Overview All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories have child abuse and neglect reporting laws that mandate certain professionals and institutions refer suspected maltreatment to a child protective services (CPS) agency. Each state has its own … Read More
Foster Care
What About Me? Finding your path forward when your brother or sister is missing
Introduction While we’re not trained mental health professionals, we are brothers and sisters who have gone through situations much like what you are experiencing, and we have so much compassion and empathy for you. We want to help. This situation … Read More
Settled Law: The Role of State Court Judges in Making Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Judicial Determinations
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) is a form of humanitarian immigration relief that provides a pathway to lawful permanent residence for children in the United States who are unable to be reunited with one or both of their parents due … Read More
CMS Framework for Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) serves the public as a trusted partner and steward, dedicated to advancing health equity, expanding coverage, and improving health outcomes across all its programs to promote high-quality, equitable care, including for rural, … Read More
Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities
Addressing Health Equity for Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities The term “rural, Tribal, and geographically isolated” (RTGI) encompasses a diverse range of communities, including non-micropolitan areas, frontier regions, Tribal lands, islands, and US territories. These areas often face unique … Read More
The State of the Social Service Workforce 2024 Report: The Social Service Workforce and Family Care for Children
In 2015, the Better Care Network (BCN) and the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Alliance’) collaborated on a working paper entitled, The Role of Social Service Workforce Development in Care Reform, which looked at the … Read More
Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System
This rule finalizes revisions to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations proposed on February 23, 2024. This final rule requires state Title IV-E agencies to collect and report to ACF additional data related to the … Read More
Leveraging Economic and Health Policies to Prevent Infant and Toddler Maltreatment: A State Policy Toolkit
This toolkit aims to facilitate collaboration among state-level policymakers, agency leaders, administrators, and other partners to pinpoint the connections between policies that promote family well-being and those that prevent child maltreatment. The resources in this toolkit are intended to inform … Read More
Why the Holidays Can Be Hard and How to Make Them Better by Jamerika Haynes-Lewis
When I was in foster care, I received an annual letter from a local charity. It asked which gifts I wanted for Christmas. I always asked for barbies, clothes, and a diary. When asked what I wished for the most, … Read More
12 Ideas for Supportive Adults to Help a Young Person in Foster Care Through the Holidays
1. Understand and encourage youth’s own traditions and beliefs 2. Discuss what holidays look like in your home 3. Understand if youth pull away, and prioritize mental health and wellbeing READ MORE