Resources for caregivers and professionals about the unique challenges and service needs of children and youth with disabilities who are involved with the child welfare system, and how to address them.

Collection of Evidence-Based Practices for Children and Adolescents With Mental Health Treatment Needs (PDF - 2,950 KB)
Virginia Commission on Youth (5th ed., House Document no. 7) (2013)
Reviews key components of successful mental health treatments for children and adolescents and includes a reference chart of evidence-based treatment options for specific disorders.

The Intersection of Child Welfare and Disability: Focus on Children (PDF - 1,710 KB)
University of Minnesota, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (2013)
CW360: A Comprehensive Look at a Prevalent Child Welfare Issue
Examines issues of children with disabilities in the child welfare system, encompassing a range of topics including intellectual and developmental disabilities; social, emotional, and behavioral disabilities; and physical, sensory, and communication disabilities.

What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18 (PDF – 337 KB)
Social Security Administration (2016)
Describes key resources and information for youth with disabilities receiving SSI. "Helping Young People with Disabilities Successfully Transition to Adulthood," a Social Security Matters blog post, explains the expanded early application period for youth with disabilities leaving foster care, which may help facilitate a smoother transition to adult SSI benefits.

Youth With Disabilities in the United States Child Welfare System
Slayter (2016)
Children and Youth Services Review, 64
Examines the experiences of youth with disabilities in the child welfare system using data from the 2012 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. The article includes reasons for child welfare involvement, placement types, and case outcomes.

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