Illinois

The New York Legislature has moved a bill to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk that would allow parents who the courts have found abused, neglected or abandoned their children to continue to visit with them, even after a court has terminated their parental rights.

The New York Legislature passed a historic justice reform that bars the arrest and prosecution of children under age 12. The reform awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature.

Oregon lawmakers have voted to codify provisions of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act into state law and sent the bill to the desk of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown.

More than a decade after a federal judge approved Michigan’s sweeping agreement to fix problems with its child welfare system, the court-appointed monitoring team reported multiple ongoing concerns about the safety of kids under state care.

A new study found a steep drop in college enrollment this spring — particularly in community colleges, which often serve more low-income students, foster youth and others who experience barriers to higher education.

Illinois teachers and others who look after children in a nonparental role may soon have to be taught how to recognize and eliminate their own racial and ethnic biases as mandated reporters of potential child abuse and neglect.

New York is poised to prohibit the use of handcuffs, shackles, straitjackets and other hardware restraints on those 21 and younger appearing in family court.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions approved a bill that could provide the first federal requirement of legal counsel to parents and children in child welfare cases, though there appeared to be some discussion of further negotiations on that before a vote of the full Senate.

Closed adoption was intended to protect the privacy of birth parents and the rights of adoptive parents. To the adoptee, however, closed adoption is a legal magic eraser.