Judges

Judge’s Action Alert: Using the Family First Prevention Services Act to Strengthen Reasonable Efforts Determinations

Reasonable efforts determinations are a valuable tool judges can use to assess a child welfare agency’s efforts: Though “reasonable efforts” requirements have existed in federal law for over 40 years, the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 (Family First … Read More

How Are Some Jurisdictions Transforming Mandated Reporting?

Jurisdictions, lived experts, community partners, and advocates around the country are using data and research to explore what works best to ensure child safety and keep families safely together. Deep-dive examinations into the long-standing practice of mandated reporting are important … Read More

Why Is It Imperative To Minimize Children’s Time Away From Family?

There is no substitute for family. Progress has been made over recent years in reducing the number of children placed in foster care, increasing the number of children placed with kin, and decreasing the number of children in group placement. … Read More

Internet Safety for Kids

What Is Inter­net Safe­ty for Kids? Inter­net use among kids is per­va­sive — near­ly all U.S. teens (96%) say they use the inter­net every day. It also begins ear­ly. The major­i­ty of par­ents with younger kids (89% with kids ages 5 to 11, 81% with kids ages 3 to 4 and 57% … Read More

How Opportunity Passport Helped Young People in Foster Care in 2023

Posted February 5, 2025 By the Annie E. Casey Foundation Youth in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Oppor­tu­ni­ty Pass­port® finan­cial learn­ing inter­ven­tion saved more than $895,000 toward their life, school­ing and career goals in 2023, new data show. Cre­at­ed by the Foundation’s Jim Casey Youth … Read More

The Impact of Chronic Underfunding on America’s Public Health System: Trends, Risks, and Recommendations

A strong public health system serves as a cornerstone of well-being and prosperity for the nation and the world. The foundation of such a system includes a focus on evidence-based interventions, an emphasis on prevention and health equity, and, critically, … Read More

KIDS IN CARE: Unaccompanied Children in Federal Government Custody

When established in 2003, the Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Services cared for roughly 6,000 children in thirteen facilities. Twenty years later, ORR’s program has grown to over 240 facilities and programs spread across 23 states. … Read More

The Science of Engaging Youth Lived Experience in Health Research, Practice, and Policy

Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief INTRODUCTION There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the value of incorporating youth voices in the development of research and programming aimed at supporting youth well-being. Participatory methods have the potential to help address … Read More

America’s Growing Movement to Divert Youth Out of the Justice System

After decades of neglect, the youth justice field is awakening to the importance of diversion in lieu of arrest and formal court processing for many or most youth accused of delinquent behavior. Even amid rising concerns over youth crime nationwide, … 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