Tania had never met her niece, Naomi, when she found out the 4-year-old had been placed in foster care. A single mother with one adult son, Tania recently had accepted a promotion at work and was not anticipating raising another … Read More
Youth
How Can Child Protection Agencies Promote and Support Joint Sibling Placements and Adoptions?
When Mars Presswood was 15 years old, he and his younger sibling were placed together in foster care. Despite being moved from an urban setting to a small rural town and enduring many other changes and uncertainties over the next … Read More
What Lessons Can We Learn from ICWA Courts?
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) courts are created to better support American Indian/Alaska Native families in child protection cases. More than simply a specialized docket, ICWA courts actively strive to improve collaboration between state and tribal partners and increase compliance … Read More
How Do Family-based Residential Treatment Programs Help Reduce Substance Use and Improve Child Welfare Outcomes?
Every day, millions of parents in recovery from substance use disorders show that healing is possible and that families can thrive. Recovery improves relationships, prevents child removal, reunites families, and strengthens communities. Yet too many families still face barriers to … Read More
The AFCARS Dashboard
FFY 2024 AFCARS Foster Care Data ReleaseThis report provides some, but not all, of the same information that is available in the dashboard. All information presented in this report is also available in the dashboard, so the dashboard is the … Read More
ACF Announces New Best Practices to Strengthen Ombudsman Offices and Improve Child Welfare Outcomes
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) today announced new best practices to help states strengthen child welfare ombudsman offices and use feedback from children, youth and families to improve child welfare systems. “Ombudsman offices can give states an independent … Read More
What Roles Can Elders Play to Help Children Thrive and Prevent Them from Entering Foster Care?
The respected role of Elders Elders occupy a highly respected role in American Indian/Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian cultures. They step into this role because of family and community recognition, not based on age or self-definition. Revered for their wisdom, … Read More
Restrictions for the Modern-Day Child: Act 456, No. 162,Implementing Social Media Restrictions for Minors Under 18 in Louisiana
I. INTRODUCTION Louisiana has historically been an outlier among the states for its adherence to the civil law tradition in private law. However, the recent Secure Online and Age Limitation Act places Louisiana in the footsteps of many common law … Read More
Parental Substance Use as Child Maltreatment
Substance use disorders (SUDs)—including the misuse of drugs or alcohol—that affect parents and other caregivers can have negative effects on the health, safety, and well-being of children. All States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and some … Read More
Using Your Voice: A Guide for Youth on Participating in Case Planning
As a youth in foster care, you should be informed and help make decisions related to what happens to you. Adults should not make decisions about your placement and your future without your input. They should include, assist, and guide … Read More