Resources

AdoptUSKids offers an array of services to both families and child welfare professionals, from tips and resources to an extensive database of children in U.S. foster care available for adoption and families who are home studied and approved to adopt them.

The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute has offered a congressional internship for foster youth and alumni since 2003, and they raise public awareness through their Angels in Adoption program. Their website also provides resources for becoming a foster or adoptive parent.

The National Foster Parent Association provides information on becoming a foster parent and advocating on behalf of the children in foster care.

Voice for Adoption is recognized as a national leader in special needs adoption as well as advocacy and policy for children who are waiting to be adopted and the families who adopt youth from foster care.

Not ready to become a foster or adoptive parent? Volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate is another way to make a difference in the life of a child.

The Chronicle of Social Change puts children and youth front and center with news, opinion and analysis, and research and resources.

Children’s Bureau Express covers news, issues, and trends in child abuse and neglect, child welfare, and adoption.

Foster Club hosts online forums on a variety of topics relevant to young people in and from foster care.

Foster Focus Magazine is a monthly magazine devoted to foster care news and information for anyone involved with the foster care industry.

Fostering Change Network is an network of adult professionals from foster care, offering conferences, events, and webinars facilitated by professional alumni.

Represent is a quarterly magazine by Youth Communication, founded in 1993, that provides a voice for youth in foster care.

Visit Casey Family Programs for research reports, case studies, and policy tools on preventing abuse and neglect and strengthening families.

Foster Care to Success is the oldest and largest national nonprofit working with college bound foster youth. They make it easy to honor, support, and mentor students from foster care with programs including the Red Scarf Project, a tangible way to connect students with a caring community.

The Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative offers resources to young adults from foster care, including the curriculum “Keys to Your Financial Future.”

The Stuart Foundation has collected digital stories developed by foster youth talking about their experiences with education.

The American Youth Policy Forum bridges youth policy, practice, and research, especially on education topics.

In December 2014, the White House issued a fact sheet on Improving Outcomes for our Nation’s Foster Youth with steps the Administration and its partners are taking to help support foster youth.

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare offers research-based tools and information on informing public policy, including a policy blog, policy briefs, and bill tracking.

The Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a library of state-specific child welfare information, including a state statute search, directories of organizations, and state-specific practice guides and manuals.

First Focus has collected resources for advocates and policymakers focused on building stronger families and preventing child abuse and neglect.

The National Foster Care Coalition has set an agenda of policy actions Congress and the Administration could take to improve outcomes for young people in and from foster care.

The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges works to to improve the family court system and court practices and to raise awareness of the core issues that touch the lives of our nation’s children and families. For more information, contact FCAA board member Stephen Rideout.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation provides Kids Count, an annually updated data book on policies and outcomes for children.

Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago has, as a research and policy center, focused on a mission of improving the well-being of children and youth, families, and their communities. View the issue-briefs, reports, and articles on foster care based on original research they conducted.

The Children’s Bureau focuses on improving the lives of children and families through programs that reduce child abuse and neglect, increase the number of adoptions, and strengthen foster care. They provide a wealth of statistics and research on adoption, foster care, and child welfare outcomes.

The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children is a statutory agreement between all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands governing placement of children from one state into another state. The American Public Human Services Association makes this state-by-state database available to help navigate contacts, statues, and resources across states. For more information, contact FCAA board member Stephen Rideout.