Child Welfare Policy & News

With more than 430,000 kids in foster care in the United States and a decline in the number of available beds in licensed foster homes, the real reason for the shortage of foster parents may stem from a concerns about caring for a child who has been through severe trauma.

It’s happened again—another revelation that priests have been abusing children and the Catholic church covered it up is being reported in the news. How should social workers address this issue?

The first thing social workers must do is take victims seriously.

This podcast episode explores the crisis currently brewing around immigration in the United States, specifically related to the Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy and to children separated from their families at our southern border.

The guests are Melvin H. Wilson, LCSW, NASW's Manager of Social Justice & Human Rights, and Guadalupe G. Lara, LMSW, NASW Board of Directors Member-at-Large.

There are a number of ways that social workers can help immigrants who have been separated from their families. We created a tip sheet so you can easily access the options and find ways that might work for you.

Matt Anderson and Malissa Flores, two social workers from the Children's Home Society of North Carolina talk about their work partnering with public agencies to help kids move from foster care into permanent families.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), also referred to as domestic violence, is a serious and persistent life-threatening criminal and public health problem affecting millions of people each year across the United States. IPV is prevalent in every socioeconomic group, regardless of race or ethnicity. Because of the pervasiveness of IPV, especially with women as the primary victim, it is not only a criminal justice and public health crisis, but also has enormous child welfare implications.