Family First Prevention Services Act

The Missouri House of Representatives unanimously passed two bills on Jan. 27 that would increase financial support for foster and adoptive parents. Now, they await approval by the Senate.

House Bill 429 would provide a tax deduction for foster parents — $2,500 for a single parent, $5,000 for a married couple — who have been caretaking for at least six months.

Arizona on Wednesday became the latest state to require that children involved in abuse or neglect cases be appointed an attorney to represent their best interest.

This week, Charity Chandler-Cole will start her new job as chief executive officer of Los Angeles County’s court-appointed special advocates, or CASA.

Minnesota child welfare leaders have been meeting with community stakeholders and advocates on establishing a new foster care prevention plan, built around the use of new federal funding available for that goal. 

Around the country, child welfare systems large and small have built a front door to child protection that relies heavily on information provided to the state from the public, especially from “mandated reporters” such as school officials, doctors and police officers. 

Eight states are getting together for the rest of 2021 to work out the best way to help children and families weather the second year of the coronavirus pandemic with a minimum of child neglect and abuse.

This could be the year that nearly 1 million Texas adoptees can get a copy of their original birth certificate without asking a judge.

Texas adoptees said attempts to pass a measure making it easier for them to obtain the document have fallen short time and again in recent years.