Six years ago, a young boy lost his mother in a car accident. The young boy found himself living with his paternal grandparents After suffering the loss of his mother, he then experienced years of abuse at the hands of his grandparents.

This family is not a stranger to child welfare. Child welfare has received at least nine referrals of abuse on this 12 year old boy. Some members of the community were aware of the boy’s abuse and witnessed patterns... more

Family Reunification Over What is Best For The Children?

A two year old toddler of a 17 year old mother was placed into foster care as an infant. The mother left the child to be cared for by a paternal grandmother. The grandmother would go out drinking leaving the baby in the care of other relatives. The baby went into another family placement briefly which also did not work out. After all of that, the infant was placed into foster care.

He was placed into... more

Family reunification has become a main focus for most if not all child welfare agencies. A lot of agencies have gotten tunnel-vision with this and it seems to be the only goal that a lot of people involved child welfare are even looking at for the children. Yes, children most definitely need family reunification when it is the best thing for them.

Let’s be honest and open about all of this. The overall picture of the family situation and the abuse that the children have suffered needs to be part of this decision.If the child welfare agency has dealt with... more

Changing placement can have a great negative impact on a foster child. Changing placement when things get difficult with a foster child or challenging behaviors surface should not be the first option. This can affect every area of a foster child’s life and can have a lasting effect on the child. The progress that the child as made before the change of placement may be totally set back. It will be like he or she never made any progress.

With almost every change of placements, a foster child will fall six months farther behind in school. Most foster children are already behind or struggling in school when they are placed in foster care, so multiple... more

A child has spent most of her life being bounced between different family members since she was an infant (click here to read the article). At the age of 16 years old she was faced with the challenge of being placed into a group home of girls.

The Department of Children and Families allowed the teenager to live with her coach from school. The teacher did not have children of her own but found a place in her heart for this child.

The two have grown into a family the year they have been together. This is considered a non-relative placement which means Tracy covers all of Brittany’s expenses. The... more

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Mississippi 2,989 children in foster care State population 2,291,088 only 59% of federal dollars flexibility

Missouri 11,681 children in foster care State population 5,800,310 only 21% of federal dollars flexibility

Montana 2,030 children in foster care State population 935,670 only 15% of federal dollars flexibility

Nebraska 6,292 children in foster care State population ... more

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Alabama 5,880 children in foster care State population 4,557,808 only 41% of federal dollars flexibility

Alaska 1,825 children in foster care State population 663,661 only 8% of federal dollars flexibility

Arizona 9,119 children in foster care State population 5,939,292 only 15% of federal dollars flexibility

Arkansas 3,097... more

Below you will find information on all the children in the foster care system. It is so hard to imagine so many children living in a system where the general public views these children as disposable. I hear oh so often that these children have suffered from the abuse and neglect that they are viewed as damaged, unlovable, and hopeless. It is sad that we have decided that children that have endured an unimaginable life are disposable. What do I mean by disposable? We take these children out of an abusive family and we place them in the foster care system without giving them hope, a second chance, a life and in a lot of case they end up alone without a family to call their own. You can... more

The meth problem that is running throw the country is causing a great strain on the Child Welfare Services. Children are being neglected and abused due to the use of meth. Children are being raised in meth labs, ingesting the toxic chemicals, gases and residue of meth. Not all children or infants exposed to meth will have problems. It all depends the amount of drugs done and how long of a period of time was the abuse.

The effects of meth on the babies and children.

Babies may not like to be touched. Babies may have difficultly sucking. Birth defects. Low birth weight Increased muscle tone. Tremors... more