The Family First Prevention Services Act (“Family First”), enacted in February 2018, created a federal entitlement with the stated purpose of reducing entries into foster care by allowing states and Tribes to use federal T...

Tania had never met her niece, Naomi, when she found out the 4-year-old had been placed in foster care.1 A single mother with one adult son, Tania recently had accepted a promotion at work and was not anticipating raising another child — yet she felt a calling to support Naomi. The pair bonded instantly and Tania soon became more than Naomi’s aunt.

She became her foste...

Safety is the paramount goal for child protection agencies, so when a child tragedy such as a fatality or serious injury occurs, a cycle of intense public discourse and scrutiny often follows. What usually happens next is a series of corrective actions that may include the blaming and possible firing of individuals deemed responsible, and an increased agencywide focus on comp...