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March 2010Vol. 11, No. 2CBX Looks Back at a Decade of Child Welfare News

As Children's Bureau Express celebrates its 10th anniversary, a look back at the decade's worth of articles provides an interesting perspective on trends in child welfare. We've combed the archives to see what happened in research, policy, and practice over the last 10 years.

Do you remember some of these events and issues?

The year is 2000 . . .

  • President Clinton signs the Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act.
  • The Children's Bureau posts Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) statistics on its website for the first time.
  • The Children's Bureau Express website debuts with the first issue of CBX.
  • Notable trend: Family Group Decision Making.

2001 . . .

  • The National Family Caregiver Support Act provides support services to grandparents and older relatives raising grandchildren.
  • Neurons to Neighborhoods, the landmark study on early childhood development and public policy, is published.
  • Recruiting Latino foster and adoptive families is the focus of several Federal demonstration projects and State initiatives.
  • Notable trend: The link between childhood maltreatment and adult depression and mental illness.

2002 . . .

  • The AdoptUsKids website launches with national photolistings of children available for adoption.
  • The first CFSR results are published.
  • The Heart Gallery traveling photo exhibit of waiting children debuts across New Mexico with great success.
  • Notable trend: Fatherhood and nonresident fathers.

2003 . . .

  • A number of studies examine the impact of the Adoption and Safe Families Act on adoption from foster care.
  • Child welfare waiver demonstration projects show how title IV-E funds can be used to promote prevention and reunification.
  • For the first time, the Census Bureau releases information on numbers of adopted children.
  • Notable trend: Faith- and community-based organizations.

2004 . . .

  • Some programs around the country begin to solicit input from youth in foster care for child welfare worker training (the "youth voice").
  • AdoptUsKids launches its new parent recruitment campaign with the slogan, "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent."
  • For the first time, States are able to access Chafee funds for Education and Training vouchers for youth aging out of foster care.
  • Notable trend: Working with children of incarcerated parents.

2005 . . .

  • In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, States begin to better prepare for natural and manmade disasters.
  • A number of studies examine how decisions made at several points in the child welfare system may contribute to unequal treatment for children of color.
  • Studies appear on the impact of methamphetamine on the child welfare system.
  • Notable trend: Education advocacy for children in foster care.

2006 . . .

  • As evidence builds for the link between caseworker visits and positive outcomes for children in foster care, States review their standards for visits.
  • More studies show that older youth can benefit from staying in foster care until age 21.
  • Programs around the country look at ways to recruit and retain child welfare workers.
  • Notable trend: Evidence-based practice.

2007 . . .

  • The Children's Bureau releases "Report to Congress on Interjurisdictional Adoption of Children in Foster Care."
  • The National Resource Center for Adoption creates the Minority Adoption Leadership Development Institute.
  • National Foster Care Month urges the public to "Change a Lifetime."
  • Notable trend: Cultural competence.

2008 . . .

  • President Bush signs the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
  • The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption enters into force for the United States.
  • National Child Abuse Prevention month focuses on strengthening families and communities.
  • Notable trend: Rural child welfare.

2009 . . .

  • The Children's Bureau funds Regional Implementation Centers to help States implement systems change.
  • Carmen Nazario is confirmed as the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families.
  • The National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence indicates that more than 60 percent of children were exposed to violence in the previous year.
  • Notable trend: Implementing Fostering Connections at the State level.