Child Welfare System Strain
Overburdened child protective services with high caseloads, insufficient foster families, and limited resources for family support services, putting vulnerable children at risk.
Ways to address it
3 approaches- Child Welfare System ReformReduce caseloads for social workers, implement trauma-informed practices, improve court processes, and create specialized courts for child welfare cases to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Family Preservation and Support ServicesExpand family support services including parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and economic assistance to address underlying issues and prevent children from entering foster care.
- Foster Care System ImprovementRecruit and support more foster families, provide enhanced training and ongoing support, improve placement stability, and create mentoring programs for youth aging out of foster care.