Skip to main content
COVID-19 Positive Test Results
PA Shield
Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania
  • Court Divisions
    • Civil Division
      • Departments of the Civil Division
        • Arbitration
        • Asbestos
        • Board of Viewers
        • Calendar Control
        • Commerce & Complex Litigation
        • Discovery Motions
        • General Motions
        • Housing Court
        • Judicial Special Assignments
        • Mortgage Foreclosure Program
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
      • Local Rules for the Civil Division
      • Civil Court Calendar
      • Case Scheduling
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Criminal Division
      • Departments of the Criminal Division
        • Adult Probation
          • Locations
          • Rules of Probation and Parole
          • Annual Reports
        • Pretrial Services
          • Locations
          • Bail Review Requests
          • DUI Alternative to Jail
          • Ignition Interlock
          • Annual Reports
        • Problem-Solving Courts
        • Summary Appeals
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory
      • Local Rules, Polices & Procedures
        • Case Status Conferences (CSC)
        • Electronic Continuances – Attorneys
        • Electronic Continuances – Unrepresented Defendants
        • Local Criminal Division Rules
        • Miscellaneous Motions
        • Trial Court Procedures
      • Case Scheduling
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Family Division
      • Departments of the Family Division
        • Child Custody
        • Client Services Center
        • Dependency and Related Services
        • Divorce
        • Juvenile Delinquency & Probation
        • Protection from Abuse
        • Paternity
        • Support
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
      • Local Rules
      • Family Division Calendar
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Orphans’ Court
      • Departments of the Orphans’ Court
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
      • Local Rules
      • Orphans’ Court Calendar
      • Fiduciaries/Sureties
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Magisterial District Courts
      • About
      • Office Directory
      • Search for Filing Locations
      • Policies and Procedures
        • Constable Handbook
        • Qualifications to become a District Judge
      • Bulk Public Access
      • Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Pittsburgh Municipal Court
      • Departments of Pittsburgh Municipal Court
        • Arraignment Court
      • Office Directory
      • Forms
      • Postponements (Attorney only login)
  • General Information
    • ADA and Interpreter Services
    • Annual Reports
    • Authorized Access ID Cards
    • COVID-19 Information
      • Emergency Operations Orders
      • Positive Test Results
    • Court Facility Map (Downtown Only)
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Financial Public Access
    • Holiday Schedule
    • Transcript Services
      • Transcript Request Form
      • Local Rule Governing Transcripts
      • Transcription Rates
      • Court Reporter Extensions
      • Waiver Petition
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Jail Oversight Board
    • Public Access Policy
  • Juror Services
    • Juror Responsibility
    • Questionnaire Submission
    • Reporting Status
    • Deferment Requests
    • Forms
    • Parking
    • Payments
    • ADA Information
    • Service Policies
    • Scam Alert
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact or Visit
    • Division Phone Numbers
    • Court of Common Pleas Judges
    • Magisterial District Judges

PA Shield
Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania
  • Court Divisions
    • Civil Division
      • Departments of the Civil Division
        • Arbitration
        • Asbestos
        • Board of Viewers
        • Calendar Control
        • Commerce & Complex Litigation
        • Discovery Motions
        • General Motions
        • Housing Court
        • Judicial Special Assignments
        • Mortgage Foreclosure Program
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
      • Local Rules for the Civil Division
      • Civil Court Calendar
      • Case Scheduling
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Criminal Division
      • Departments of the Criminal Division
        • Adult Probation
          • Locations
          • Rules of Probation and Parole
          • Annual Reports
        • Pretrial Services
          • Locations
          • Bail Review Requests
          • DUI Alternative to Jail
          • Ignition Interlock
          • Annual Reports
        • Problem-Solving Courts
        • Summary Appeals
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory
      • Local Rules, Polices & Procedures
        • Case Status Conferences (CSC)
        • Electronic Continuances – Attorneys
        • Electronic Continuances – Unrepresented Defendants
        • Local Criminal Division Rules
        • Miscellaneous Motions
        • Trial Court Procedures
      • Case Scheduling
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Family Division
      • Departments of the Family Division
        • Child Custody
        • Client Services Center
        • Dependency and Related Services
        • Divorce
        • Juvenile Delinquency & Probation
        • Protection from Abuse
        • Paternity
        • Support
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
      • Local Rules
      • Family Division Calendar
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Orphans’ Court
      • Departments of the Orphans’ Court
      • Division Directory
      • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
      • Local Rules
      • Orphans’ Court Calendar
      • Fiduciaries/Sureties
      • Division Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Magisterial District Courts
      • About
      • Office Directory
      • Search for Filing Locations
      • Policies and Procedures
        • Constable Handbook
        • Qualifications to become a District Judge
      • Bulk Public Access
      • Forms
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Pittsburgh Municipal Court
      • Departments of Pittsburgh Municipal Court
        • Arraignment Court
      • Office Directory
      • Forms
      • Postponements (Attorney only login)
  • General Information
    • ADA and Interpreter Services
    • Annual Reports
    • Authorized Access ID Cards
    • COVID-19 Information
      • Emergency Operations Orders
      • Positive Test Results
    • Court Facility Map (Downtown Only)
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Financial Public Access
    • Holiday Schedule
    • Transcript Services
      • Transcript Request Form
      • Local Rule Governing Transcripts
      • Transcription Rates
      • Court Reporter Extensions
      • Waiver Petition
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Jail Oversight Board
    • Public Access Policy
  • Juror Services
    • Juror Responsibility
    • Questionnaire Submission
    • Reporting Status
    • Deferment Requests
    • Forms
    • Parking
    • Payments
    • ADA Information
    • Service Policies
    • Scam Alert
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Contact or Visit
    • Division Phone Numbers
    • Court of Common Pleas Judges
    • Magisterial District Judges
Family Division
Banner image

Dependency & Related Services

ADDRESS

440 Ross Street, Suite 5000
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
directions

PHONE

412.350.7638

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Act 53 Cases

The Act 53 Program is a court monitored program which addresses the involuntary commitment of minors, ages 12-17, who have drug and alcohol treatment needs.

If a parent or guardian thinks a minor is dependent on drugs or alcohol, he or she may file an Act 53 petition through the Act 53 Coordinator in Juvenile Court.  Act 53 Petitions are presented to a Motions Judge who will determine if the facts alleged are sufficient to schedule the case for a hearing, appoint counsel for the juvenile and order the juvenile to undergo a drug and alcohol assessment.

When cases proceed to a hearing, the court will determine whether a juvenile is dependent on drugs and/or alcohol and will order either in-patient or out-patient treatment. If the juvenile is committed to an Act 53 treatment program, review hearings will be scheduled approximately every 45 days to check on the juvenile’s progress. If the child is successfully following and completing the program, the parent/guardian can ask the judge to close the case.

If the judge does not close the case, the reviews will be scheduled until satisfactory progress is made.

Information on filing an Act 53 petition can be obtained by sending an email to the Act 53 Coordinator at jblecher@hsao.org or by calling 412-301-8232.

Back to Top
  • Departments of the Family Division
    • Support
      • Filing for Child Support
      • Filing for Modifications
      • Conference and Hearing Procedures
      • Support Exceptions
      • How to Pay Support
      • Seeking Medical or Other Provisions Reimbursement
      • 2 Hour Complex Hearings
      • Support Contact Information
      • Scheduled Support Hearings
    • Protection from Abuse
      • General Information
      • How to Obtain a PFA
      • Service of Temporary PFA Order
      • Intent to Defend
      • Legal Representation for Final PFA Hearing
      • Modifying Final PFA Orders
      • Reporting a PFA Violation
      • PFA Violations – Indirect Criminal Contempt Hearings
      • Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation (PSVI)
      • Domestic Violence Programs and Hotlines
    • Child Custody
      • Initiating custody complaints & modifying existing orders
      • Eligibility (Standing) for Filing
      • Service of Court Documents
      • Scheduling a custody case
      • Custody matters before a Judge
      • Filing Exceptions
      • Education Booklet
    • Client Services Center
    • Dependency and Related Services
      • Act 53
      • Court Processes
      • Filing Private Dependency Petitions & Petitions to Modify/Enforce Custodianship Orders
      • Procedures for Juvenile Proceedings
    • Divorce
      • General Information
      • Divorce Hearing Officers
        • Operating Procedures
        • Filing Exceptions to the Divorce Hearing Officer
        • Scheduling and Payment
      • Praecipe-Rule to File Inventory
      • Procedure to Obtain an Order of Court Approving Grounds for Divorce
    • Juvenile Delinquency & Probation
      • Family Guide to the Juvenile Justice System
      • Reports
    • Paternity
  • Family Division Directory
  • Judicial Directory & Operating Procedures
  • Local Rules
  • Family Division Calendar
  • Division Forms
  • Frequently Asked Questions
© 2023 Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.
Quick Links
  • Contact or Visit
  • Holiday Schedule
  • Public Access Policy
  • Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy
  • About the Administrative Office
  • Jail Oversight Board
  • Disclaimer
  • Harassment/Discrimination Complaint Procedures