Each year, there are approximately 4 million referrals of suspected child maltreatment, with around 2 million of those reports meeting the criteria for an investigation or alternative response. However, only about 600,000 of those reports are substantiated (i.e., an investigator determines that abuse or neglect … Read More
Child Welfare
Leveraging Medicaid to Support Children and Youth Living With Complex Behavioral Health Needs
Executive Summary The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the already-growing mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) (behavioral health) crisis gripping children and youth in the United States. It has spurred federal, state, and other actions to expand funding and treatment opportunities … Read More
Measuring Youth Development: How Out-of-School Time Programs Collect and Use Data
Executive Summary Out-of-school-time (OST) programs and their funders rely on sound data to make decisions about everything from professional development and student recruitment to the selection of activities to offer students. Programs operate at a range of times (before and … Read More
Adoption And Foster Care Analysis And Reporting
INTRODUCTION The Code Book for the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) is a product of National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN). NDACAN is funded by the Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and … Read More
An Exploration of Online Professional Development Systems Supporting the Competencies of Infant and Toddler Teachers and Caregivers: Key Findings and Next Steps for Learning
To support the quality of care for infants and toddlers, states, national organizations, and institutions of higher education have made efforts to outline specific competencies (that is, knowledge, skills, and attributes) that are essential to the practice of teaching and … Read More
Analysis of Public Comments on the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers
Executive Summary This report presents findings from an analysis of public comments solicited by the Administraion for Community Living (ACL) on the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, published on September 21, 2022. The Strategy was the culmination of several … Read More
Supporting the Professional Development of Infant and Toddler Teachers and Caregivers
Competencies Needed in Infant/Toddler Teachers and Caregivers The field may benefit from better ways to understand how to hire and support teachers and caregivers who are ready to promote development and learning of infants and toddlers. Clear frameworks for the … Read More
Transform Child Welfare through Support for the Workforce
Goals: Child Welfare System Transformation Starts with a Strong Workforce A well-trained and well-staffed child welfare workforce is vital to the goals of legislators and the broader community. All the reforms enacted by Congress in recent years, including screening victims … Read More
NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH 2024
WHY WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, exited care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living. Because access to culturally … Read More
National Child Abuse Prevention Month 2024
ABOUT THIS TOOLKIT The Children’s Bureau and its partner, Child Welfare Information Gateway, are pleased to offer this year’s outreach toolkit to help you plan your local campaign for National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM) in April. In this toolkit, … Read More