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ERIC Number: ED350084
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1990-Jan-19
Pages: 48
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Crisis in Foster Care: New Directions for the 1990s.
Ooms, Theodora
In January, 1990, a policy seminar examined problems with the foster care system and ways to encourage preventive and family-centered efforts. This document includes highlights of the seminar and a background briefing report. Seminar panelists included: Charles Gershenson, senior policy analyst, Center for the Study of Social Policy; Ann Rosewater, staff director, House Select Committee for Children, Youth and Families; and Ruth Massinga, chief executive, Casey Family Program, Seattle Washington and president, American Public Welfare Association. The eight-part briefing report contains: (1) an introduction to goals of foster care, the impact of 1980 reforms, and the conflicts inherent in the values and goals of foster care; (2) an overview of key principles and components of the child welfare system; (3) an analysis of trends and indicators, including information on the characteristics of foster children; the dynamics of the foster care system; and the effects of such pressures on the system as the rise in child abuse and neglect reports, drug abuse, and homelessness; (4) an overview of federal foster care programs; (5) a review of major problems and challenges, including the need for an improvement in data collection and research; the impact of federal foster care and adoption reforms; problems in the foster care system, including inadequate funding, unpaid claims, escalating administrative expenses, weak oversight, and fragmentation of services; staffing problems at the agency level; increased court burdens and training needs; the shortage of foster parents; and parent advocacy; (6) a discussion of new strategies to preserve families and integrate services; (7) a list of organizational resources; and (8) a 28-item bibliography. Graphs and charts are appended. (AC)
Descriptors: Biological Parents, Child Welfare, Family Problems, Federal Legislation, Foster Care, Foster Children, Foster Family, Objectives, Social Problems, Sociocultural Patterns, Welfare Agencies
Family Impact Seminar, 1100 17th Street, N.W., #901, Washington, DC 20036 ($10).
Publication Type: Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Policymakers
Language: English
Sponsor: Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, New York, NY.; Consortium of Family Organizations.
Authoring Institution: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Washington, DC. Research and Education Foundation.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Policy seminar conducted by the Family Impact Seminar (Washington, DC, January 19, 1990).