Placement instability is often associated with a number of negative outcomes for children. To gain state level contextual knowledge of factors associated with placement stability/instability, logistic regression was applied to selected variables from the New Mexico Adoption and Foster Care Administrative Reporting System dataset. Predictors…

Students, a large percentage with disabilities, are at high risk for poor post-secondary outcomes in state agency education programs. This mixed-methods study describes the understandings of student transitions in state agency education programs from the perspectives of youth and administrators. Results indicated that: transition is more narrowly…

The authors reviewed 40 mission statements guiding U.S. public child welfare practice for accessibility, clarity, and values. Nine of the 40 state-administered child welfare agencies had not posted their missions on the Web as of October 2002, and 30 mission statements required a 12th-grade or college reading level for easy comprehension. The…

The Child Welfare League of America surveyed the structured methods used by agencies to measure case outcome. The findings indicate a need to develop improved measures of effectiveness. Criteria for measures suitable to meet acountability requirements and problems in outcome measurement are discussed. (Author/RH)

Discusses the administration of child welfare services and the status of public social services. Suggests that structural changes by the federal government have caused significant changes (often, disorganization) in state welfare agencies. (DP)

The State of Georgia Adoption Reunion Registry assists adoptees in searching for birthparents and biological siblings, and provides referral to support services. Responses to a mail-in survey of 45 adoptees and 46 birthparents, all users of the Georgia registry, indicated high levels of satisfaction with the registry's services. Birthparents…

A survey of statewide public agencies shows that a majority of states have some form of judicial or administrative periodic review, although few have both. The organizational level of authority and degree of foster care specialization of agencies are positively correlated with administrative review and negatively correlated with judicial review.…

Reports on a three-year interagency collaborative effort between clinicians and state children's services workers who treat child victims of sexual abuse. Discusses client characteristics, treatment provided, and expectations of state social workers and treatment workers. (NH)

Discusses problems with pediatric care of foster children that were identified in a survey of pediatricians in Connecticut. Reviews recommendations of the Health Advisory Committee to the Connecticut Department of Children and Youth Services. Describes several solutions that have already been implemented in Connecticut. (BB)

Comprehensive Family Services (CFS) is a strengths-based and partnership-oriented approach to casework implemented through multiple initiatives. This study examines the relationship between the practice of CFS and satisfaction of clients, foster parents, and community partners. CFS indicators are paired with statewide customer satisfaction survey…

Proposes the use of a post-substantiation model for responding to incidents of abuse within an institutional setting. Provides an example of how this model is applied to the investigation of institutional abuse. (Author/BB)

Presents the results of telephone interviews, self-questionnaires, and site visits of 48 state child protective service offices regarding policies, procedures and protocols for handling complaints of abuse and neglect in children's institutions. Institutional child protection is seen as a relatively unformed appendage of interfamiliar child…

An estimate of the total number of adoptions in the United States and the proportion of total adoptions conducted by public agencies in 1987 was drawn from adoption information from state social services agencies, bureaus of vital statistics, and state court administrative offices. (BB)

A 1989 survey revealed efforts on the part of a few foster care agencies and organizations to help foster parents who were facing child maltreatment allegations. However, most agency policies reflected little understanding of the importance of these allegations to foster parents. Revision of agency policy and development of more constructive…

Three state agencies cooperated to place social workers in schools in the role not of counselors, but of coordinators of services to help early-grade pupils having problems. The goal was identification and referral of children who might become delinquents. (Author)