The Impact of Poverty on Children and Families (2023 update)
KEY TAKEAWAY Policies aimed at reducing childhood poverty can yield positive benefits for Washington in terms of improved individual and family functioning, and increased economic self-sufficiency for future generations.
- Brief
- April 26, 2023
Strive two-pager overview, October 2021
Strive Overview: Partners for Our Children (P4C) at the University of Washington has been working in close collaboration, since 2014, with the Washington State Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF), and over 100 stakeholders to develop and test the Strive Supervised Family Time program. Strive is a parent education and support program that aims to engage parents in the visitation process, assist parents in preparing for high quality family time with their children, and promote child safety.
- Brief
- October 27, 2021
Strengthening Family Connection for Incarcerated Parents
More than 50% of incarcerated people are parents at-risk of permanently losing parental rights. Federal policy (TPR) has inequitable impacts on Black, Indigenous, and other POC, low-income families, and women. The brief outlines recommendations.
- Brief
- August 16, 2021
Foster care alum who lived in group homes could benefit from systems change
New brief from Think of Us and PFC documents experiences of foster care alumni who have lived in group homes and their experiences including lower degrees of well-being and greater barriers to college access and completion of higher education programs, all made worse from the impact of the pandemic. Specific recommendations are outlined in the brief.
- Brief
- August 5, 2021
The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (MEPA) needs reform to reduce racial inequities in foster care and adoption
MEPA prevents consideration of children’s race and culture at placement, resulting in many White families adopting transracially without adequate training
- Brief
- July 26, 2021
Federal opportunites for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) youth impacted by child welfare
Legislation could be unified at the federal level to ensure that all LGBTQIA+ children, youth, and potential LGBTQIA+ foster and adoptive families are protected from discrimination and have equitable experiences throughout the child welfare process and beyond.
- Brief
- June 21, 2021
Short history of foster care in the United States
This P4C brief provides an introductory history of foster care and relevant historical context, critical to understanding how the current system reflects and upholds systemic racism in its policy and practice. Since its establishment in the late 19th century, the foster care system has been a microcosm of broader systemic violence against communities of color. The foster care system was originally predicated on the well-being of white children and families, and many of its present day policies continue to reflect a myopic understanding of child welfare. Harmful effects of the foster care system must be fully understood to envision, create, and enact a future that protects and ensures safety for all children.
- Brief
- January 13, 2021
Poverty and neglect in child welfare
Poverty is the greatest threat to child well-being. Child neglect, the most common reason for child welfare intervention, is often the result of poverty rather than parental maltreatment. Furthermore, child removal and out-of-home care remains standard practice in child neglect cases. Separation of children and families is detrimental, and especially traumatic for BIPOC children, who are removed at a disproportionate rate compared to white children. Short- and long-term access to economic support and social services ensure families can invest in the long-term well-being of their children.
- Brief
- January 3, 2021
Banning the use of restraints on pregnant women in custody
Currently it is routine practice for officers in nearly half of U.S. corrections institutions to physically restrain pregnant and laboring women. Restraining pregnant women poses health and developmental risks to the mother and baby. Heeding these concerns, many states and federal agencies have passed policies limiting the use of restraints on this population. Federal legislation could ban the use of restraints on pregnant women in all corrections institutions, including jails, prisons, and detention centers, unless a legitimate safety or security concern exists.
- Brief
- February 6, 2020
Supporting the Birth Parent and Caregiver Relationship: Recommendations for Programs and Policies
Entry into the foster care system can be a traumatic experience for children which can have many lasting negative effects. Burgeoning state and city practices offer ideas about how we can improve the relationships between birth parents and caregivers to maintain connection and support children. Supporting the connection of birth parents and caregivers is a key area for improving systems. Establishing the Family Connection Program puts the needs of children in the center and supports families in Washington.
- Brief
- January 28, 2020
2020 state legislative priorities
In 2020, Partners for Our Children will promote policies that keep children and relationships at the center, helping ensure that Washington’s children, youth, and famileis will have the services and support they need to thrive
- Brief
- January 17, 2020
Systems improvements for child welfare involved parents who are impacted by substance abuse
Parents involved with the child welfare system have numerous barriers that can prevent and/or delay reunification with their children. Many parents struggle with substance use disorders (SUDs) which impact their relationships with their children and the child welfare system in a myriad of ways. In the spring of 2018, we conducted a thorough literature review and stakeholder interviews. Our goals were to understand available treatment services for parents who are child-welfare involved, barriers to accessing treatment, and to create recommendations that may improve outcomes for parents impacted by SUDs and their children.
- Brief
- January 17, 2020
RECENT RULING ENABLES HHS TO DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION; OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT UNTIL DECEMBER 19, 2019
On November 1, 2019, the Trump Administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would enable Health and Human Services grantees, including Child Placing Agencies, to discriminate against individuals on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. An immediate Notice of Nonenforcement of current protections was issued along with the proposed rule. The passage of this rule has the potential to reduce significantly the number of licensed foster and adoptive homes available and limit significantly the placement of LGBTQ+ children in homes affirming their identity. Public comment is accepted on the Federal Register until 12/19/19.
- Brief
- January 4, 2020
The Indian Child Welfare Act: The Gold Standard of Child Welfare Practice
Want to learn more about The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)? We are pleased to share this research brief about ICWA, the impact of the law on reducing the number of American Indian/Alaskan Native (AIAN) Children placed in out-of-home care across the United States, and remaining disparities . To ensure we continue to improve well-being outcomes for AIAN children, a full commitment is required to implement the law as it stands.
- Brief
- July 16, 2019
Partners for Our Children 2019 state policy priorities
Partners for Our Children is pleased to share our 2019 state policy priorities
- Brief
- January 9, 2019
Children, Youth & Families in the Current Budget Proposals
This budget comparison was updated on April 13, 2017 and it looks at a number of items related to children, youth and families in the three different budget proposals: the Governor’s, the Senate and the House.
- Brief
- April 19, 2017
Children’s Mental Health
Providing greater access, early identification, effective and appropriate mental health services to children and youth will help reduce the need for more expensive services, such as emergency rooms and juvenile detention, and better ensure success in school and life.
- Brief
- February 8, 2017
Family Visitation in the Child Welfare System
Frequent visitation between parents and their children in out-of-home care is linked to improved outcomes. Visitation also represents an untapped and vital opportunity to address child and family needs in order to improve visit quality and potentially receive a greater return on the investments made in visits each year.
- Brief
- February 7, 2017
Family Visitation in the Child Welfare System
Frequent visitation between parents and their children in out-of-home care is linked to improved outcomes. Visitation also represents an untapped and vital opportunity to address child and family needs in order to improve visit quality and potentially receive a greater return on the investments made in visits each year.
- Brief
- February 7, 2017
The Impact of Poverty on Children and Families
Policies aimed at reducing childhood poverty can yield positive benefits for Washington in terms of improved individual and family functioning, and increased economic self-sufficiency for future generations.
- Brief
- January 25, 2017
Creating a new Department of Children, Youth and Families
Creating a new department in Washington State will reorganize and support effective programs and services into one agency that specifically serves children, youth and families, with a focus on prevention, well-being and the science of brain development.
- Brief
- January 25, 2017
Children’s Mental Health
This 2016 brief provides key facts on mental health issues related to children – how many are affected, how many receive the care they need, what level of mental health coverage is available, and more.
- Brief
- January 25, 2016
Poverty & Involvement in the Child Welfare System
This 2016 brief provides key facts on the intersection between poverty and involvement in the child welfare system, as well as policy recommendations to ensure family economic security.
- Brief
- January 24, 2016
A Separate Children’s Department in Washington State
This 2016 policy brief provides an overview of why creating a separate Children’s Department in Washington State would be a better way to serve children and families.
- Brief
- January 1, 2016
Making Sure McCleary Meets the Educational Needs of All Children
This 2014 policy brief provides background on the McCleary vs. State lawsuit and emphasizes that changes made only to the education system (and not social service system) threatens to widen the achievement gap for low-income and poor students.
- Brief
- May 15, 2015
Implementation of Family Assessment Response
This 2015 policy brief provides an update on the implementation of Family Assessment Response (FAR) in Washington State.
- Brief
- May 15, 2015
Primary Factors Associated with Child Maltreatment
Efforts to reduce child maltreatment will have a better chance for long-term success if interventions address the full range of primary factors associated with child maltreatment.
- Brief
- November 10, 2014
Court Involvement and Time to Permanency
This brief discusses the statewide uptick in in court involvement with children entering care and opportunities for future exploration to better understand the implications of this trend.
- Brief
- March 24, 2014
Family Assessment Response: Promoting the Goals of Child Safety and Family Preservation
This brief gives an overview of Family Assessment Response (or differential response) and how it might impact children and families.
- Brief
- December 11, 2013
Family Visitation in Child Welfare: Helping Children Cope with Separation while in Foster Care
This brief reports that children with frequent family contact while in foster care experience a greater likelihood of reunification, shorter stays in out-of-home care, overall improved emotional well-being, and positive adjustment to placement.
- Brief
- August 20, 2013
Social Impact Bonds: Exploring an Alternative Financing Strategy for Children and Families in Washington State
This brief explores Social Impacts Bonds: what they are, how they are created, and what elements are necessary to implement them.
- Brief
- August 20, 2013
Using Evidence to Support Practice Change Initiatives
This brief describes POC’s formative evaluation of the early stage of the Case Resolution Meeting (CRM).
- Brief
- March 5, 2013
Washington’s Parents Representation Program
This brief discusses the Parents Representation Program (PRP), which was developed to enhance the quality of defense representation for parents in dependency and termination hearings.
- Brief
- January 16, 2013
Washington State Foster Care: The Parents
This brief provides highlights from the 2008 Parent Survey, which shows that parents involved with Washington State’s child welfare system are poor, unemployed, disproportionately of color, and living in unstable situations.
- Brief
- January 16, 2013
Poverty and Housing Instability: Implications for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
This brief examines the two-way link between poverty/homelessness/substandard housing and child welfare involvement.
- Brief
- January 16, 2013
Families in Child Welfare System Struggle to Meet Basic Needs
This legislative brief provides highlights from the 2008 Parent Survey, with an emphasis on parents’ economic hardships, parents’ risk factors, and the differences between parents’ and social workers’ views of the parents’ service needs.
- Brief
- January 12, 2013
