Foster Care

Preferred Practices to Retain Black Female Case Workers Employed in Child Welfare

The problem addressed by this study was that the turnover rate among social workers has been highest for Black female child-welfare caseworkers. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of Black female child-welfare caseworkers and … Read More

Meeting Family Needs: A Multi-System Policy Framework for Child and Family Well-Being

INTRODUCTION Across the social service sector and in communities nationwide, a consensus is emerging: there is a need to create a family and child well-being system that buoys families facing adversity and helps them thrive. This system must be designed … Read More

The AFCARS Report

FY 2022 AFCARS Foster Care Data Release AFCARS Background (AFCARS 1993) The AFCARS final rule was published December 22, 1993; the federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 implemented Section 479 of title IV-E of the Social Security Act. AFCARS was … Read More

Foster Care History,Profiles of Adolescence,and Educational Attainment

Introduction High school completion and post-secondary enrollment are taken for granted by most K-12 students andtheir parents in the United States (Lippman et al. 2008; Pew Research Center 2011), but research points tosignificant educational disadvantages among youth with foster care … Read More

How Can You Not Drive? YOU CAN! DRIVE!

Introduction Few youths with foster care experience acquire a driver’s license given the absence of dedicated caregivers able to provide the resources to learn to drive. Lacking a driver’s license leaves these youths dependent on public transportation or friends who … Read More

Supporting Foster Youth and Their Family Connections: Policy and Practice Recommendations

In this study, a research team from UCLA learned directly from the youngest generation of foster youth transitioning into adulthood about the issues facing them personally and in relation to their family connections. We heard about issues that impacted them … Read More

FASD United Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Resource Directory

Search the FASD Resource Directory for FASD United affiliates, diagnostic services, support groups, prevention programs, and other resources. Due to a lack of trained professionals and recognition of FASD it can be a challenge to quickly identify accessible FASD-informed services. … Read More

The Unintended Consequences of“Lack of Supervision”Child Neglect Laws: How Developmental Science Can Inform Policies about Childhood Independence and Child Protection

Policies and programs designed to serve children and families are built upon a general understanding of child development. Developmental research has tried to expand that understanding and determine the typical ages at which children acquire certain skills and capabilities, while … Read More

Discrimination In Multi-Phase Systems: Evidence From Child Protection

Introduction Large racial disparities have been documented in many high-stakes settings—such as employment, healthcare, housing, and criminal justice—raising concerns of discrimination by individual decision-makers. At the same time, there is growing understanding that a focus on individual decisions can yield … Read More

Recommendations for Regulating Artificial Intelligence to Minimize Risks to Children and Their Families

From January 2023 to March 2024, multiple entities have published guidance on artificial intelligence (AI), underscoring growing public concerns regarding AI governance. Meanwhile, as federal and state legislators weigh the need for AI regulations to safeguard the public from various risks, recent discourse … Read More