Family Matters: Multigenerational living is on the rise and here to stay. Our results are clear: multigenerational living is indeed on the rise in 2021, with more than 1 in 4 Americans (26%) living in a household with 3 or more generations. Given our finding in 2011 that 7 percent of Americans lived in a… [read more]

Older foster children and youth have a pressing need for permanency. Almost half of the 538,801 children in out-of-home care at the end of the federal 2000 reporting period were ages 10 to17 (Gibbs et al., 2004). As one youth explained, “Our time is almost up. We want a home, and people we can call… [read more]

It is common for adoptive families to need support and services after adoption. Postadoption services can help families with a wide range of issues. They are available for everything from learning how to explain adoption to a preschooler, to helping a child who experienced early childhood abuse, to supporting an adopted teen’s search for identity…. [read more]

EACH YEAR, child welfare agencies make over 40,000 requests for home studies to determine whether children in foster care can be placed with parents, relatives and others living in another state. Each of these requests is governed by the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (“ICPC”), a uniform law adopted by every state to… [read more]

What’s Inside: • Differences between foster parenting and adopting • Advantages of foster parent adoption • Strategies for foster/adoptive families • Conclusion • Resources • References Published by: Child Welfare Information Gateway Children’s Bureau/ACYF 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW Eighth Floor Washington, DC 20024 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov

The landscape for LGBT adoption is changing, with an increasing number of LGBT individuals and couples choosing to build families through adoption. Many agencies, both public and private, welcome the LGBT community. Leading child welfare organizations believe that prospective LGBT parents are an excellent resource for children and youth in need of a permanent family.1… [read more]

Frequently Asked Questions From Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents WHAT’S INSIDEHow do I find a welcoming agency?What States allow LGBTQ individuals or same-sex couples to foster or adopt?Should I disclose my sexual orientation or transgender status? If so, when?What about intercountry adoption?What should I expect from the home… [read more]

From Rights to Reality is designed to unite parents and parent advocacy around a common set of goals. It identifies 15 rights for parents affected by the child welfare system. Most parents do not yet have these rights in child welfare proceedings. From Rights to Reality represents a commitment to working in our communities and… [read more]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people are in America’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems in disproportionate numbers. Like all young people in care, they have the right to be safe and protected. All too often, however, they are misunderstood and mistreated, leading to an increased risk of negative outcomes. This tool… [read more]

GrandFacts A State Fact Sheets for Grandparent and Other Relatives Raising Children The data presented in these graphics is from the United States Census Bureau, the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis Reporting System (AFCARS). For more information on kinship care and caregivers, and for detailed… [read more]