Children and youth in foster care are best supported through a continuum of care that provides ongoing services from entry to exit. The goal of this approach is to use the most appropriate and least restrictive interventions, both in or out of the home, while ensuring that safety issues and needs are addressed. Find information and resources about the multiple services included in a continuum of care.
The Child Welfare Placement Continuum: What's Best for Children?
National Conference of State Legislatures (2019)
Discusses keeping children with their families when possible and placing them in the least restrictive, family-like environment when that is not possible. The website explores kinship care, foster care, and residential or group homes.
Child Welfare Policy Brief: Developing a Robust Continuum of Care to Support Foster Youth in Family-Based Settings (PDF - 854 KB)
California Child Advocates for Change (2016)
Provides guidelines for the Federal government to support States in their effort to reduce congregate care, based on experiences in California.
Older Youth in Foster Care
Juvenile Law Center
Outlines the ways Juvenile Law Center is working to improve transition and permanency services for older youth in care.
The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act
National Conference of State Legislatures (2016)
Outlines the Federal law's improvements to the foster care system.