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Gives the perspective of two foster parents who discovered helping children in their care means working to mend and promote healthy relationships with biological family members. The couple says collaborating with the biological family of a child in foster care made a huge difference in interactions with social workers and birth family members. Nurturing the collaboration took a lot of work, phone calls, and conversations, but all the dedication paid off. Building trust between the foster family, the child, and the birth family made the goal of health and happiness more attainable. This Real-Life Story was developed as part of National Foster Care Month 2019.

This directory lists organizations that provide information and services that support the physical and mental health of children and families. The list includes professional societies, as well as research institutes and training programs. Each entry includes contact information and a brief description of the organization.

Reviews the eligibility pathways for children and youth in foster care to receive Medicaid or other health-care coverage and looks at some of the newer benefits now mandated through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), especially those for older youth in or formerly in foster care.

In 2002, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Healthy Marriage Initiative. Through the initiative, ACF seeks to improve the well-being of children and families already receiving help from other ACF programs, as well as by supporting the development of community-wide initiatives that involve many different types of organizations. This publication showcases some of the programs that organizations have developed using ACF grants and demonstrates how these programs are helping to create successful marital partnerships. This publication also provides insight into some of the lessons learned along the way that other agencies and organizations can use to promote healthy marriage in their communities. (Author abstract, modified)

Organizations that provide information & resources that promote healthy marriages.

One family in Richmond, Virginia, learned the importance of working with biological families after they received their first foster placement, a 2-day-old girl. The baby's birth mother, Patty, had suffered much hardship and trauma throughout her life. Even after 7 weeks, when the baby girl returned home to Patty, the foster family stayed close, helped connect Patty with resources, and moved her and her daughter into safer housing. Tragically, Patty passed away from complications related to the flu just 9 months later, but she left the foster family with a desire to partner with biological mothers in the future. The family created the nonprofit Patty's Hope, which offers help, hope, and healing to mothers with children in foster care. This Real-Life Story was developed as part of National Foster Care Month 2019.

Provides professionals with information to help children, youth, and adoptive families develop and maintain appropriate and evolving connections with their birth families. Children and youth who are adopted need to maintain relationships with their birth families, previous caregivers, or other important connections, and it is vital that their parents support them in doing so. Nurturing these relationships is in the best interests of the child, as ongoing contact with birth family members may minimize or resolve his or her feelings of grief and loss due to separation.

Helps adoptive parents support children, youth, and birth families in strengthening their relationships. Children and youth who have been adopted and maintain relationships with their birth families, caregivers, and other important people in their lives benefit in significant ways. Adoptive parents can play an instrumental role in helping their children maintain contact with their birth families or other important caregivers.

Offers guidance on helping children with the foster-to-adoption transition process, including specific coping strategies for different developmental stages. Explores ways to promote attachment and provides resources available to help families with permanency.

Provides guidance on how foster parents can help youth build a foundation for a successful transition to adult life outside of foster care. It describes the challenges youth face, how the adolescent brain affects them during this time, and Federal laws and programs. It also provides concrete ways they can partner with youth.

Discusses the factors parents must consider when deciding whether their child is ready to be left home alone, as well as tips to help make the experience safe and successful for all. Resources for more information are included.
Examina los factores a considerar cuando padres están decidiendo si sus hijos están preparados o no para quedarse solos en casa. También ofrece consejos para asegurar que la experiencia sea segura y exitosa para todos. Se incluyen recursos para obtener más información.

La Oficina de la Infancia, como primer organismo federal dedicado al bienestar de los niños, lleva mucho tiempo ocupándose de algunos de los problemas sociales más apremiantes que enfrenta Estados Unidos. Estos problemas han cambiado con el transcurrir de los años. En sus inicios, la oficina se ocupaba de temas como mortalidad infantil, hijos dependientes y trabajo infantil, mientras que ahora las preocupaciones principales son maltrato infantil y prevención del abandono, cuidado de crianza temporal y servicios de adopción. No obstante, los valores que subyacían a nuestro trabajo en sus primeras etapas y muchos de los métodos fundamentales a los que recurríamos para materializarlos aún perduran; incluidos cooperación, ayuda a estados y tribus, investigación y recopilación de información, campañas de sensibilización social y formación de líderes.

This Spanish Language brochure informs professionals and the public about the Children's Bureau's history, mission, and activities. It includes information about the Bureau's involvement in research, funding, monitoring, and special initiatives that promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families.

Discusses State laws and policies for licensing or approving family foster homes. A licensed family is one that is approved by the State to provide care for children and that meets basic standards of safety and is able to provide a healthy and nurturing home environment. The topics discussed include training requirements, the process for approving homes, grounds for not approving homes, kinship placements, adopting from foster care, and interjurisdictional placements. Summaries of laws and policies for all States and U.S. territories are included.

Summarizes State laws and policies for approving prospective adoptive homes. This document describes who must be included in the home study, qualifications for adoptive parents, elements of the home study, exceptions for stepparent or relative placements, postplacement assessments of the child's adjustment to the adoptive family, requirements for placements across State lines, and more.

2010 National Adoption Month Poster Honor National Adoption Month All Year. Honre el mes nacional de adopción durante todo el año.

This factsheet provides an overview of the process by which legislative actions and policy changes at the Federal level impact State and Tribal child welfare systems and service delivery. Links to pertinent resources are provided for each step of the process; however, the steps described do not always occur in the sequence in which they are listed below. (See the flow chart on the last page of this document.)

Reports an estimate of the number of children adopted in each of the States for 2000 and 2001 and uses these numbers to estimate the composition and trends of all adoptions in the United States. Key findings include the fact that, in 2000 and 2001, about 127,000 children were adopted annually in the United States.

Provides highlights from the full report of How Many Children Were Adopted in 2000 and 2001?, which provides an estimate of the number of children adopted in each of the States for 2000 and 2001 and uses these numbers to estimate the composition and trends of all adoptions in the United States. Key findings include the fact that, in 2000 and 2001, about 127,000 children were adopted annually in the United States.

Provides national statistical estimates for the total number of children adopted in the United States in fiscal years 2007 and 2008. The report includes highlights of the data; findings on the numbers of public agency, intercountry, and other adoptions; and data aggregations in exhibits, tables, and appendices. Data were collected by State courts, State bureaus of vital records, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Provides an overview of the purposes and functions of child welfare systems. It explains what happens when abuse or neglect are reported, how those reports are processed, and what happens to the adults and children who are involved in the child welfare system. A flowchart illustrates how cases may move through the child welfare system.

Because there are more than 1,700 licensed private agencies in the United States (with more than 700 listed as having intercountry adoption programs), it is difficult for Information Gateway to stay up-to-date on the operations of all agencies. Prospective adoptive parents should research the background of an agency before beginning the adoption process. The steps provided in this fact sheet will help prospective adoptive parents assess the reputation of licensed, private adoption agencies.

Provides children and youth with information about what child abuse and neglect is and what to do if someone is not safe.

Due to their potentially unstable living situations, physical distance from friends and family, traumatic experiences, and emotional vulnerability, children involved with child welfare are at risk for being targeted by traffickers who are actively seeking victims to exploit. This bulletin explores how caseworkers can identify and support children who have been victimized as well as children that are at greater risk for future victimization. It provides background information about the issue, strategies caseworkers can use to identify and support victims and potential victims, and tools and resources that can assist caseworkers.

Due to their potentially unstable living situations, physical distance from friends and family, traumatic experiences, and emotional vulnerability, children involved with child welfare are at risk for being targeted by traffickers who are actively seeking children to exploit. This bulletin is intended for child welfare agency leadership and explores how child welfare agencies can support children who are victims of human trafficking, as well as children who are at greater risk for future victimization. It provides background information about the issue, including its scope and relevant Federal legislation and initiatives, and strategies that agencies can implement to address the trafficking of children. State and local policy and program examples also are provided.

Shares what Children’s Bureau’s grantees have learned about coordinating specialized resources and services for child and youth victims of trafficking at the State and local levels.

Shares what Children’s Bureau’s grantees have learned about effective housing and treatment approaches for child and youth victims of trafficking and the strategies they are using to address common challenges.

Shares what Children’s Bureau’s grantees have learned about developing and working with faith-based organizations to support the response to human trafficking in any community.