Briefs
Low-income, Poverty
Guaranteed Basic Income
Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) is typically understood as an unconditional cash transfer to individuals or households on a periodic basis. This research brief summarizes findings from GBI pilots to date. In general, the research shows direct cash alleviates the stress associated with the experience of economic hardship, supporting foundational needs, higher quality of life, and an increase in feelings of hope and belonging.
- Brief
Child welfare, Foster care, Poverty, State policy
The Impact of Poverty on Children and Families (2023)
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
Child welfare
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
Child welfare
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
Foster care
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
Adoption
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
Child welfare, LGBTQ2S+
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
Child welfare
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
Child welfare
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
Behavioral health
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