Noting that one of the biggest obstacles to reforming the foster care system has been the relative unavailability of research data from the field, this book provides an overview of the current state of foster care, describes the special needs of children living in foster care, and identifies policies and practices that address the foster care crisis. Following an introduction, "The Chronic Nature of the Foster Care Crisis" (Patrick A. Curtis), the chapters are: (1) "Foster Care Dynamics" (Robert M. Goerge, Fred Wulczyn, and Allen Harden); (2) "The Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System: Implications for Foster Care Policy" (Raymond Collins); (3) "Predictors of Child Protective Service Intake Decisions: Case Closure, Referral to Continuing Services, or Foster Care Placement" (Susan Zuravin and Diane DePanfilis); (4) "Foster Care and the Special Needs of Minority Children" (Anthony J. Urquiza, Jane Wu, and Joaquin Borrego, Jr.); (5) "Incorporating the Perspectives of Youth Placed in Family Foster Care: Selected Research Findings and Methodological Challenges" (Mary C. Curran and Peter J. Pecora); (6) "Foster Care and the Costs of Welfare Reform" (Mark E. Courtney); (7) "Recent Trends in Kinship Care: Public Policy, Payments, and Outcomes for Children" (Jill Duerr Berrick and Barbara Needell); (8) "A Proposal for Universal Medical and Mental Health Screenings for Children Entering Foster Care" (Grady Dale, Jr., Joshua C. Kendall, and Janet Stein Schultz); (9) "Foster Care and Pathways to Mental Health Services" (John Landsverk and Ann F. Garland); (10) "Foster Care and Family Reunification" (Anthony N. Maluccio); and (11) "The Rationalization of Foster Care in the Twenty-First Century" (Mark E. Courtney and Anthony N. Maluccio). (Each chapter contains references.) (KB)