Publications
Casey Family Programs' library of material on foster care and child welfare issues

These publications are offered free of charge. Please visit our online store to place an order for a product or publication.

If you can't find the publication you are looking for, please contact us.

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And How Are the Children?

Casey Family Programs' Annual Report

Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Implementing Differential Response in California

This report details significant process enhancements arising from the application of the breakthrough series collaborative to the implementation of differential response in California.

Engaging Communities in Taking a Stand for Children and Families

This publication chronicles how the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services’ Child Protective Services has worked with Casey to significantly shift its internal culture to one defined by family-focused practice.

Focus on Foster Care: Family Group Decision-Making

Read a 4-page briefing recapping the adoption of a family-centered approach to child welfare in Texas. For more information about this approach, download a 58-page report by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Kinship Care

This white paper presents Casey Family Programs recommendations for key changes in federal policy to help more children benefit from a type of care that we know works.

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Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Implementing Differential Response in California

This report details significant process enhancements arising from the application of the breakthrough series collaborative to the implementation of differential response in California.

Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Recruitment and Retention of Resource Families

The breakthrough series collaborative methodology shows significant promise for bridging the gaps between best practices and actual practice. This 2005 report on recruitment and retention of foster families illustrates the use of the methodology and describes successful strategies and lessons learned.

Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Reducing Disproportionality and Disparities for Children and Families of Color in Child Welfare

Outcomes and lessons learned from an initiative designed to develop, test, and spread practices that address the over-representation of children of color in child welfare.

Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Supporting Kinship Care

This report is intended to be an easy-to-use resource for administrators and practitioners in the child welfare field who desire to learn about the successful strategies Breakthrough Series Collaborative teams developed to support kinship care.

Focus on Foster Care: The Breakthrough Series Collaborative

Read a four-page briefing on an innovative model of quality improvement that uses small, rapid tests of change that result in broad, sustainable system improvements in child welfare.

Child welfare 101top
And How Are the Children?

Casey Family Programs' Annual Report.

Disproportionality: The Overrepresentation of Children of Color in the Foster Care System

Children of color account for 42 percent of the US child population yet make up 57 percent of all children in foster care. This two-page policy brief presents the facts about disproportionality, and offers promising practices and recommendations to help reduce racial disparities in child welfare.

A Great Divide

All children deserve to grow up in a forever family. This resource illustrates how life is different for the 496,000 children in foster care today.

How Children Move Through the Child Welfare System

This flow chart depicts the child welfare process in broad terms. Learn what happens to a child after CPS receives a report of abuse or neglect.

State Investment Fact Sheets

These two-page fact sheets describe Casey's investments to serve children, strengthen families, and improve child welfare systems across the country. They also provide general data about the foster care population in each state.

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2020: A Vision for America's Children (Flyer)

By the year 2020, Casey Family Programs aims to reduce the number of children in foster care across the nation by 50 percent. The foundation also aims to improve self-sufficiency for those who remain in the system. Read this one-page flyer to learn more about Casey's strategies for achieving the foundation's 2020 vision.

2020 Data Briefs

These briefs link trends and practice improvements to successful outcomes for children in foster care. Casey Family Programs and other jurisdictions will use these positive results to inform and improve other child welfare systems efforts across the country.

And How Are the Children?

Casey Family Programs' Annual Report.

California and Flexible Funding

In Alameda and Los Angeles counties, children are finding safe, loving homes because child welfare funding requirements permit innovative solutions.

Child Welfare Finance Reform Principles

This white paper outlines five key principles to help guide state and federal policy makers in their decisions about how best to finance America's child welfare systems.

Court-based Education Efforts for Children in Foster Care

Published in July of 2007, this document chronicles educational reform efforts in Pima County, Arizona. It also offers some suggestions to other jurisdictions that want to design and implement their own reform initiatives.

Engaging Communities in Taking a Stand for Children and Families

This publication chronicles how the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services’ Child Protective Services has worked with Casey to significantly shift its internal culture to one defined by family-focused practice.

Focus on Foster Care: Family Group Decision-Making

Read a 4-page briefing recapping the adoption of a family-centered approach to child welfare in Texas. For more information about this approach, download a 58-page report by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Hope in the Face of Adversity

A report published in 2003 from Casey Family Programs' initiative to help parents strengthen families and prevent the need for foster care.

Kinship Care

This white paper presents Casey Family Programs recommendations for key changes in federal policy to help more children benefit from a type of care that we know works.

Stories of practice change: What Flexible Funding Means to the Children and Families of Los Angeles County

Lessons learned through implementation of flexible funding in Los Angeles and Alameda counties, 2008 and 2009.

A Ten-Year Review of Family Preservation Research

This report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy was commissioned by Casey Family Programs. It identifies some of the most cost-effective strategies for safely reducing out-of-home placements in child welfare.

Your Commitment Counts

Learn how advocates within nonprofit organizations across the country are addressing challenges faced by the 496,000 children in foster care today.

Your Voice Matters

Learn how corporations and foundations are making smart investments to tackle challenges faced by the 496,000 children in foster care today.

Court systemstop
Asking the Right Questions

Published in spring 2006, this article discusses a judicial checklist developed by Casey Family Programs in collaboration with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Permanency Planning for Children Department. The checklist includes key educational questions to be asked from the bench during court cases involving youth or children entering the foster care system.

Court-based Education Efforts for Children in Foster Care

Published in July of 2007, this document chronicles educational reform efforts in Pima County, Arizona. It also offers some suggestions to other jurisdictions that want to design and implement their own reform initiatives.

Educationtop

Early childhood education

Economics of Early Childhood Policy

This paper provides an economic perspective on discussions about early childhood policy. It makes a case for supporting social programs focused on prevention, especially during childhood, rather than later-in-life remediation.

Kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12)

Asking the Right Questions

Published in spring 2006, this article discusses a judicial checklist developed by Casey Family Programs in collaboration with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Permanency Planning for Children Department. The checklist includes key educational questions to be asked from the bench during court cases involving youth or children entering the foster care system.

California Foster Youth Education Summit

This report summarizes recommendations developed during the 2007 California Foster Youth Education Summit. It also includes an appendix of the policy briefs prepared before the summit.

Court-based Education Efforts for Children in Foster Care

Published in July of 2007, this document chronicles educational reform efforts in Pima County, Arizona. It also offers some suggestions to other jurisdictions that want to design and implement their own reform initiatives.

Educating Children in Foster Care: The McKinney-Vento and No Child Left Behind Acts

Recommendations for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act to improve the educational outcomes of children and youth in out-of-home care.

Focus on Foster Care: Building Educational Support for Youth in Care

How Casey Family Programs helps youth in care and alumni succeed in K-12 and postsecondary education and training.

A Road Map for Learning: Improving Educational Outcomes in Foster Care

A Road Map for Learning is a guide for everyone working towards successful educational outcomes for youth in foster care or out-of-home care. The guide was published in 2004 by Casey Family Programs, and is available as a 136-page book or as a downloadable PDF file.

Post-secondary education (college and vocational training)

American Indian/Alaska Native Findings from the Casey Alumni National Study—
Analyses of Mental Health, Education, and Employment Outcomes

Special analyses of the Casey National Alumni Study examine the long-term mental health, education, and employment outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native alumni of foster care. This brief report summarizes the demographics, risk factors, foster care experiences, and outcomes for 243 AI/AN alumni and a comparison group of 574 white alumni.

Building a data sharing network of scholarship programs for alumni of foster care

Published by Casey Family Programs and Wilder Research, this report describes the process of launching the Foster Care Alumni Scholarship Benchmarking Network. Launched in 2007, the network tracks the educational outcomes of youth formerly in foster care who have received college scholarships.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey 2006

How do Casey Family Programs' young people experience foster care? The Casey Young Adult Survey examined their quality of life in several key areas, including mental health, education, and employment.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey: Findings Over Three Years

This study examines the experience of young people while they were in care with Casey Family Programs. It also analyzes their outcomes after leaving care. Casey's Young Adult Survey has been conducted every year between 2004 and 2006. This summary report includes combined findings for all three years of data collection.

Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

This publication examines how the Chafee educational and training vouchers and other state-based supports for higher education have been working for alumni from foster care.

Focus on Foster Care: Building Educational Support for Youth in Care

How Casey Family Programs helps youth in care and alumni succeed in K-12 and postsecondary education and training.

Frequently Asked Questions I, II, and III

A series of publications designed to assist child welfare professionals, advocates, and young people to use and understand the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and the Chafee Education and Training Voucher Program.

Higher Education Reform: Incorporating the Needs of Foster Youth

Published in November 2003, this 12-page report makes three recommendations for the upcoming reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act.

Improving Family Foster Care

Released in April 2005, this study presents findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. It details how youth who were placed in foster care are faring as adults and what changes in foster care services could improve their lives. Casey, Harvard Medical School, and the state agencies of Washington and Oregon collaborated on this study.

It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training

Based on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals and educators prepare young people from foster care academically, financially, and emotionally for postsecondary education and training success. Published in 2006 by Casey Family Programs, It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training is available in print and as a downloadable PDF.

Supporting Success: Improving Higher Education Outcomes for Students from Foster Care

This framework provides program development tools for college counselors, administrators, professors, and staff. It helps education professionals define a plan for improving their institution’s support for students from foster care.

Employmenttop
American Indian/Alaska Native Findings from the Casey Alumni National Study—
Analyses of Mental Health, Education, and Employment Outcomes

Special analyses of the Casey National Alumni Study examine the long-term mental health, education, and employment outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native alumni of foster care. This brief report summarizes the demographics, risk factors, foster care experiences, and outcomes for 243 AI/AN alumni and a comparison group of 574 white alumni.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey 2006

How do Casey Family Programs' young people experience foster care? The Casey Young Adult Survey examined their quality of life in several key areas, including mental health, education, and employment.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey: Findings Over Three Years

This study examines the experience of young people while they were in care with Casey Family Programs. It also analyzes their outcomes after leaving care. Casey's Young Adult Survey has been conducted every year between 2004 and 2006. This summary report includes combined findings for all three years of data collection.

Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

This publication examines how the Chafee educational and training vouchers and other state-based supports for higher education have been working for alumni from foster care.

Focus on Foster Care: Building Educational Support for Youth in Care

How Casey Family Programs helps youth in care and alumni succeed in K-12 and postsecondary education and training.

Focus on Foster Care: Youth Employment

Published in March 2007, this four-page briefing describes Casey Family Programs' commitment to helping youth and alumni of care gain employment skills.

Frequently Asked Questions I, II, and III

A series of publications designed to assist child welfare professionals, advocates, and young people to use and understand the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and the Chafee Education and Training Voucher Program.

Improving Family Foster Care

Released in April 2005, this study presents findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. It details how youth who were placed in foster care are faring as adults and what changes in foster care services could improve their lives. Casey, Harvard Medical School, and the state agencies of Washington and Oregon collaborated on this study.

It’s My Life: Employment

Expanding on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide to employment and career development helps child welfare professionals prepare young people for success in the workplace. It’s My Life: Employment was published in 2004 by Casey Family Programs. It is available in printed form and for download in PDF format.

It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training

Based on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals and educators prepare young people from foster care academically, financially, and emotionally for postsecondary education and training success. Published in 2006 by Casey Family Programs, It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training is available in print and as a downloadable PDF.

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A Guide to SSI and Social Security Benefits for Children and Youth in Out-of-Home Care

Basic information about the eligibility and rights of children and youth in out-of-home care to receive SSI and Social Security benefits.

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California and Flexible Funding

In Alameda and Los Angeles counties, children are finding safe, loving homes because child welfare funding requirements permit innovative solutions.

Child Welfare Finance Reform Principles

This white paper outlines five key principles to help guide state and federal policy makers in their decisions about how best to finance America's child welfare systems.

Effects of Federal Child Welfare Financing Waivers

In an effort to educate policy-makers, Casey Family Programs has undertaken an analysis of child welfare demonstration projects designed to expand state program flexibility while maintaining, but capping, the current level of program funding.

Stories of practice change: What Flexible Funding Means to the Children and Families of Los Angeles County

Lessons learned through implementation of flexible funding in Los Angeles and Alameda counties, 2008 and 2009.

Focus on Foster Caretop
Focus on Foster Care: The Breakthrough Series Collaborative

Read a four-page briefing on an innovative model of quality improvement that uses small, rapid tests of change that result in broad, sustainable system improvements in child welfare.

Focus on Foster Care: Building Educational Support for Youth in Care

How Casey Family Programs helps youth in care and alumni succeed in K-12 and postsecondary education and training.

Focus on Foster Care: Committing to Diversity and Anti-Racism

Read a 4-page briefing that tells the story of Casey's increasing involvement in communities of color, and of the changes it has effected since 1975 in services to youth, tools and resources for caseworkers, and state, tribal, and federal advocacy efforts.

Focus on Foster Care: Engaging Alumni of Foster Care

This four-page briefing describes how Casey formalized its work with alumni in 2000, and how it has actively incorporated alumni perspectives into its work in a variety of ways.

Focus on Foster Care: Family Group Decision-Making

Read a 4-page briefing recapping the adoption of a family-centered approach to child welfare in Texas. For more information about this approach, download a 58-page report by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Focus on Foster Care: Preparing for Adulthood

This four-page briefing describes how Casey creates tools and resources directed to transitioning youth and to the professionals, caregivers, legislators, and advisors that directly and indirectly support these youth.

Focus on Foster Care: Supporting LGBTQ Youth and Families

This four-page briefing describes how Casey is raising awareness, creating cultural change, and improving services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and families in foster care.

Focus on Foster Care: Youth Employment

Published in March 2007, this four-page briefing describes Casey Family Programs' commitment to helping youth and alumni of care gain employment skills.

Housingtop
It’s My Life: Housing

Expanding on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals prepare young people to find, get, and keep housing. It’s My Life: Housing was published in 2005 by Casey Family Programs. It is available in printed form and for download in PDF format.

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Children of Incarcerated Parents Fact Sheet

Statistics about adult incarceration in the United States. Learn how incarceration affects children and families left behind, and particularly children in foster care.

Children of Prisoners Empowered for Success (COPES) Final Evaluation Report

Since 2006, the COPES program has fostered positive outcomes for children of incarcerated parents and their families. This program evaluation report was published in 2009 to foster accountability, understand the program’s impact, and gather information for program improvement purposes.

Indian Child Welfaretop
American Indian/Alaska Native Findings from the Casey Alumni National Study—
Analyses of Mental Health, Education, and Employment Outcomes

Special analyses of the Casey National Alumni Study examine the long-term mental health, education, and employment outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native alumni of foster care. This brief report summarizes the demographics, risk factors, foster care experiences, and outcomes for 243 AI/AN alumni and a comparison group of 574 white alumni.

The Indian Child Welfare Act: An Examination of State Compliance in Arizona

An analysis of the practical impact of the 1978 federal law on Native American families and tribes.

Native American Children and Youth Well-Being Indicators

Looking at well-being indicators for Native American children and youth from a strength-based, rather than deficit-based, perspective.

Native American Kids 2002

A review of the research literature on 10 indicators of well-being for Native American children.

It's My Lifetop
It’s My Life: A Framework for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Successful Adulthood

A holistic approach for those who play a role in how young adults envision and achieve success in adulthood.

It’s My Life: Employment

Expanding on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide to employment and career development helps child welfare professionals prepare young people for success in the workplace. It’s My Life: Employment was published in 2004 by Casey Family Programs. It is available in printed form and for download in PDF format.

It’s My Life: Housing

Expanding on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals prepare young people to find, get, and keep housing. It’s My Life: Housing was published in 2005 by Casey Family Programs. It is available in printed form and for download in PDF format.

It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training

Based on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals and educators prepare young people from foster care academically, financially, and emotionally for postsecondary education and training success. Published in 2006 by Casey Family Programs, It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training is available in print and as a downloadable PDF.

Kinship caretop
Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Supporting Kinship Care

This report is intended to be an easy-to-use resource for administrators and practitioners in the child welfare field who desire to learn about the successful strategies Breakthrough Series Collaborative teams developed to support kinship care.

Commitment to Kin: Elements of a Support and Service System for Kinship Care

This report brings to the forefront of social policy and practice the unique needs of kinship families and children.

Kinship Care

This white paper presents Casey Family Programs recommendations for key changes in federal policy to help more children benefit from a type of care that we know works.

Law and policytop
California and Flexible Funding

In Alameda and Los Angeles counties, children are finding safe, loving homes because child welfare funding requirements permit innovative solutions.

Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

This publication examines how the Chafee educational and training vouchers and other state-based supports for higher education have been working for alumni from foster care.

Economics of Early Childhood Policy

This paper provides an economic perspective on discussions about early childhood policy. It makes a case for supporting social programs focused on prevention, especially during childhood, rather than later-in-life remediation.

Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Improving lives and opportunities for children in foster care

This document explains how the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (H.R. 6893/P.L. 110-351) benefits young people in care.

Frequently Asked Questions I, II, and III

A series of publications designed to assist child welfare professionals, advocates, and young people to use and understand the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and the Chafee Education and Training Voucher Program.

Higher Education Reform: Incorporating the Needs of Foster Youth

Published in November 2003, this 12-page report makes three recommendations for the upcoming reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act.

The Indian Child Welfare Act: An Examination of State Compliance in Arizona

An analysis of the practical impact of the 1978 federal law on Native American families and tribes.

A Ten-Year Review of Family Preservation Research

This report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy was commissioned by Casey Family Programs. It identifies some of the most cost-effective strategies for safely reducing out-of-home placements in child welfare.

LGBTQ youthtop
Focus on Foster Care: Supporting LGBTQ Youth and Families

This four-page briefing describes how Casey is raising awareness, creating cultural change, and improving services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and families in foster care.

Mental Health, Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Spirituality Among Youth in Foster Care

This report presents findings from the Casey Field Office Mental Health study. With assistance from Casey Family Programs' direct services offices, interviewers from the University of Michigan completed interviews with 188 adolescents in Casey care in summer and fall 2006. The survey included questions about mental health, spirituality, ethnic identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Mental healthtop
American Indian/Alaska Native Findings from the Casey Alumni National Study—
Analyses of Mental Health, Education, and Employment Outcomes

Special analyses of the Casey National Alumni Study examine the long-term mental health, education, and employment outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native alumni of foster care. This brief report summarizes the demographics, risk factors, foster care experiences, and outcomes for 243 AI/AN alumni and a comparison group of 574 white alumni.

Assessing the Effects of Foster Care

This report presents findings from the Casey National Alumni study. The study examined case records and interviews of 1,087 Casey foster-care alumni who were served between 1966 and 1998. An additional summary published with this report reveals high rates of mental health disorders among alumni.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey 2006

How do Casey Family Programs' young people experience foster care? The Casey Young Adult Survey examined their quality of life in several key areas, including mental health, education, and employment.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey: Findings Over Three Years

This study examines the experience of young people while they were in care with Casey Family Programs. It also analyzes their outcomes after leaving care. Casey's Young Adult Survey has been conducted every year between 2004 and 2006. This summary report includes combined findings for all three years of data collection.

Educating Children in Foster Care: The McKinney-Vento and No Child Left Behind Acts

Recommendations for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act to improve the educational outcomes of children and youth in out-of-home care.

Improving Family Foster Care

Released in April 2005, this study presents findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. It details how youth who were placed in foster care are faring as adults and what changes in foster care services could improve their lives. Casey, Harvard Medical School, and the state agencies of Washington and Oregon collaborated on this study.

Mental Health Care for Children and Adolescents in Foster Care

Published in 2006, this review surveys major findings gleaned from studies about the evidence base for mental health care and about related class action law suits. The review also outlines steps that will improve the mental health services delivered to children in foster care.

Mental Health, Ethnicity, Sexuality, and Spirituality Among Youth in Foster Care

This report presents findings from the Casey Field Office Mental Health study. With assistance from Casey Family Programs' direct services offices, interviewers from the University of Michigan completed interviews with 188 adolescents in Casey care in summer and fall 2006. The survey included questions about mental health, spirituality, ethnic identity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Permanencytop
Improving Outcomes for Older Youth in Foster Care

This white paper presents Casey Family Programs' recommendations for federal policies to help improve outcomes for older youth in foster care.

Minimizing Placement Change

This paper explores why a focus on minimizing placement change should be a vital aspect of permanency planning.

Post-Permanency Services

Published in 2003, this monograph focuses on "sustaining permanency" through services to children and their families after leaving foster care for permanent homes.

Preventiontop
Midcourse Lessons Learned from the Los Angeles County Prevention Initiative Demonstration Program: Early Successes, Partnerships, and the Challenges That Lie Ahead

The Prevention Initiative Demonstration Program is designed to address the unique needs and resources of the different regions of LA County. This report describes reform efforts and prevention activities undertaken by the program in Feb. 2008.

Phase I Process Evaluation for Norwood

In 2007, Casey Family Programs conducted a process evaluation of the Neighborhood Based Prevention initiative in south Los Angeles' Norwood neighborhood. The evaluation analyzed the initiative’s strengths and limitations. This reports presents the evaluation results, providing guidance to the initiatives’ participants about the elements that should be preserved or improved.

Strengths and Needs Survey and Asset and Resource Maps: Fries Avenue Elementary School

This report identifies the strengths and needs of families and children in SPA 8. This community assessment will help partners in Casey's neighborhood based prevention initiative address needs while building upon family and community strengths.

Strengths and Needs Survey and Asset and Resource Maps: Norwood Elementary School

This report identifies the strengths and needs of families and children in Los Angeles County's SPA 6. This community assessment will help partners in Casey's neighborhood based prevention initiative address needs while building upon family and community strengths.

A Ten-Year Review of Family Preservation Research

This report from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy was commissioned by Casey Family Programs. It identifies some of the most cost-effective strategies for safely reducing out-of-home placements in child welfare.

Racial disproportionalitytop
An Analysis Of Racial/Ethnic Disproportionality and Disparity at the National, State, and County Levels

This report was written by Senior Researcher Robert B. Hill, Race Matters Consortium, Westat. It was published in December 2007 by the Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare.

Disproportionality: The Overrepresentation of Children of Color in the Foster Care System

Children of color account for 42 percent of the US child population yet make up 57 percent of all children in foster care. This two-page policy brief presents the facts about disproportionality, and offers promising practices and recommendations to help reduce racial disparities in child welfare.

Engaging Communities in Taking a Stand for Children and Families

This publication chronicles how the Texas Department of Family & Protective Services’ Child Protective Services has worked with Casey to significantly shift its internal culture to one defined by family-focused practice.

Places to Watch

Published in 2006, this report from the Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare highlights the work of ten jurisdictions that are committed to reducing racial disproportionality and disparity in their child welfare systems.

Racial Disproportionality, Race Disparity, and Other Race-Related Findings in Published Works Derived from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

This paper was published in January 2008 by the Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare. It draws on studies of data gathered during the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to examine child welfare in the context of race and ethnicity.

Synthesis of Research on Disproportionality in Child Welfare

More than half of the 500,000 children in foster care on any day in America come from ethnic minority families even though children from minority communities make up less than half the children in this country. Why are so many children of color in the child welfare system? This paper is an extensive study of the research available on this topic.

Unsuccessful In-Home Child Welfare Service Plans Following a Maltreatment Investigation:
Racial and Ethnic Differences

Many child welfare professionals are familiar with racial disproportionality, the overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system. Based on recent NSCAW data, this study examines disproportionality in children remaining in the home following a maltreatment investigation-an understudied but high-risk population.

Recruiting foster familiestop
Breakthrough Series Collaborative: Recruitment and Retention of Resource Families

The breakthrough series collaborative methodology shows significant promise for bridging the gaps between best practices and actual practice. This 2005 report on recruitment and retention of foster families illustrates the use of the methodology and describes successful strategies and lessons learned.

Youth and alumnitop

Advocacy

California Foster Youth Education Summit

This report summarizes recommendations developed during the 2007 California Foster Youth Education Summit. It also includes an appendix of the policy briefs prepared before the summit.

Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit

Sponsored by Casey Family Programs and the Washington State Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit gathered together 28 youth in foster care, 18 alumni of care, and 19 allies from all of the regions across Washington State.

Strategic Sharing

A joint publication of Casey Family Programs and Foster Care Alumni of America, this 12-page strategic sharing booklet is for those who want to learn more about using their personal stories to effect change, while at the same time protecting their own well being.

Outcome studies

American Indian/Alaska Native Findings from the Casey Alumni National Study—
Analyses of Mental Health, Education, and Employment Outcomes

Special analyses of the Casey National Alumni Study examine the long-term mental health, education, and employment outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native alumni of foster care. This brief report summarizes the demographics, risk factors, foster care experiences, and outcomes for 243 AI/AN alumni and a comparison group of 574 white alumni.

Assessing the Effects of Foster Care

This report presents findings from the Casey National Alumni study. The study examined case records and interviews of 1,087 Casey foster-care alumni who were served between 1966 and 1998. An additional summary published with this report reveals high rates of mental health disorders among alumni.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey 2006

How do Casey Family Programs' young people experience foster care? The Casey Young Adult Survey examined their quality of life in several key areas, including mental health, education, and employment.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey: Findings Over Three Years

This study examines the experience of young people while they were in care with Casey Family Programs. It also analyzes their outcomes after leaving care. Casey's Young Adult Survey has been conducted every year between 2004 and 2006. This summary report includes combined findings for all three years of data collection.

Enhancing the Validity of Foster Care Follow-up Studies

This article describes a set of strategies that were used to achieve higher response rates in two recent follow-up studies.

Improving Family Foster Care

Released in April 2005, this study presents findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. It details how youth who were placed in foster care are faring as adults and what changes in foster care services could improve their lives. Casey, Harvard Medical School, and the state agencies of Washington and Oregon collaborated on this study.

Transition to adulthood

Assessing the Effects of Foster Care

This report presents findings from the Casey National Alumni study. The study examined case records and interviews of 1,087 Casey foster-care alumni who were served between 1966 and 1998. An additional summary published with this report reveals high rates of mental health disorders among alumni.

Better Together: Connecting Today... Transforming Tomorrow

This guide to the nationwide alumni movement is for youth formerly in foster care, child welfare professionals, caregivers, and other allies. The guide was published in 2006 by Casey Family Programs.

Building a data sharing network of scholarship programs for alumni of foster care

Published by Casey Family Programs and Wilder Research, this report describes the process of launching the Foster Care Alumni Scholarship Benchmarking Network. Launched in 2007, the network tracks the educational outcomes of youth formerly in foster care who have received college scholarships.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey 2006

How do Casey Family Programs' young people experience foster care? The Casey Young Adult Survey examined their quality of life in several key areas, including mental health, education, and employment.

Casey Family Programs Young Adult Survey: Findings Over Three Years

This study examines the experience of young people while they were in care with Casey Family Programs. It also analyzes their outcomes after leaving care. Casey's Young Adult Survey has been conducted every year between 2004 and 2006. This summary report includes combined findings for all three years of data collection.

Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program

This publication examines how the Chafee educational and training vouchers and other state-based supports for higher education have been working for alumni from foster care.

Enhancing the Validity of Foster Care Follow-up Studies

This article describes a set of strategies that were used to achieve higher response rates in two recent follow-up studies.

Focus on Foster Care: Building Educational Support for Youth in Care

How Casey Family Programs helps youth in care and alumni succeed in K-12 and postsecondary education and training.

Focus on Foster Care: Engaging Alumni of Foster Care

This four-page briefing describes how Casey formalized its work with alumni in 2000, and how it has actively incorporated alumni perspectives into its work in a variety of ways.

Focus on Foster Care: Preparing for Adulthood

This four-page briefing describes how Casey creates tools and resources directed to transitioning youth and to the professionals, caregivers, legislators, and advisors that directly and indirectly support these youth.

Focus on Foster Care: Youth Employment

Published in March 2007, this four-page briefing describes Casey Family Programs' commitment to helping youth and alumni of care gain employment skills.

Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit

Sponsored by Casey Family Programs and the Washington State Supreme Court Commission on Children in Foster Care, the Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit gathered together 28 youth in foster care, 18 alumni of care, and 19 allies from all of the regions across Washington State.

Frequently Asked Questions I, II, and III

A series of publications designed to assist child welfare professionals, advocates, and young people to use and understand the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program and the Chafee Education and Training Voucher Program.

Improving Family Foster Care

Released in April 2005, this study presents findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. It details how youth who were placed in foster care are faring as adults and what changes in foster care services could improve their lives. Casey, Harvard Medical School, and the state agencies of Washington and Oregon collaborated on this study.

Improving Outcomes for Older Youth in Foster Care

This white paper presents Casey Family Programs' recommendations for federal policies to help improve outcomes for older youth in foster care.

It’s My Life: A Framework for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Successful Adulthood

A holistic approach for those who play a role in how young adults envision and achieve success in adulthood.

It’s My Life: Employment

Expanding on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide to employment and career development helps child welfare professionals prepare young people for success in the workplace. It’s My Life: Employment was published in 2004 by Casey Family Programs. It is available in printed form and for download in PDF format.

It’s My Life: Housing

Expanding on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals prepare young people to find, get, and keep housing. It’s My Life: Housing was published in 2005 by Casey Family Programs. It is available in printed form and for download in PDF format.

It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training

Based on the It’s My Life transition framework, this guide helps child welfare professionals and educators prepare young people from foster care academically, financially, and emotionally for postsecondary education and training success. Published in 2006 by Casey Family Programs, It’s My Life: Postsecondary Education and Training is available in print and as a downloadable PDF.

Post-Permanency Services

Published in 2003, this monograph focuses on "sustaining permanency" through services to children and their families after leaving foster care for permanent homes.

A Road Map for Learning: Improving Educational Outcomes in Foster Care

A Road Map for Learning is a guide for everyone working towards successful educational outcomes for youth in foster care or out-of-home care. The guide was published in 2004 by Casey Family Programs, and is available as a 136-page book or as a downloadable PDF file.