“This 46-page paper, written in 2001 by Kathy Barbell and Madelyn Freundlich, looks at the demographic trends that currently shape foster care, such as: – child abuse and neglect rates – number of children in care – length of stay in care – demographic characteristics of the children in foster care. It also discusses the factors that affect the families and children served through foster care – poverty, homelessness, adolescent parenthood, parental substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS. The document moves on to review the policy framework for foster care, starting with the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-272). It describes key federal welfare reform and child welfare legislation over the past decade. Included are key aspects of practice that shape foster care as it is currently provided: the changing roles of foster parents, the growth of foster care accountability, the development and retention of qualified professional staff, increases in the array of permanency options, the involvement of kin, the use of concurrent planning, and the use of specialized foster care placements. The paper concludes with a look to the future of foster care.” – Publisher’s description Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Demographic Trends Chapter 2: Factors Affecting Families and Children Served Through Foster Care Chapter 3: The Policy Framework Chapter 4: Foster Care Practice Today Chapter 5: The Future of Foster Care References About the Authors
