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Federal Laws

Federal laws have a significant impact on how States fund and deliver child protection, child welfare, and adoption programs and services. This section includes publications and resources on Federal laws and policies related to child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption.

  • Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-351)
  • Family First Prevention Services Act (P.L. 115-123)

About CAPTA: A Legislative History

Series Title
Factsheets
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
View
Download (PDF - 612KB)
Order (Free)
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 CAPTA was originally enacted in P.L. 93-247 and was most recently amended on January 7, 2019, by the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-424).

About the Affordable Care Act
HealthCare.gov
Describes key provisions of the law, presents a timeline of changes, and offers resources to help individuals understand how the law affects them.

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Children's Bureau (2017)
Presents the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which provides guidance to States about child protection, as amended by Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016. It offers an overview of CAPTA programs, adoption opportunities, and the Abandoned Infants Assistance Act.

A Complete Guide to the Family First Prevention Services Act
Kelly (2018)
The Imprint
Provides guidance on the new funding structure emphasizing preventative child welfare measures over out-of-home care services as enacted through the Families First Act.

FamilyFirstAct.Org
Provides an overview of the Family First Act, resources on topics related to the legislation, communication tools for promoting the website, and a calendar with upcoming related webinars and conference calls.

Index of Federal Child Welfare Laws
Child Welfare Information Gateway
A list of selected legislation that has impacted children, families, and the agencies that serve them.

Laws and Policies
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Provides links to Children's Bureau policy issuances; Federal, State, and Tribal laws; and other resources.

Legal Information Institute
Cornell University Law School
A source of the U.S. Code, Rules of Evidence, and many other legal resources in searchable databases.

Congress.gov
Library of Congress
Searchable databases of full-text Federal legislative information, legislative histories, and committee reports.

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Spotlight On

Child Welfare Policy Manual

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau

How Federal Legislation Impacts Child Welfare Service Delivery
Child Welfare Information Gateway
(2022)
Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption
Child Welfare Information Gateway
(2019)

State Child Abuse and Neglect Policies Database

Mathematica; Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation; Child Trends; & National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect

Supporting Youth in Foster Care Through the Pandemic

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Related Content

Court Improvement/Court Reform

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