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Backers of a bill that tries to legitimize hidden foster care in Virginia say it creates guardrails. On the contrary; it sends the rights of children and families careening off a cliff.

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

There are two very important things to know about the process by which a child welfare agency removes a child from a parent and places that child with some other kinship caregiver. This process, known as kinship foster care, is usually the least harmful form of foster care. But it’s still foster care.

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The Opioid Epidemic and Foster Care: The Opioid Epidemic’s Forgotten Victims

Relias

Despite public conversation and consistent news coverage of the individuals affected by the opioid epidemic, there remains a large segment of society that is often overlooked: children and youth in foster care. During these past epidemics, the child welfare and foster care systems became completely overwhelmed.

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“Child welfare” and racism: Children’s Rights steps up

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

For example, in Minnesota Black children are twice as likely to be thrown into foster care as white children. Minnesota’s record of racial disparity in investigations and foster care is worse than the national average, and the disparities in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties are worse than the state average.

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Pushing back on a child welfare poll full of loaded questions

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

Have a look: The only good news for the family police came from the fact that, apparently, only a minority of respondents agreed with the statement “Overall, the foster care system harms more than helps the children in its care.” There is no mention of seeking to recapture the spirit of the Indian Child Welfare Act.

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The failure of the child welfare McLawsuits, Part Two

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

To read the account on CR’s website you’d think their suit turned a dreadful, failing “child welfare” system into a shining success story. But just four years later, the Tennessee Department of Child Services, their family police agency (a more accurate term than “child welfare” agency) has opened a bunch of new ones. Not anymore.

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Texas tragedy is foster-care failure in microcosm

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

KABB-TV in San Antonio reported this week on the tragic death of 16-year-old Mia Morales who died in a car crash after running away from a makeshift foster care placement. It’s remarkable how many tragic failings of Texas foster care – and the failed attempt to fix it with a McLawsuit – are illustrated by this one case.

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A message to foster youth from the “child welfare” establishment: Great news! We’ve ruined your lives, but you’re getting free haircuts!

NCCPR Child Welfare Blog

That’s the real message behind a monthly newsletter touting “the good stuff in child welfare.” Let’s focus on the “good stuff”: If you happen to be a foster child in Grand Rapids Michigan you can get a free haircut! It’s called “The Good Stuff in Child Welfare” and it comes from The Field Center. But all that is such a downer.