Child Welfare Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
A New Chapter in America’s Child Welfare System
February 23, 2025 | NWI
At the end of last year, Congress passed the largest overhaul of the nation’s child welfare system in more than 15 years. The reform includes more support for kinship care, aging out youth and efforts to prevent the separation of families due to poverty. This panel discussion looks at how these reforms will make a difference for children and families in the U.S.
An Analysis of Custody Relinquishment Using Administrative Data
February 23, 2025 | NWI
Custody relinquishment occurs when children enter foster care primarily to receive behavioral health or disability services. This brief focuses on the prevalence custody relinquishment and the demographic characteristics, family circumstances, and behavioral health conditions and disabilities of children relinquished.
Foster Care’s Downward Trend
February 23, 2025 | NWI
Data from various sources shows a steady decline in the number of children and youth in foster care. This article highlights reports on legislative, policy and advocacy efforts aimed at preventing the use of foster care in as many child welfare cases as possible.
Stories of Navigating Youth and Family Systems
January 13, 2025 | NWI
This podcast series features authentic stories shared by individuals who have navigated various youth and family systems. Each episode offers a unique perspective on their encounters within these systems and solutions to the challenges they faced.
Crucial Conversations About Healthy Romantic Relationships
January 13, 2025 | NWI
This toolkit focuses on three critical domains of healthy romantic relationships: communication, such as sharing thoughts/feelings; boundaries/limits, including setting, enforcing, and respecting boundaries and limits; and shared power, such as negotiating roles and responsibilities. This toolkit is for professionals who support teens and youth who experience the child welfare and/or justice systems, homelessness, and/or disconnection from school and work.
Youth Leaving Foster Care at High Risk for Suicide
December 7, 2024 | NWI
Roughly one-quarter of young adults in foster care in California have attempted suicide, and their rate of suicidal behavior is nearly three times that of peers who aren’t in government care, according to a recently published study and policy brief.
What Foster and Adoptive Parents Need to Know About Child Trauma
July 28, 2024 | NWI
Early childhood trauma affects kids on a physiological level, and can cause behaviors ranging from detachment to clinginess to violent outbursts. Foster and adoptive parents are often unaware of just how tough it might be – emotionally and financially – to raise a child with a trauma background. This article explores how some caregivers have managed.
Spring 2024 Updates to the Family First Clearinghouse
June 16, 2024 | NWI
This Spring, the clearinghouse that greenlights foster care prevention services approved one new program that states can finance by drawing down federal funds aimed at lessening the use of foster care, rejected nine others, and announced 16 new programs up for consideration.
Colorado Decreases Financial Strain for Parents With Children in Foster Care
June 16, 2024 | NWI
Colorado families whose children are placed in foster care will no longer automatically be required to make child support payments – a practice that may delay reunification – thanks to a Colorado Department of Human Services rule change implemented in 2023 and recently turned into law.
Housing Support Improves Outcomes for Families Involved in Child Welfare
May 13, 2024 | NWI
A new report describes how a program aimed at increasing housing security has had positive impacts on children and families involved with the child welfare system.