Titles concerning topics across the child welfare continuum, such as practice approaches, services, statistics, laws and policies, and organizational issues.
98 Systemwide
About CAPTA: A Legislative History
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Summarizes the legislative history and purpose of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), the key Federal legislation addressing child abuse and neglect. CAPTA was originally enacted in P.L. 93-247 and was most recently amended on January 7, 2019, by the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-424).
Access to Adoption Records
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Discusses laws that provide for access to both nonidentifying and identifying information from an adoption record by adoptive parents and adult adoptees. Generally, the person whose information will be disclosed must consent to the disclosure, and methods of providing consent are discussed. Access to the original birth certificate by the adult adoptee also is addressed.
Accessing Adoption Support and Preservation Services
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Describes issues that adoptive children, youth, and families may encounter after adoption and the postadoption services available to help them manage their issues. Topics discussed include postadoption issues that adoptive families often encounter, the changing needs for support at different ages and developmental stages, types of postadoption services, finding postadoption services, paying for postadoption services, and advocating for postadoption services. A list of additional resources is also offered.
Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT)
Series Title
Issue Briefs
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2013
Describes the characteristics and benefits of AF-CBT, an evidence-supported intervention that targets (1) diverse individual child and caregiver characteristics related to conflict and intimidation in the home and (2) the family context in which aggression or abuse may occur. It was written primarily to help child welfare caseworkers and other professionals who work with at-risk families make more informed decisions about when to refer children and their parents and caregivers to AF-CBT programs. This information also may help parents, foster parents, and other caregivers understand what they and their children can gain from AF-CBT and what to expect during treatment.
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.
Caseload and Workload Management
Series Title
Issue Briefs
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Aims to build the knowledge base about caseload and workload issues and help State child welfare managers, administrators, and others learn how they can improve caseload and workload situations in their agencies
Child Welfare Outcomes 2002-2005: Report to Congress
Mandated by the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, this annual report analyzes the performance of state child welfare agencies on seven child welfare outcomes including the recurrence of child abuse and neglect, permanency planning, placement stability, and the safety of children in foster care. See a list of all Child Welfare Outcomes Reports. Data were obtained from state reports provided to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting Systems (AFCARS) and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) for the years 2004 and 2005. After completion of the first round of the CFSRs in 2004, the Department contracted with a consultant to convene a workgroupto consider potential improvements to the CFSR process. One of the improvements suggested by the workgroup was to replace the six single data measures used in the first round of the CFSRs with data composites incorporating multiple measures addressing a particular program area. The Department agreed that a data composite approach would provide a more comprehensive picture of State performance and began a process for developing data composites to be used for the CFSRs.19 The end products of this process were four data composites, incorporating a subset of 15 individual measures pertaining to permanency and placement stability for children in foster care.
Child Welfare Outcomes 2017: Report to Congress
The Child Welfare Outcomes Report is created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet requirements of Section 203(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA). ASFA created Section 479A of the Social Security Act (the Act) to require HHS to issue an annual report that assesses state performance in operating child protection and child welfare programs under Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Act. Child Welfare Outcomes 1998 was the first Report created in the Child Welfare Outcomes series of Reports. The present Report, Child Welfare Outcomes 2017, is the 19th Report since the series’ inception.
Child Welfare Outcomes 2018: Report to Congress
The Child Welfare Outcomes Report is created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to meet requirements of Section 203(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA). ASFA created Section 479A of the Social Security Act (the Act) to require HHS to issue an annual report that assesses state performance in operating child protection and child welfare programs under Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Act. Child Welfare Outcomes 1998 was the first Report created in the Child Welfare Outcomes series of Reports. The present Report, Child Welfare Outcomes 2018, is the 20th Report since the series’ inception.
Child Welfare Practice to Address Racial Disproportionality and Disparity
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Explores the factors that contribute to racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare system. It also describes strategies that can assist child welfare caseworkers, administrators, program managers, and policymakers with addressing these issues in general and at specific decision-making points along the child welfare service continuum.
Child Witnesses to Domestic Violence
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Discusses laws that extend legal protection to children who may be harmed by witnessing acts of domestic violence in their homes. The issues examined include the circumstances that constitute "witnessing" domestic violence and the legal consequence to persons who commit the domestic violence, such as enhanced penalties and fines. This publication presents a general overview of this aspect of child welfare law.
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.
Concurrent Planning for Timely Permanency for Children
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Presents an overview of State laws and policies that provide for the development and implementation of an alternative permanency plan concurrently with efforts to reunify the child with his or her family. Compared with more traditional sequential planning for permanency, in which one permanency plan is ruled out before an alternative is developed, concurrent planning may provide earlier permanency for a child.
Consent to Adoption
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Presents an overview of State statutes regarding the proper execution of consent when a child is placed for adoption. Consent refers to the agreement by a parent, or a person or agency acting in place of a parent, to relinquish a child for adoption and release all rights and duties with respect to that child. The topics covered include the persons who must consent to a child's adoption, the child's consent to his or her adoption, timeframes for consent, and guidelines for revocation of consent.
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 Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Presents an overview of State statutes that designate the appropriate jurisdiction and venue for adoption proceedings. Jurisdiction refers to the type of court that has the authority to hear adoption cases; venue refers to the geographic location of the court.
Cross-Reporting Among Agencies That Respond to Child Abuse and Neglect
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Discusses State laws that authorize cross-reporting and information sharing among the agencies that must respond to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. Typically, reports are shared among social services agencies, law enforcement departments, and prosecutors' offices. Other requirements also are addressed, including notifying military authorities when a report involves a member of a military family and notifying the appropriate Tribal authority when a report involves a child who is a member or is eligible for membership of a Native American Tribe.
Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Presents State civil laws that define the conduct, acts, and omissions that constitute child abuse or neglect that must be reported to child protective agencies. The types of maltreatment defined include physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and abandonment.
Definitions of Domestic Violence
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Provides an overview of both civil and criminal definitions of domestic violence. The definition often varies depending on the context in which the term is used. Statutory definitions across the States generally describe specific conduct or acts that are subject to civil and criminal actions, and the specific language used may vary depending on whether the definition is found in the civil or criminal sections of the State's code.
Definitions of Human Trafficking
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Presents State criminal laws that define human trafficking, including involuntary servitude, forced labor and services, and sex trafficking of minors. Federal definitions of human trafficking and the inclusion of trafficking in civil child abuse definitions also are discussed.
Determining the Best Interests of the Child
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Discusses State laws that present the factors that courts need to consider when making decisions about a child's appropriate custody and care. Factors to be considered include parental capacity to provide adequate care, sibling and other family relationships, and the child's wishes. The publication also addresses the definition of best interests and guiding principles of best interests determinations.
Differential Response in Child Welfare.
While the structure for differential response intuitively makes sense, implementing such a system is complex and intricate. This double issue of "Protecting Children" fills a literature void and disseminates cutting-edge knowledge from a practice, philosophical, policy, and research perspective on the approach. The perspectives of many distinguished experts are gathered in this diverse and thought-provoking publication, which addresses: use of differential response with varying case characteristics; evaluative findings; community- and state-specific lessons surrounding implementation; and the practice, policy, and data implications. (Author abstract)
Differential Response: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Explores the practice of of differential response in responding to child welfare cases, various approaches used to support children and families, and recent State implementation efforts that highlight practice in the field.
Disclosure of Confidential Child Abuse and Neglect Records
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Discusses State laws detailing the officials and entities that may have access to the confidential records of child abuse and neglect reports and investigations, the circumstances under which information may be disclosed, and the appropriate use of confidential information. Public disclosure of information in cases of child abuse-related fatalities or near fatalities also is addressed.
Domestic Violence: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Provides a high-level overview of the overlap between domestic violence and child welfare, the impact of domestic violence on child witnesses, and the trend toward a more collaborative, communitywide response to the issue. It also points to promising practices, as well as comprehensive resources on the topic.
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.
Embedding Equity Into Disaster Preparedness Efforts in Child Welfare
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Presents child welfare strategies for reducing disparities for children, youth, and families of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds in the wake of disasters.
Establishment and Maintenance of Central Registries for Child Abuse or Neglect Reports
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Examines State laws for maintaining records of child abuse and neglect. Almost all States maintain a statewide central registry, which is a centralized database of child abuse and neglect investigation records. In some States, the individual State agencies that received the reports of suspected abuse or neglect are required to maintain these records. Central registry reports are typically used to aid social services agencies in the investigation, treatment, and prevention of child abuse cases and to maintain statistical information for staffing and funding purposes. Central registry records also are used to conduct background checks on prospective foster and adoptive parents.
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.
Forensic Interviewing: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2017
Provides child welfare professionals with a brief overview of forensic interviewing so they can better understand how such interviews affect their practice with children and families. Forensic interviewing is a means of gathering information from a victim or witness for use in a legal setting, such as a court hearing and is a key component of many child protective services investigations.
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.
Grounds for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Provides an overview of State laws that provide the legal basis for terminating the rights of parents who have been found unfit to parent their children. The circumstances under which the court may find that termination may not serve the child's best interests and under which a parent's rights may be reinstated also are addressed.
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 Children and Youth Maintain Relationships With Birth Families
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
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.
Helping Youth Transition to Adulthood: Guidance for Foster Parents
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
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.
Home Study Requirements for Prospective Parents in Domestic Adoption
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Summarizes State laws and policies for approving prospective adoptive homes. The publication describes who must be included in the home study, qualifications for adoptive parents, elements of the home study process, 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.
How Federal Legislation Impacts Child Welfare Service Delivery
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
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. It provides links to pertinent resources for each step of the process.
How Many Children Were Adopted in 2000 and 2001?
Series Title
Numbers and Trends
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2004
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.
How Many Children Were Adopted in 2000 and 2001? -- Highlights
Series Title
Numbers and Trends
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2004
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.
How Many Children Were Adopted in 2007 and 2008?
Series Title
Numbers and Trends
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2011
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.
How the Child Welfare System Works
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2020
Provides a brief overview of the purposes and functions of the child welfare system and includes a flowchart illustrating how cases typically move through the system.
Human Trafficking and Child Welfare: A Guide for Caseworkers
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2017
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.
Human Trafficking and Child Welfare: A Guide for Child Welfare Agencies
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2017
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.
Immunity for Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
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.
The Impact of Adoption
Series Title
Factsheets for Families
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2019
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.
El impacto de la adopción (The Impact of Adoption)
Titulo de la Colección
Hojas Informativas Para las Familias (Factsheets for Families)
Autor(es)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Disponibilidad
Availability
Año Publicado
2020
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.
The Importance of a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System
Series Title
Issue Briefs
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
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.
The Indian Child Welfare Act: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
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.
Infant Safe Haven Laws
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
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.
Kinship Guardianship as a Permanency Option
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Reviews State laws and policies that allow a family member or other person with close ties to a child who has been placed in out-of-home care to become that's child's permanent guardian. Guardianship has emerged as a permanency option for a child who has been placed in out-of-home care as it creates a legal relationship between a child and caregiver that is intended to be permanent and self-sustaining and can provide a permanent family for the child without the necessity of terminating the parents' parental rights. A guardian's rights and duties, approving a guardianship home, modifying or revoking a guardianship, and kinship guardianship assistance are among the issues addressed. Summaries of relevant laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
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.
Links to State and Tribal Child Welfare Law and Policy
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Provides web addresses for State statutes that are accessible online and lists the parts of the code for each State and territory that contains the laws addressing child protection, adoption, child welfare, legal guardianship, services for youth, and Indian child welfare. It also provides web addresses for States' regulation and policy sites, State court rules, Tribal codes, and judicial resources. Links to sources of information about the laws and policies for all States and U.S. territories are available from the state statutes search page.
Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Presents a summary of Federal legislation since 1974 that has had a significant impact on the child welfare field. It provides an overview of each act and its major provisions. To browse or search the summaries of acts included in this publication, visit the Major Federal Legislation Index and Search. The full text of the acts included in this publication can be found on Information Gateway's Index of Federal Child Welfare Laws. The PDF version presents an overview of the legislative history of the included acts. For a Spanish summary of the text related to the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 included in this publication, see Ley de 2008 Sobre el Promover de las Conexiones Para Lograr el Éxito y el Aumento de las Adopciones: Un Resumen.
Making and Screening Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Discusses State laws and regulations that specify the procedures that State child protection agencies must follow when responding to reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. The issues addressed include individual responsibility to report, content of reports, screening reports, investigation procedures, timeframes for completing investigations, and classification of investigative findings. Special procedures for handling child fatalities and substance-exposed children also are addressed.
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.
Parental Substance Use: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Reviews what substance use disorders (SUDs) are, how parental substance use affects families, and how child welfare professionals can support these families. It also considers how collaboration between child welfare professionals and SUD treatment providers, as well as others, is an essential component to assisting families. This factsheet is intended to serve as a brief primer on the intersection of parental SUDs and child welfare rather than a comprehensive guide. Additional information and resources are provided throughout to help readers explore the topic in more detail.
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.
Plans of Safe Care for Infants With Prenatal Substance Exposure and Their Families
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Examines State laws and policies regarding the development and implementation of plans of safe care that are required by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to ensure the safety and well-being of infants who are identified as being affected by prenatal substance use. The issues addressed include notification/reporting requirements; assessment of the infant and family; development of the plan of safe care; services for the infant, parents, or other caregivers; and monitoring plans of safe care.
Postadoption Contact Agreements Between Birth and Adoptive Families
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Presents State statutes on postadoption contact agreements, which are arrangements that allow contact between a child's adoptive family and members of the child's birth family. Topics covered include the contents of agreements; parties to agreements; the court's role; and enforcing, modifying, and terminating agreements.
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.
Providing Adoption Support and Preservation Services
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Draws from available literature and practice knowledge to summarize key issues related to providing effective services to support the stability and permanency of adoptions. It is intended to support adoption professionals in addressing adoptive parents' and children's needs for services, recognizing key considerations in providing services, addressing emerging issues, and meeting common challenges in delivery.
Providing Adoptive Parents With Information About Adoptees and Their Birth Families
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Summarizes State laws regarding the types of information that adoptive parents are provided about the background of the child they are hoping to adopt. The information generally relates to medical and genetic history, family and social background, and mental health history of the child and the child's birth family. For the adopted child or youth, it also may include placement history and any history of abuse or neglect. Exceptions for stepparent and relative adoptions also are discussed.
Reasonable Efforts to Preserve or Reunify Families and Achieve Permanency for Children
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
This factsheet discusses laws that require child welfare agencies to make reasonable efforts to provide services that will help families remedy the conditions that brought the child and family into the child welfare system. The issues examined include what constitutes reasonable efforts, when reasonable efforts are required to be made, and the circumstances under which reasonable efforts to reunify the family are not required. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
Regulation of Private Domestic Adoption Expenses
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Provides an overview of State laws regarding the regulation of the fees and expenses that adoptive parents are expected to pay when arranging a private adoptive placement. Some of the fees and expenses that are typically addressed include placement costs, such as agency fees; legal fees and attorney expenses for adoptive and birth parents; and some of the expenses of the birth mother during pregnancy. Requirements for reporting adoption-related expenses to the court also are addressed.
Representation of Children in Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Examines State laws that specify when a state court must provide legal representation for a child involved in child abuse and neglect proceedings and whether that representative must be an attorney, guardian ad litem, or a court-appointed special advocate. The qualifications, training, specific duties, and compensation of the representative also are addressed. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
Responding to Child Victims of Human Trafficking
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2019
Provides an overview of State laws related to how States must respond to meet the needs of children who have been subjected to sex trafficking. The issues discussed include the respective duties of child welfare and law enforcement agencies, training requirements, diversion of child victims from prosecution to appropriate services, the array of services provided, and ways of funding services and programs for victims. Summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
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.
Review and Expunction of Central Registries and Reporting Records
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Examines State laws and procedures that provide persons who are named as alleged perpetrators in central registry reports the right to review the records and to request administrative hearings to contest the findings and have inaccurate records removed from the registry. Laws that provide for the expunction of old or unsubstantiated reports also are discussed. Summaries of relevant laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
The Rights of Unmarried Parents
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Provides an overview of State laws related to the rights of unmarried parents and the methods by which a person may establish a legal parent-child relationship with their child. The circumstances in which a person may be presumed to be the other parent of a child, the use of parentage registries, the use of genetic tests to establish parentage, and the right of rescission of parentage claims are discussed.
The Risk and Prevention of Maltreatment of Children with Disabilities
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Examines the statistics and research related to maltreatment of children with disabilities, risk factors, and strategies for prevention. Issues encountered when assessing a child with a disability for maltreatment are explored; and information about promising prevention, collaboration, and training approaches are outlined.
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 Child Welfare Workers
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Describes the advantages and challenges workers may encounter when using social media with children, youth, and families. Issues that should be considered and tips for handling issues are also offered, as are ways to use social media to support children, youth, and families.
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.
Standby Guardianship
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Examines State standby guardianship laws in which a parent may transfer guardianship of his or her child to a specific person under certain conditions. Many States developed these laws specifically to address the needs of parents living with disabling conditions or terminal illnesses who want to plan a legally secure future for their children. Standby guardianships differ from traditional guardianships in that standby guardianships allow the parent to retain much of his or her authority over the child. This publication covers the establishment of standby guardianship, the role of noncustodial parents, parental authority, and withdrawal of guardianship.
State vs. County Administration of Child Welfare Services
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Outlines the administrative framework for child welfare services across the country. The way States administer child welfare services can be classified as State administered, county administered, or hybrid—partially administered by both county and State.
Supervising for Quality Child Welfare Practice
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Presents an overview of child welfare supervision and explores the dimensions of supervision that agencies may want to consider as they seek to strengthen the effectiveness of their services to children and families. This bulletin is designed to provide child welfare supervisors, managers, and related professionals with examples of States' efforts to strengthen supervisory capacity and with tools and resources to enhance supervisory skills.
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 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.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2018
Helps child welfare professionals build a better understanding of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), including which clients should be referred for this approach, how it is implemented, and resources for additional information. TF-CBT helps children, adolescents, and their parents (or other caregivers) overcome trauma-related difficulties, including child maltreatment. It helps children address distorted or upsetting beliefs and attributions and learn skills to help them cope with ordinary life stressors. TF-CBT also helps parents who were not abusive to cope effectively with their own emotional distress and develop skills that support their children.
Trends in U.S. Adoptions: 2008–2012
Series Title
Numbers and Trends
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2016
Provides national statistical estimates for the total number of children adopted in the United States in fiscal years 2008–2012. 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 from State courts, State departments of social services, 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.
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.
Unregulated Custody Transfers of Adopted Children
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Provides an overview of State laws related to efforts to curtail the practice of some adoptive parents placing their adopted children into the custody of unrelated persons without the oversight of a child welfare agency or court. Such transfers put a child at risk of abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, and placement instability. States are utilizing a variety of approaches to curb the practice, including criminalizing the act, placing limits on the use of a power of attorney for delegating parental authority, and restricting the use of advertising to find placements for a child.
Use of Advertising and Facilitators in Adoptive Placements
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Discusses States laws that permit, regulate, or prohibit the use of advertising or facilitators in private or independent adoptions. Some adoptive parents choose to advertise their interest in adopting, while others may choose to utilize the services of adoption facilitators or intermediaries.
The Use of Safety and Risk Assessments in Child Protection Cases
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2022
Discusses State laws and policies that provide guidance to caseworkers for conducting safety and risk assessments of families and children who are the subjects of child abuse and neglect reports. Other issues discussed include safety planning, assessments of family strengths and needs, ongoing assessments over the life of the case, and assessments required for reunification or case closure.
What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Disaster Preparedness and Response Professionals
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Provides an overview of child welfare and describes how disaster preparedness and response and child welfare professionals can support one another’s efforts when responding to the safety and well-being of children and families during all phases of a disaster.
What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Domestic Violence Services Advocates
Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Provides an overview of basic child welfare services, describes how domestic violence services (DVS) and child welfare professionals can support one another’s efforts in working with families, and lists resources for more information.
Who May Adopt, Be Adopted, or Place a Child for Adoption?
Series Title
State Statutes
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2020
Summarizes State laws regarding eligibility for becoming an adoptive parent (in terms of marital status, age, residency, and more), eligibility for being adopted as a child or adult, and authority to place a child for adoption.
Working With Children, Youth, and Families on Disaster Preparedness
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Year Published
2021
Discusses the importance of disaster planning in child welfare and how caseworkers and supervisors can prepare themselves and the families on their caseloads for emergencies. It also provides information on response and recovery strategies that child welfare professionals can use in the event of a disaster.
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 Immigrant and Refugee Families: A Guide for Child Welfare Caseworkers
Series Title
Bulletins for Professionals
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
Disponibilidad
Year Published
2022
Provides background information related to the intersection of child welfare and immigrant and refugee families. It then discusses strategies caseworkers can use in their work with these families, including approaches to language and communication, concrete supports, considerations for permanency, culturally responsive practice, and trauma-informed care.
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.