Allegheny County, PA — Allegheny Family Screening Tool (AFST) Operational Policy
Allegheny County, PA · Allegheny County DHS AFST Methodology (May 2019 update)
Allegheny County deploys a predictive risk model — the Allegheny Family Screening Tool — to score child-welfare hotline calls. Decisions to screen-in cases for investigation incorporate AFST scores. The DOJ has investigated the tool for ADA discrimination concerns; the county continues to operate it with documented protocols.
Technical detail
Allegheny County Department of Human Services Operational Protocols for the Allegheny Family Screening Tool (deployed Aug. 2016). DOJ Civil Rights Division investigation under Title II ADA opened Nov. 2024 (DJ #204-69-0); county denies discriminatory intent. Successor tool (Hello Baby) deployed 2020 for prenatal/birth families.
Who is protected: Families subject to Allegheny County child welfare hotline screening
Who must comply: Allegheny County DHS staff and contractors
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Allegheny County, PA |
|---|---|
| Level | County |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2016-08-01 |
| Enacted | 2016-08-01 |
| Citation | Allegheny County DHS AFST Methodology (May 2019 update) |
| Enforced by | Allegheny County DHS; DOJ Civil Rights Division (ADA Title II investigation pending) |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | DOJ Title II ADA settlements; county-level program reforms |
| Topics | children's online safety · automated decision-making · government use of AI · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | Developing Predictive Risk Models to Support Child Maltreatment Hotline Screening Decisions (Allegheny County) ↗ |
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · In effect
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Washington HB 2225 (AI chatbot disclosure, minor protections, crisis protocols) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
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