U.S. child welfare laws are local – established at the state or county level – but they share a common foundation with international child welfare standards by emphasizing best interests in decisions about children. Recently, George Mason University hosted a three-day transnational conference on the “Protection of Unaccompanied and Separated Children,” which looked at the application of the best interests principle to children in migratory situations. This Spotlight article focuses on protection issues that migrating children have in common with children in U.S. foster care and includes promising practices and highlighted resources.
