Foster Care in America

Christina G. Villegas, PhD, is associate professor of political science at California State University, San Bernardino.

Preface,
Acknowledgments,
1 Background and History,
Introduction,
Overview of Current System,
Reporting and Investigation of Abuse,
Substantiated Cases of Abuse and Neglect,
Forms of Placement,
Kinship Care,
Nonrelative Foster Parent(s),
Congregate Care,
Historical Foundations of Foster Care in America,
The Evolution of Federal Policy,
The Social Security Act of 1935,
The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974,
The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980,
The Influence of Cultural Heritage, Race, and Ethnicity on Child Welfare Policy,
The Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978,
The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 and Interethnic Provisions of 1996,
Challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act,
Permanency Planning and Child Welfare Policy,
Increased Focus on Aging Out,
Prevention, Family Preservation, and Promoting Family versus Institutional Care,
Strengthening the Child Welfare System for America's Children,
Conclusion,
References,
2 Problems, Controversies, and Solutions,
Introduction,
Aging Out of Foster Care,
Foster Care Runaways,
Placement Instability, Delayed Permanency, and Other System Failures,
Restrictions on Congregate Care,
Ensuring Protection and Permanency for Native American Children,
Racial Disparities in Child Welfare,
Addressing Racial Bias in the Foster Care System,
Do Racial Disparities in Child Welfare Cause Pervasive Harm?
The Question of Kinship Care,
Recruiting and Retaining Foster and Adoptive Families,
LGBTQ Rights and Religious Exemptions,
Increased Focus on Older Youth,
COVID-19 and Child Welfare Challenges and Opportunities,
Conclusion,
References,
3 Perspectives,
Introduction,
Changing Laws, Changing Lives,
Darcy Olsen
Combating "Stereotype Threat" among Foster Youth,
Tori Petersen
My Life in Foster Care,
Jaymie Gonzales
Improving Trauma-Informed Treatment of Foster Children,
Terri Galindo
Faith-Based Agencies and Communities Are Essential in Child Welfare Work,
Natalie Goodnow
Fostering amid the Opioid Crisis: My Family's Story,
Vienna Scott
They Call Me Mom,
Diana Hayes
4 Profiles,
Introduction,
AdoptUSKids,
Aging Out Institute,
Annie E. Casey Foundation,
Better Together,
The CALL,
Casey Family Programs,
Center for State Child Welfare Data,
CHAMPS,
Child Welfare League of America,
Children's Bureau,
Children's Rights,
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute,
Court Appointed Special Advocates,
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption,
DC Family and Youth Initiative,
FaithBridge,
Family and Youth Law Center,
Family Equality,
Foster America,
Foster Care Alumni of America,
Foster Care to Success,
FosterClub,
Fostering Court Improvement,
4KIDS, Inc.,
Gen Justice,
Healthy Foster Care America,
Heart Gallery,
iFoster,
Isaiah 117 House,
Love Fosters Hope,
Mayfly Project,
Monument Academy,
Multi-System Trauma-Informed Collaborative,
National Foster Parent Association,
Native American Youth and Family Center,
One Church One Child,
One Simple Wish,
Project 1.27,
Safe Families for Children,
Safe Haven Services,
Utah Youth Village,
5 Data and Documents,
Introduction,
Data,
Figure 5.1. Number of Children in Foster Care, Fiscal Years 2015–2019,
Figure 5.2. Number of Children in Foster Care on September 30, 2019, by Sex and by Race/Ethnicity,
Figure 5.3. Race and Ethnicity of Children Entering Foster Care in FY 2008 and FY 2018,
Figure 5.4. Circumstances Associated with Child's Removal for Children Entering Foster Care, FY 2019,
Figure 5.5. Children Exiting Foster Care during FY 2019 Broken Down by Reason for Discharge,
Figure 5.6. Youth Outcomes Reported at Ages 17, 19, and 21,
Documents,
President Ronald Reagan's Presidential Proclamation for National Foster Care Month (1988),
Senator John H. Chafee's Remarks in Defense of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (1997),
Testimony of Youth Aging Out of Foster Care (2007),
Testimony of Former Foster Youth Dawna Zender Hovenier and Celebrity Psychologist Dr. Phil McGraw on the Overmedication of Youth in Foster Care (2014),
Dr. William C. Bell's Testimony on the Importance of Fathers in Reducing the Need for Foster Care (2019),
Sharonell Fulton, et al. v. City of Philadelphia, Petition for Writ of Certiorari and City Respondents Brief in Opposition (2019) (Excerpts),
Donald Trump's Executive Order on Strengthening the Child Welfare System (2020),
6 Resources,
Introduction,
Books,
Articles and Reports,
Journals, Magazines, and Online Forums,
Nonprint Sources,
7 Chronology,
Glossary,
Index,