Effective Citizen Review Panels can give a voice to the citizen-volunteers tasked with evaluating State child welfare systems; the extent of their effectiveness in influencing policy, however, depends on a number of factors, including their ability to work collaboratively with Child Protective Services (CPS) administrators.

This was one of the conclusions of a recent study that focused on identifying factors that make Citizen Review Panels effective, as well as those factors that act as barriers to meaningful citizen participation. Survey responses from Citizen Review Panels for CPS in 10 States suggested four ways that review panels and CPS could work together more effectively:

• Communication between the two groups should be increased and improved.
• Citizen review members should become more aware of the limitations and roles of CPS.
• CPS should use the review panels for true collaboration, not just a "feel-good" exercise.
• The review panels should establish concrete goals for incremental change.

When asked to list obstacles that hinder collaboration between Citizen Review Panel members and CPS, respondents offered four main types of suggestions:

• Lack of trust between panel members and CPS
• Time constraints for Citizen Review Panels
• Lack of knowledge by both panel members and CPS of each other's roles
• Poor communication

The establishment of Citizen Review Panels for all State CPS systems was mandated by Federal legislation in 1996. These panels are expected to evaluate State CPS systems and offer recommendations for improvements. CPS liaisons are required to be part of each panel to enhance the collaboration between the two groups. Study results suggest that enhanced collaboration between State CPS systems and Citizen Review Panels will help these panels become truly effective in offering feedback to improve services to children and families.

The current study, "Effectiveness of Citizen Review Panels," appears in the December 2004 issue of Children and Youth Services Review. The article is available online at http://www.uky.edu/SocialWork/crp/files/CRPEffectiveness.pdf (PDF - 112 KB).

A randomized trial of an Early Intervention Foster Care (EIFC) program found that preschoolers participating in the program had significantly fewer failed permanent placements than children in regular foster care. The study involved 90 children ages 3 to 6 years who were placed in Oregon's foster care system. Children were randomly placed in either EIFC or regular foster care (RFC). EIFC involved extensive training, support, and supervision for foster parents. In addition, children received behavioral services and therapeutic playgroup sessions, and they participated in family therapy. Children typically received services for 6 to 9 months. During the study, 54 children were placed in a permanent living situation (29 from EIFC, and 25 from RFC). Permanency placements failed for 36 percent of children in RFC, but for only 10 percent of children in EIFC. For both groups, most permanent placements failed between month 8 and month 14 of the placement, but failure rates were higher for children in RFC during this time period. Additionally, the number of prior foster placements was associated with a failed permanent placement for RFC children but not for EIFC children.

The authors of the study conclude that EIFC has a positive impact on successful permanency placements for very young children in foster care. In addition, EIFC appears to mitigate a risk factor for failed permanency placements, namely, the number of prior placements. The study also points to the need for additional services to families during the critical period of 8 to 14 months after a permanency placement is made.

This article, "The Early Intervention Foster Care Program: Permanent Placement Outcomes from a Randomized Trial," is available in the February 2005 issue of Child Maltreatment and can be viewed at http://www.mtfc.com/2005%20Fisher%20Permanent%20Placement%20Outcomes.pdf (PDF - 139 KB)

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For an earlier report on this program, see the March/April 2001 issue of Children's Bureau Express for "Researchers Study Early Intervention for Preschool Foster Children."

Children under the age of 1 year account for the largest percentage of maltreatment victims in this country. In a recent study, researchers investigated perinatal and sociodemographic risk factors associated with infant maltreatment. The study involved nearly 4,500 infants in Florida with a verified report of maltreatment prior to the age of 1 year. Data were gathered from several State databases, including Vital Statistics (birth certificates), Child Protective Services, and Medicaid. Of the 15 risk factors included in the analysis, 11 were associated with infant maltreatment. The five most significant risk factors were:

• Smoking during pregnancy
• More than two siblings
• Medicaid beneficiary
• Unmarried marital status
• Low birth weight

Results showed that mothers and infants with at least four of the top five risk factors had maltreatment rates seven times higher than the population average. Moreover, mothers with at least three of these five risk factors accounted for more than one-half of all infant maltreatment cases.

Findings from this study have implications for both policy and practice. Because all data were gathered from State data sources, this study can serve as an example of how other States might use their own data to develop an epidemiologic risk-assessment tool to identify families to participate in child abuse prevention programs. In terms of practice, programs working with pregnant women can place a greater emphasis on addressing stress and other underlying conditions that contribute to tobacco use.

This article, "Risk factors for Infant Maltreatment: A Population-Based Study," is available in the December 2004 issue of Child Abuse and Neglect. Copies can be purchased from the publisher at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213404002558.

The impact of child abuse and neglect is greatest among very young children, who are extremely vulnerable to the effects of maltreatment. If not properly addressed, the emotional, developmental, and physical health complications that result from abuse and neglect of infants and toddlers can have lifelong implications. This concern is compounded by the fact that infants are the fastest growing category of children entering foster care in the United States.

The Zero to Three Policy Center recently released a factsheet containing nine policy recommendations regarding infants and toddlers in the child welfare system. Each recommendation discusses the relevant current research and offers a promising strategy to address the issue. The policy recommendations for infants and toddlers in foster care are:

1. Prevent multiple placements.
2. Ensure developmentally appropriate visitation practices.
3. Use evidence-based models to prevent child abuse and neglect.
4. Ensure comprehensive, developmentally appropriate health care.
5. Ensure access to Part C of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
6. Ensure early childhood mental health assessment and treatment services, including consultation to child welfare agencies.
7. Ensure access to quality early care and learning experiences.
8. Ensure ongoing postpermanency services and supports for adoptive families and families seeking reunification.
9. Use oversight of the courts to ensure safety and permanency.

The factsheet notes that the early years present an excellent opportunity to effectively intervene with at-risk children. These early intervention strategies can lead to significant cost savings over time through reductions in child abuse and neglect, welfare dependence, and substance abuse.

Policymakers and researchers have begun to emphasize the importance of developing a continuum of services to reach all the children and families in need of support in the child welfare system. This continuum of care would focus not only on the immediate needs of the families, but long-term services as well.

The benefits and components involved in providing a continuum of care are the subject of a recent Issue Note from the Finance Project, Developing and Supporting a Continuum of Child Welfare Services. The author notes that the benefits of such services include more than just cost savings. By providing a continuum of care to at-risk children and families, States can help prevent child abuse and neglect, shorten foster care placements, and meet Federal child welfare standards.

Comprehensive services in a continuum of care should include:

• Preventive services
• Early intervention services
• Specialized services
• Postpermanency services

Funding is a large challenge in developing a continuum of care. This Issue Note discusses several approaches that States can take to enable families to obtain the supports they need. These approaches involve not only Federal funding designed for certain child welfare needs, but also other Federal funding sources not explicitly dedicated to child welfare (e.g., substance abuse prevention funds).

Interagency coordination also presents opportunities for child welfare agencies to fill their service gaps and provide a continuum of care. Some strategies States may want to use in coordinating with other agencies include sharing information and tracking systems, developing common intake and assessment forms, and coordinating funding.

This article, which provides examples of States and localities implementing a continuum of care, is available from the Finance Project's Welfare Information Network website at www.financeprojectinfo.org/publications/developingandsupportingIN.pdf (PDF 163 KB).

The A.L. Mailman Family Foundation supports national or regional projects in the early childhood field. The average grant is $25,000 for a 1-year period. The Foundation funds a wide variety of early childhood projects in such areas as:

• Policy
• Workforce development
• Training and curriculum
• Family engagement

Applicants should send a two- to three-page letter of inquiry describing the project and including information on the project's goals, target audience, fit with the Foundation's objectives, estimated budget, timeframe, and evaluation plans. Diversity and creativity should be emphasized. Letters of inquiry must be submitted by May 15, 2005. Foundation staff respond to each letter of inquiry and, if appropriate, invite a full proposal. For additional information about the Foundation's areas of interest, as well as the application process, visit the website at www.mailman.org/guidelines (Editor's note: Link no longer active).

A new website provides child welfare professionals with training and information on incorporating outcomes from the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) into best practices. The Outcome-Based Child Welfare Practice website is a product of the Children and Family Research Center, an independent research organization created at the School of Social Work by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Training modules included on the website cover a number of CFSR topics. Links to other outcome-based resources are also provided.

Editor's note: The link is no longer available.

Since 1989, American families have adopted more than 167,000 children from other countries, but the unique needs of these children sometimes go unrecognized by medical practitioners. For instance, these children generally reside in institutional care prior to adoption, and they often come from countries with many endemic infectious diseases. Some practitioners are unaware of recommendations to address these special needs.

A new book, The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine: A Guide for Physicians, Parents, and Providers, has been published to provide information for those who care for internationally adopted children. Written by a physician with 15 years of experience in international adoption medicine, this book provides an overview of the specialized medical and developmental issues that affect internationally adopted children, and it offers guidelines to the physicians caring for these children and their families before, during, and after adoption.

The book's seven parts address topics of importance to international adoption medicine:

1. Before the adoption, including the effects of institutionalization
2. Prenatal exposure to alcohol, drugs, smoking, and stress
3. Travel and transition to the adoptive family
4. Growth and development, including malnutrition and developmental delays
5. Infectious diseases
6. Other medical conditions, such as inherited disorders and toxins
7. Neurocognitive and behavioral issues, including attachment, disabilities, language competence, school issues, and culture and identity

Most chapters end with "Key Points for Internationally Adopted Children." Replete with photographs and charts, many chapters also have case vignettes as sidebars. A final chapter on resources lists a number of websites, books, and articles for further information on international adoption medicine.

The book, by L. C. Miller, is available from Oxford University Press (www.oup.com).

The Casey Family Scholars Program provides up to $10,000 for foster children to attend college or other types of postsecondary training programs. Administered by the Orphan Foundation of America (OFA), the program targets young adults ages 18 to 25 who were in foster care (or were wards of the court) for at least 12 months at the time of their 18th birthday and were not subsequently adopted. Scholarships are renewable each year based on satisfactory progress and financial need. Those receiving scholarships also receive ongoing support through the OFA's vMentor (virtual mentoring) program. Part I of the application can be completed online and must be submitted by March 31, 2005.

Editor's note: This link is no longer available.

The Foster Care Independence Act (FCIA) of 1999 resulted in more funds and services being available to youth aging out of foster care. This was one conclusion of a recently released U.S. Government Accounting Office (GAO) report that set out to examine the impact of the FCIA on States' funding allocations, services to foster youth, coordination of service delivery, and accountability.

The FCIA doubled the Federal funds available to States for independent living programs for youth leaving foster care. The GAO report concluded that this increase in funding allowed States to expand independent living services, and many States were also able to expand services to older and younger youth. Almost all States were able to increase their levels of service coordination, and States submitted multiyear plans and annual reports to comply with FCIA accountability requirements.

The GAO report also noted some problems that States encountered with the FCIA funding and subsequent independent living services. For instance, some States still reported gaps in critical services for youth (e.g., housing, mental health services), difficulties in engaging youth and foster parents, and barriers in linking their independent living services to other youth-serving programs. In addition, the GAO reports that States' accountability information lacked standardization, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the independent living services. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is developing a new information system that is expected to improve program accountability.

The full GAO report, HHS Actions Could Improve Coordination of Services and Monitoring of States' Independent Living Programs, can be found online at www.gao.gov/new.items/d0525.pdf (PDF 1.71 MB).

Children and youth in foster care often have many unmet education needs due to multiple placements, undiagnosed or untreated special needs, confusion about who has decision-making authority regarding education, and other factors. A new book, Learning Curves: Education Advocacy for Children in Foster Care, is designed to help child welfare advocates (including social workers, judges, attorneys, foster and birth parents, and educators) learn about strategies and approaches to meet the educational needs of these children. Presented in an easy-to-follow format with many good examples, the book focuses on:

• General education advocacy strategies
• Education rights and key Federal laws
• Special education eligibility, planning, and programming
• Young children's education needs for programs and services
• Impact of school discipline policies
• Creative approaches to addressing education barriers

In addition, the book provides a glossary of common terms and acronyms, an inside look at the role of foster parents, key regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), education advocacy resources, and a quick reference to common psychological tests.

The book, by K. M. McNaught, is published by the American Bar Association and partially funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau to the National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues.

The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse have released a new resource as part of their collection of legal information. Online Resources for State Child Welfare Law and Policy can assist child welfare professionals in accessing State laws and regulations related to child protection, foster care, and adoption. It provides links for websites where State statutes can be accessed, and it lists the parts of the code for each State and territory that contain the laws addressing child protection, adoption, and child welfare. Also included are web addresses where State regulation and policy can be found.

This publication is now available at www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/resources.cfm.

In an unconventional critique of the child welfare system, titled Child Welfare in the Legal Setting, author T. M. O'Brien offers a critical and interpretive study of the legal system surrounding child welfare workers. The book explores issues of importance to child welfare advocates, including:

• The legal system as host setting
• The industrialization of child welfare
• Mandatory reporting requirements
• Priorities in a system in which unsubstantiated cases account for the majority of total referrals
• The increasing trend toward specialization

It is suggested that the social work role in child welfare is limited by its placement in the host setting of the legal system. This setting results in tensions and inherent conflicts that make enormous demands on child welfare workers and families. This depiction provides a creative framework for the discussion of the similarities and differences between the clinical and legal models of intervention.

The book is designed to serve as a supplementary text in college or university classes or as a general work for the education of social workers in training centers. Child Welfare in the Legal Setting: A Critical and Interpretive Perspective is published by the Haworth Press, Inc.

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A new book by legal trainer J. L. Renne, Legal Ethics in Child Welfare Cases, explores everyday ethical dilemmas in child welfare. Guidance is provided on what to do in these difficult situations, using the applicable rules of the newly amended American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The book was published by the ABA Center on Children and the Law, National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau.

The relationship between adoption subsidies and adoption outcomes was the focus of a study recently released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). Using data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) for Fiscal Years 1999 to 2001, the authors examined how States used adoption subsidies to achieve goals of permanency and well-being for children. The study focused on patterns of subsidy receipt, Federal support for subsidies, and the relationship between subsidies and the number and timeliness of adoptions from foster care.

Analysis of data from all 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia showed both national patterns and variations among States. The authors highlight the following findings:

• Nearly all children (88 percent) adopted from foster care received a subsidy.
• The median monthly adoption subsidy was $444.
• Among those newly adopted who received subsidies, 84 percent received their assistance through Title IV-E.
• Age and special needs status influenced subsidy receipt and amount.
• Preadoptive relationships and other characteristics of adoptive families influenced subsidies.
• There was some support for associations between subsidies and adoption outcomes.

The complete report, Understanding Adoption Subsidies: An Analysis of AFCARS Data, which was prepared by RTI International under contract to ASPE, can be accessed from the ASPE website at

Free email services on funding and fundraising topics abound on the web. These services provide up-to-the-minute information on everything from the latest RFP to new trends in fundraising. Below is just a sample listing of the types of newsletters and listservs available on the web.

• Grants.gov provides information from several Federal departments on available funding (www.grants.gov).
• Charity Channel hosts forums on various aspects of fundraising, as well as funding from State and Federal agencies (http://charitychannel.com).
• Philanthropy News Digest publishes RFPs and notices of awards as a free service for grant-making organizations and nonprofits (http://www.philanthropynewsdigest.org/rfps).
• Norris Consulting produces a monthly newsletter on grants and other funding resources (www.norrisconsultinggroup.com).
• On Philanthropy provides e-newsletters on general fundraising, corporate funding, technology, and more (www.onphilanthropy.com/about-us).
• Non-Profit Times sends out a monthly e-newsletter on all aspects of fundraising (www.nptimes.com).
• Grassroots Fundraising Journal provides a monthly e-newsletter on fundraising (www.grassrootsfundraising.org/howto/enews.html).
• Fundraising Cyberzine also provides a monthly e-newsletter on fundraising (www.fundsraiser.com).

The National Center on State Courts (NCSC) now has a helpful feature on its website, CourTopics, which covers the Center's comprehensive collection of resources. For each topic in the alphabetical listing, there is an overview of core issues, a resource guide, FAQs, and a listing of any available NCSC publications. Some of the topics addressed include adoption, child abuse and dependency, family courts, family violence, and termination of parental rights.

The index of topics can be found at www.ncsconline.org/wcds/topiclisting.htm (Editor's note: Link no longer active).

Archived presentations ("webinars") on a variety of child and family mental health topics are available for viewing on the Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health website. These learning opportunities include a number of topics relevant for child welfare, including:

• Building Systems of Care: A Primer
• Four-Part Series on Financing Systems of Care
• Basics of the Federal/Tribal Government Relationship and Cultural Issues
• Child and Family Services Reviews: An Opportunity to Collaborate with Child Welfare

These webinars and more are available at www.tapartnership.org/events/webinars/default.php

Upcoming national conferences on adoption and child welfare through June 2005 include:

April 2005

• The 24th Annual National CASA Conference "Growing a Better Tomorrow....For Every Child" (April 16 through 19; Atlanta, GA).
• 15th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect "Supporting Promising Practices and Positive Outcomes: A Shared Responsibility" (Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; April 18 through 23; Boston, MA).
• 23rd Annual "Protecting Our Children" Conference (National Indian Child Welfare Association; April 24 through 27; Albuquerque, NM).
• 2005 Conference on Child Welfare Services Performance (The Performance Institute; March 30 through April 1; San Diego, CA).

May 2005

• Finding Better Ways 2005: "Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Children, Youth and Families" (Child Welfare League of America; May 2 through May 4; New Orleans, LA).
• Pathways to Adulthood: "Independent Living/Transitional Living Conference 2005" (National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development; May 18 through May 20; Atlanta, GA).
• 2005 National Citizen Review Panel Conference (North Carolina Division of Social Services and the South Carolina Department of Social Services; May 25 through May 27; Nags Head, NC).

June 2005

• NDACAN Summer Research Institute (National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect; June 1 through June 5; Ithaca, NY).
• 2005 Conference on Family Group Decision Making (American Humane; June 8 through June 11; Long Beach, CA)
• APSAC's 13th Annual Colloquium (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children; June 15 through June 18; New Orleans, LA).
• Investigation and Prosecution of Child Fatalities and Physical Abuse (American Prosecutors Research Institute; June 27 through July 1; Denver, CO).

Further details about national and regional adoption and child welfare conferences can be found through the "Conference Calendar Search" feature on Child Welfare Information Gateway: www.childwelfare.gov

A 1-day curriculum designed to help caseworkers prepare for visits with children in foster care has been developed by the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning (NRCFCPPP). Entitled "Promoting Placement Stability and Permanency through Caseworker/Child Visits," the curriculum is based on the concepts of attachment, strengths-based assessment and planning, child and youth development, effective interviewing, and organizing contacts.

Available online, the curriculum includes a 39-page training manual that leads the trainer and trainees through four modules:

1. Reviewing current Federal and State child welfare mandates
2. Developing an empowering approach to child welfare practice
3. Using a developmental approach to assess safety, permanency, and well-being
4. Planning for the visit with the child and foster family

Handouts for each training module are supplied, including an extensive checklist of developmental traits for assessing safety, permanency, and well-being of children at all ages.

The curriculum was developed by the NRCFCPPP in response to findings from the Child and Family Services Reviews that showed a significant relationship between caseworker visits and a number of other indicators of child and family safety, permanency, and well-being.

The curriculum and handouts are available on the NRCFCPPP website at www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/family-child-visiting.html.