law decided under the Juvenile Act and the Child Protective Services Law is reviewed. Supplemental information is appended, including a directory of County child and youth agencies in the State.