In the second data release from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) since the COVID-19 pandemic began, 2024 findings indicate a continued decline in fourth grade reading skills, with a concerning 70% of students scoring below proficient. This figure is up from 68% in 2022 and 66% before the pandemic in 2019. This is … Read More
Child Well-Being
What Is Generation Alpha?
Kids in Generation Alpha, ranging from infants to 12-year-olds as of 2025, are the first generation to be born entirely within the 21st century. They’ve been immersed in technology from day one and represent the most demographically diverse generation to date. Some in this … Read More
ACF Expands Access to Medications for Opioid Use Disorder for At-Risk Families
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its Administration for Children and Families (ACF) today announced that three U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) have been added as prevention services eligible for funding … Read More
DCFS Services March Statewide
Administration of the SUN Bucks Program In FFY 2024, DCFS administered the SUN Bucks program, distributing approximately $80,273,040 in nutritional assistance to 668,942 eligible school-aged children during the summer months. Each child received a one-time $120 benefit, with benefits being … Read More
A Summary of Research About Practice, Policy, and Systems Change to Support Transition-Age Youth
The transition to adulthood is an especially challenging period for young people who are transitioning not only to adulthood, but also from foster care. Transition-age youth have a variety of needs, experiences, identities, characteristics, strengths, challenges, and plans for their lives. Individual, familial, external, … Read More
How to Introduce Yourself To The Family
Relationships between individuals and families are different and dynamic. Some parents may want to know lots of information about you at the beginning, while others may desire information in smaller chunks. It’s okay to assess, share, and reassess communication dynamics throughout the … Read More
Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) Fiscal Year 2026 Business
This fiscal year marks a time of great change and opportunity for DCFS. During the 2025 regular legislative session, the One Door legislation was passed as Acts 477 and 478. Effective October 1, 2025, the Economic Stability program and Disability … Read More
Promoting Meaningful Partnerships with Lived Experience Experts in High-Quality Research: Considerations for Funders
There’s nothing new about the idea that ordinary people know and understand their own lives in ways that social scientists (who’ve been trained to study institutions, social systems, and related phenomena from an external vantage point) are unable to perceive. … Read More
Why Child Welfare Agencies Struggle to Include Dads
Do you serve dads who are involved with your state’s child welfare agency? If so, you undoubtedly know about the struggle many dads have in navigating that agency effectively. Dads get lost in understanding how to engage with that agency … Read More
Increased Use of Extended Foster Care Allows More Young People to Benefit
The transition to adulthood is a critical developmental milestone for all young adults, marked by identity exploration, increased autonomy, and growth and learning as youth finish school and enter the workforce. During emerging adulthood, many young people continue to receive monetary and emotional support from … Read More