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Summarizes State laws on immunity from prosecution for persons who in good faith report suspected instances of child abuse or neglect. Immunity statutes protect both mandatory and voluntary reporters from civil or criminal liability that they might otherwise incur. The publication also discusses the provision of immunity for taking photographs or x-rays, performing medical examinations or tests, and participating in the investigation or prosecution of child abuse or neglect cases. Laws for all 50 States and territories are included.

Provides an overview of the seven core issues in adoption and how they may affect the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of children and adults who have been adopted, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Although adoption is often a joyful and exciting occasion, it can also give rise to lifelong challenges for members of the adoption constellation. Awareness of these issues can help families better understand each other and the personal effects of the adoption experience.

Ofrece una visión general de las siete cuestiones centrales de la adopción y cómo pueden afectar los pensamientos, sentimientos y experiencias de niños y adultos que han sido adoptados, padres biológicos y padres adoptivos. Aunque la adopción es a menudo una ocasión alegre y emocionante, también puede presentar desafíos de por vida para los miembros de la constelación de adopción. El conocimiento de estos problemas puede ayudar a las familias a comprenderse mejor entre sí y a entender los efectos personales de la experiencia de adopción.Provides an overview of the seven core issues in adoption and how they may affect the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of children and adults who have been adopted, birth parents, and adoptive parents. Although adoption is often a joyful and exciting occasion, it can also give rise to lifelong challenges for members of the adoption constellation. Awareness of these issues can help families better understand each other and the personal effects of the adoption experience.

Provides child welfare professionals an overview of the importance of a trauma-informed child welfare system, its components, and steps needed to transition to trauma-informed child welfare. This issue brief also includes examples of State and local programs incorporating trauma-informed care.

In 2011, the Children's Bureau published a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled "Improving Services Delivery to Youth in the Child Welfare System" (HHS-2011-ACF-ACYF-CW-0186). Through this FOA, the Children's Bureau awarded 5-year grants to support the effective implementation of strategies to help youth at risk of aging out of foster care develop skills to strengthen and manage relationships with biological family members and other important people in their lives. The strategies implemented by the grantees were designed to facilitate reunification, when safe and appropriate, or other legal permanency for older youth in foster care and promote a healthy transition to adulthood. In addition to achieving permanency and/or establishing permanent connections for youth, grantees were charged with developing, implementing, and supporting a framework or practice model to promote protective mechanisms in youth that allowed for increased capacity and skills to build and maintain lasting, healthy relationships. The Children's Bureau awarded grants to four organizations, which were listed on the first page of this report.

Provides caseworkers with an overview of current and historical issues affecting child welfare practice with American Indian and Alaska Native families; practice implications, including the application of the Indian Child Welfare Act; and cultural considerations.

Discusses State laws that provide safe places for parents to relinquish newborn infants. The purpose of these laws is to prevent these babies from being abandoned at places where they may come to harm. The responsibilities of and immunity from liability for providers who accept the infants, legal protections from prosecution for the parents, and the effect of relinquishment on parental rights also are discussed.

Provides an overview of child welfare in-home services, components of effective service delivery, and Federal funding sources for services. It also points to core practice elements of in-home services, evidence-based programs used during the provision of in-home services, and State examples of efforts to improve their in-home services delivery.

This factsheet provides a guide to intercountry adoption, including information on requirements and processes you may need before and after you are matched with a child; how to select the adoption service provider that is right for you; and eligibility, immigration, and citizenship requirements. There is also information about how to prepare for parenting an internationally adopted child, bringing your child home, and tips for adjusting to a new family structure for you and your new child. A list of additional resources is also provided.

Discusses the right of an adopted child to inherit from his or her adoptive parents whether or not the parent has written a will. In some States, an adopted person also may retain the right to inherit from a birth parent. The right of inheritance of an adopted child who has been omitted from a will also is discussed. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.