Titles relating to out-of-home care (also called foster care), including family foster care, kinship care, treatment foster care, and residential and group care.
48 Out-of-Home Care
Background Checks for Prospective Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Caregivers
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Discusses the requirements set by States for conducting background checks of prospective foster and adoptive parents and other out-of-home caregivers, as well as any adults residing in the prospective caregivers' households. These checks, including State and Federal criminal records and child abuse and neglect central registries, are part of the process of assessing the suitability of these caregivers to provide a safe home for children placed in their care. The circumstances that will disqualify an applicant also are discussed. An overview of Federal requirements also is provided. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
Belonging Matters—Helping Youth Explore Permanency
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway (U.S.);AdoptUSKids (Program)
Availability
Year Published
2019
Explores how professionals can help youth in foster care consider the full range of legal and relational permanency options available to them as well as understand the feelings that may underlie a young person’s reluctance to pursue permanency.
Building Partnerships to Support Stable Housing for Child Welfare-Involved Families and Youth
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Outlines affordable housing and homelessness services and how child welfare professionals can collaborate with those systems to help families. Although directed primarily at child welfare professionals, the information in this bulletin also may help housing and homelessness services providers understand the unique needs and concerns of child welfare-involved youth and families and how their programs can help." Grantee spotlight" boxes throughout the document feature examples of programs focused on child welfare and housing collaboration that were funded by the Children's Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Partnerships to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families in the Child Welfare System (SHF) and Youth At-Risk of Homelessness (YARH) grant clusters.
Children's Bureau Grantee Synthesis: Kinship Navigator Programs
Series Title
Grantee Lessons Learned
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Provides information and lessons learned from Children’s Bureau grantees experience implementing kinship navigator programs, including cross-cutting themes and promising practices.
Concurrent Planning for Timely Permanence
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Explores concurrent planning research and practice. Examines the role of the courts, how to assess for the probability of family reunification, and caseworker training. Provides State and local examples of concurrent planning practice.
Court Hearings for the Permanent Placement of Children
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Summarizes State laws that mandate the type and frequency of court hearings that must be held to review the status of children placed in out-of-home care. At these hearings, the court reviews the efforts that have been made to address the family issues that necessitated the out-of-home placement as well as efforts to achieve permanency for the child. This document also lists the persons who may attend the hearings and describes permanency options.
Court Improvement Programs: Collaboration Between Child Welfare Agencies and Legal and Judicial Communities
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2023
Focuses on collaboration and relationship building between legal and judicial communities and child welfare agencies through the Court Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP provides Federal funds to State and Tribal courts to support efforts to improve child welfare court practices, including collaboration between courts and the title IV-B and title IV-E child welfare agencies. This factsheet also provides several examples of successful and promising approaches.
Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Examines State laws and policies regarding the programs that support youth who are in foster care or have been in foster to achieve their educational goals. The issues addressed include support for finishing high school; planning for postsecondary education; and accessing financial supports for postsecondary education, including Federal grants, education and training vouchers, and State tuition waivers.
Extension of Foster Care Beyond Age 18
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Presents State laws and policies regarding the services and assistance available to youth in foster care who, beginning at age 18, must begin the transition to successful adulthood. It also explores youths' ability to voluntarily extend their placement in out-of-home care. Additionally, it discusses the requirements for remaining in placement and the programs and services available to support the transition to independence.
Families Considering Foster Care and Adoption
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Summarizes what foster parents should consider while deciding whether to adopt the child or youth in their care. This factsheet does not address the specifics of how to adopt; it provides information on the differences between foster care and adoption, advantages of foster parent adoption, strategies for foster/adoptive families, and useful references.
Frequently Asked Questions From LGBTQ+ Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Addresses some of the concerns that LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and other diverse identities and expressions, including Two-Spirit) prospective foster and adoptive parents may encounter when deciding to foster or adopt a child or navigating the process. The landscape of parenting options for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples has grown considerably in recent years, with an increasing number of LGBTQ+ parents choosing to build their families through fostering or adoption. Although many agencies, both public and private, are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, LGBTQ+ foster and adoptive parents continue to face challenges related to adoption.
From Complaint to Resolution: Understanding the Child Welfare Grievance Process
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Provides parents (birth, foster, and adoptive) and other caregivers with information about the best way to resolve their differences with a service provider or other child welfare professional. Since child welfare agency policies and procedures are State-specific, this factsheet presents information from a national perspective and points to additional resources about where to find information related to a particular State. The information and resources provided in this factsheet address the majority of complaints associated with the child protective services system.
Guidance for Immigrant and Refugee Families: Parenting in a New Country
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Discusses topics and challenges immigrant and refugee families may encounter that could affect their child or family’s well-being. It describes some of the challenges of raising children in a new country, how the immigrant or refugee experience might affect family dynamics and well-being, and how a family’s strengths (called “protective factors”) can help during difficult times.
Guidance for Immigrant and Refugee Families: The Child Welfare System
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2023
Aims to help immigrant and refugee families understand what the U.S. child welfare system is and how it can help keep their children safe. This factsheet also discusses some of the issues immigrant and refugee families may encounter if they become involved with the child welfare system and their rights in child welfare scenarios.
Health-Care Coverage for Children and Youth in Foster Care—and After
Series Title
Issue Briefs
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Helping Your Child Transition from Foster Care to Adoption
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
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.
Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2018
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.
Kinship Care and the Child Welfare System
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Discusses issues of interest to the growing number of grandparents, other relatives, and family friends caring for children whose parents are unable to care for them. This factsheet is designed to help kin caregivers work effectively with the child welfare system. It also includes resources, such as links to more detailed information or places to find support, to help caregivers learn about and navigate the child welfare system.
Ley de 2008 Sobre el Promover de las Conexiones Para Lograr el Éxito y el Aumento de las Adopciones: un resumen (Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008)
Titulo de la Colección
Hojas Informativas (Factsheets)
Autor(es)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Disponibilidad
Availability
Año Publicado
2012
Provee información sobre la Ley de 2008 Sobre el Promover de las Conexiones Para Lograr el Éxito y el Aumento de las Adopciones. Esta ley modifica las partes B y E del título IV de la Ley de Seguridad Social para conectar y apoyar a los parientes proveedores de cuidado, mejorar los ingresos para los niños bajo cuidado de crianza, proveer el acceso a cuidado de crianza y la adopción tribal, mejorar los incentivos para la adopción y otros propósitos.Provides information on the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. This act amends parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act to connect and support relative caregivers, improve outcomes for children in foster care, provide for tribal foster care and adoption access, improve incentives for adoption, and for other purposes.
Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
U.S. Children's Bureau
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2012
Presents valuable information for youth in foster care related to making decisions about their mental health, treatment options, and the use of psychotropic medications. The guide walks through the steps of recognizing the need for help, finding help and considering treatment options, making treatment decisions, and managing treatment. Checklists and worksheets are included to help youth organize their thoughts.
Parenting a Child or Youth Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2018
Discusses how you can help children and youth in your care by educating yourself about child sexual abuse, understanding the impact of the abuse, establishing guidelines for safety and privacy in your family, and seeking help if you need it. Reading this factsheet alone will not guarantee that you will know what to do in every circumstance, but you can use it as a resource for some of the potential challenges and rewards that lie ahead.
Partnering With Relatives to Promote Reunification
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2020
Shares stories and advice from caregivers and birth parents who have experienced kinship care on the importance of maintaining boundaries, managing family dynamics, building trust, positive parenting and communication, and securing support.
Placement of Children With Relatives
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2023
Presents an overview of State laws that give priority or preference to a child's relatives when they need to be placed in out-of-home care. The issues addressed include locating relatives, determining the fitness of a relative to provide care, and requirements for licensure. Requirements for placing siblings together whenever possible and adoption by relatives also are addressed.
Preparing Adoptive Parents
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Provides caseworkers with information and resources about the importance of preparing adoptive parents as well as how they can help prepare them for this journey. Information in this bulletin also may be pertinent for working with families formed through other types of permanency, such as guardianship. Caseworkers can support families adopting children from foster care by being upfront with them about what they might expect regarding bonding with the child, parenting a child who has experienced loss and grief, how parents and children may emotionally process the adoption, the supports available to both the child and parents, and other important topics.
Preparing Children and Youth for Adoption or Other Family Permanency
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Helps child welfare professionals better understand the feelings and emotions children may experience regarding permanency and prepare them for placements with permanent families. Its focus is on adoption, but much of the information is also applicable to children with other permanency goals, such as kinship care or guardianship. Children, including youth, leaving out-of-home care for adoption or other family permanency require preparation and support to help them understand past events in their lives and process feelings connected to their experiences of abuse and neglect, separation, and loss.
Preventing, Identifying, and Treating Substance Use Among Youth in Foster Care
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Youth in foster care often face multiple challenges that place them at increased risk of using substances. This bulletin provides child welfare professionals with information about the extent and effects of substance use among youth in foster care, ways to identify substance use, how to support youth in care who currently use or are at high risk for using substances, and strategies for prevention. It also addresses why and how you can collaborate with professionals in other fields.
Prioritizing Youth Voice: The Importance of Authentic Youth Engagement in Case Planning
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Provides an overview of authentic youth engagement in case planning, including key concepts and tangible strategies for engaging youth.
Promoting Permanency for Older Youth in Out-of-Home Care
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Provides information for child welfare professionals about the importance of permanency for youth and strategies for achieving it. Permanency efforts for youth should include both legal permanency (e.g., reunification, adoption, kinship care) and relational permanency (i.e., a relationship or connection with a caring adult, such as a relative, neighbor, service provider, teacher, or other important person in the youth's life). These adults may provide lifelong support that can help youth transition to adulthood and may even become a legal permanent option for the youth.
Protecting the Rights and Providing Appropriate Services to LGBTQIA2S+ Youth in Out-of-Home Care
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2023
Reviews State laws and policies that are directed toward reducing the negative experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, Two-Spirit, or other gender or sexual identity) youth in care, including addressing a youth's right to be safe and free from discrimination, have access to needed care and services, and be placed in nurturing settings with caregivers who have received appropriate training.
Responding to Youth Missing From Foster Care
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
This publication summarizes State laws and policies regarding the actions that a State agency must take when a youth is reported as missing from an out-of-care placement. The issues covered include required notifications to law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the steps the agencies must take to locate the child, and determining the reasons the youth ran from his or her placement and responding to those reasons in making subsequent placements. Agencies also must determine the child's experiences while absent from care, including screening the child to determine if the child is a possible sex trafficking victim.
Reunification: Bringing Your Children Home From Foster Care
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2016
Provides a general overview of the reunification process, including what parents can expect while their children are in foster care, what they can do to help their children return home, and what to expect after children return home. Resources available to help families during and after reunification also are included.
Sibling Issues in Foster Care and Adoption
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Explores relevant research, strategies, and resources to assist child welfare professionals in preserving connections among siblings. Sibling relationships can provide positive support and improved outcomes for children involved with child welfare as well as for those in the general population. Connections with siblings can serve as a protective factor for children who have been removed from their birth homes, but for a variety of reasons, siblings may not be placed together or may not have regular contact.
Social Media: Tips for Foster Parents and Caregivers
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
The benefits of social media are explained and tips for helping foster youth use social media are provided, including: discussing social media with youth, setting house rules early on, setting strict privacy settings, teaching youth to keep personal information private, monitoring use, conducting online searches, and discussing cyberbullying. Tips for social media use by foster parents and caregivers are also reviewed.
Social Media: Tips for Youth in Foster Care
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Describes the advantages and challenges youth in foster care may encounter when using social media. Topics include ways that social media can be unsafe, ways to stay safe, and things to ask yourself before you post.
Supporting Child, Caregiver, and Family Well-Being in Times of Crisis: Strategies to Promote Effective Virtual and Phone Engagement
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway, Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for States
Availability
Year Published
2020
This bulletin for child-serving professionals outside of child protective services discusses ways to support children and their caregivers and connect them with appropriate resources that may mitigate any risks for harm during crisis situations. This document is organized by the five protective factors that build on family strengths to foster child and youth well-being and development. Each section contains questions that professionals can address with parents/caregivers and with children/youth in the course of their work with families, with an emphasis on content appropriate for virtual visits.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2021
Provides information for foster parents to help them learn about LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and other diverse identities and expressions, including Two-Spirit) youth in the child welfare system, the unique risks they face, and the important role that foster parents can play in reducing those risks. The factsheet outlines specific actions that foster parents can take to create a welcoming and affirming home for all youth in their care and to promote a youth's health and well-being, at home and in the community. Also included are links to many resources for more information and support.
Supporting Successful Reunifications
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2017
Offers information to help child welfare agency managers achieve successful reunifications. This bulletin includes a description of the benefits of supporting reunification and preventing reentries, statistics, factors that affect reunification and reentry, and relevant strategies and approaches. It also includes examples of promising practices being implemented by States and localities.
Supporting Youth in Foster Care in Making Healthy Choices: A Guide for Caregivers and Caseworkers on Trauma, Treatment, and Psychotropic Medications
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
U.S. Children's Bureau
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2015
Intended to help caseworkers, foster parents, or other caring adults understand trauma and treatment and support youth in making decisions about their mental health and using Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care.
Talking With Older Youth About Adoption
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway; AdoptUSKids
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2016
Provides child welfare professionals with a framework for how to talk with older youth about permanency, including key considerations and suggestions for starting a conversation as well as ways to make these discussions more effective and meaningful.
Tiempo virtual en familia: consejos para familias (Virtual Family Time: Tips for Families)
Titulo de la Colección
Hojas Informativas Para las Familias (Factsheets for Families)
Autor(es)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Disponibilidad
Availability
Año Publicado
2020
El tiempo en familia, también conocido como visitas de padres e hijos, es fundamental para promover el vínculo familiar y preparar para una reunificación exitosa. Aunque se prefiere el contacto en persona, hay ocasiones extremas en las que el contacto en persona no es apropiado o seguro, como durante la pandemia de COVID-19 (también conocido como el coronavirus). El tiempo virtual en familia, durante el cual contacta a su hijo a través de llamadas por video, ofrece una alternativa segura. Esta hoja informativa brinda a los padres información sobre sesiones exitosas de tiempo virtual en familia, incluyendo cómo prepararse, consejos y actividades.
Tips for Supporting Virtual Family Time
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Provides child welfare professionals with an overview of how they can promote successful virtual family time, including research about virtual interactions, how to prepare children and families, and tips and activities for visits. Family time, also known as parent-child visits, is a key factor in promoting family bonding and setting the stage for successful reunification after a child has been placed in out-of-home care. Although in-person contact is the preferred method for family time, there are extreme occasions when in-person contact is not appropriate or safe, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual family time, during which contact is established through video or streaming services, offers a safe alternative.
Understanding Child Welfare and the Courts
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Describes the court system for families whose children have been removed from the home or are at risk for removal. The factsheet addresses legal representation for parents and children, types of court hearings in the child welfare case, and the professionals involved in child welfare hearing. It also provides information about parent’s rights and responsibilities and language commonly used in a child welfare courtroom.
Using Your Voice: A Guide for Youth on Participating in Case Planning
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Provides an overview of case planning, youth engagement, and the rights of youth in care as well as tips for participating in case planning and becoming involved in advocacy efforts.
Virtual Family Time: Tips for Families
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2020
Provides parents with information about successful virtual family time sessions, including how to prepare, tips, and activities. Family time, also known as parent-child visits, is critical to promoting family bonding and setting the stage for successful reunification. Although in-person contact is preferred, there are extreme occasions when in-person contact is not appropriate or safe, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual family time, during which parents contact their children through video, offers a safe alternative.
Working With Immigrant and Refugee Families: A Guide for Child Welfare Agencies
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Addresses systemwide strategies that child welfare agencies can implement to assist immigrant and refugee families, including interagency collaboration, screening for immigration benefits, culturally responsive practice, and trauma-informed care. It also provides examples of programs and promising practices.
Working With Kinship Caregivers
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Helps child welfare professionals promote kinship care by providing kinship caregivers with information, referral, and support services to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in their care. Topics covered include the types and benefits of kinship care, training for caseworkers and caregivers, specific strategies for supporting kinship caregivers, and examples of successful State and local child welfare programs that provide services to kinship caregivers.
Working With LGBTQ+ Families in Foster Care and Adoption
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Helps child welfare and adoption professionals expand their cultural competence and skills when working with and recruiting parents who identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and other diverse identities and expressions, including Two-Spirit) and same-gender or gender-diverse couples. This bulletin includes information about challenges faced by LGBTQ+ foster and adoptive parents, suggestions for helping LGBTQ+ families navigate challenging systems, and resources for supporting transgender parents. It also examines laws and policies and provides tips for developing welcoming and affirming agencies to engage this vital community.
Working With Youth to Develop a Transition Plan
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Helps child welfare professionals and others who work with transitioning youth to understand the Federal legislative requirements for transition plans and partner with youth to develop a plan over time and through close youth engagement that builds on their strengths while supporting their needs.