This report explores the basics of funding for child welfare services with descriptions of the various funding streams that agencies can use to serve children and families. Child welfare funding is a mix of federal, state, and local dollars, with the exact proportions varying from state to state and county to county. Published by: North… [read more]

Many child welfare terms are subject to interpretation. The Glossary identifies commonly held definitions for terms that can be found on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. It defines common acronyms and includes links to information on major Federal legislation and related child welfare terms. The Glossary will be updated as new terminology emerges in… [read more]

Prospective adoptive parents may be concerned about the costs of adopting a child and their ability to meet those costs. Becoming a parent is rarely free of expenses—pregnancy and childbirth can be expensive and even more so without adequate insurance—and adoptive parents may be faced with initial costs that seem challenging. However, with planning and… [read more]

All States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico have statutes or regulations requiring background investigations of prospective foster and adoptive parents and all adults residing in their households. In most States, the background investigation includes a check of Federal and State criminal records. Most States also require checks of child… [read more]

The Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships’ Community Program Directory provides public access to statewide resources that are designed to support family success and keep children safe. The programs and services listed are funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families’ Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships (DPCP).  The Division is built on… [read more]

Children of color are disproportionately represented in the United States foster care system. In most states, there are higher proportions of African American/Black and Native American children in foster care than in the general child population. In some states, Hispanic/Latino children are disproportionately represented. Data also vary at the county level, with some counties experiencing… [read more]

Having the tools and information to make healthy choices and knowing how to prevent illness is a key part of staying well. This book is intended for individuals who may be living on their own for the first time and not know how to set up a kitchen, shop for groceries, or the basics of cooking. The recipes… [read more]

This pamphlet is designed to help parents, guardians and caregivers understand the legal concepts and procedures involved in disputes over the enrollment of homeless students in local public schools, and to inform them of their legal rights.  In reading this information, please remember that the requirements of the McKinney Act and of the state regulations… [read more]

A growing number of employers offer benefits to adoptive parents. In 1990, a survey by Hewitt Associates found that only 12 percent of employers surveyed offered some kind of adoption benefits; by 2004, a Hewitt survey of 936 major U.S. employers showed that the percentage had grown to 39 percent, with an average maximum reimbursement… [read more]