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Children, Families, and Foster Care: Analysis and Recommendations

NCJ Number
205117
Journal
Future of Children Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: Winter 2004 Pages: 5-29
Author(s)
Sandra Bass Ph.D.; Margie K. Shields M.P.A; Richard E. Behrman M.D.
Date Published
2004
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the challenges of helping abused and neglected children and examines the current state of the foster care system.
Abstract
Foster care is intended to serve as a temporary haven for abused or neglected children that cannot safely remain with their families. But for some children, the journey through foster care is characterized by further trauma and abuse. Even in the best situations, foster care is inherently fraught with uncertainty, instability, and impermanence. The average length of stay for children in foster care is about 33 months. More than half of the children in foster care exit through reunification with their birth parents, although in recent years, reunification rates have declined. Efforts to reform the child welfare system are numerous. Two of the most influential and far-reaching policies are the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 and the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR's). The most significant changes attributed to ASFA include shortening timelines for making decisions about permanency; eliminating long-term foster care as a permanent option; and recognizing kinship caregivers as a legitimate placement option. CFSR's are the first attempt to evaluate how well State child welfare agencies are meeting established national standards. Early reports suggest that the child welfare system is responding to the directives of both these policies. Some of the recommendations for further reform of the child welfare system are as follows: health assessments, measures of well-being, specialized services, cultural competency, services for birth families, services for foster families, support to preserve permanency, enhanced accountability, flexible financing, coordinating services, and transforming frontline practice. 120 endnotes