The federal government has identified safety, permanency and improved well-being as child welfare goals. In order to effectively hold child welfare systems accountable, the federal government should work in close partnership with those systems to develop and improve methods of measuring achievement in these areas.

This report is the third of four white papers on improving the child welfare system in the United States. It analyzes a possible new framework to provide the high level of accountability that the federal government should expect – and that our children deserve.

By reforming the current accountability system, the federal government would help child welfare systems stay focused on the right priorities – and help ensure that all children have safe, nurturing and permanent families.