From Rights to Reality: A blueprint for parent advocacy and family-centered child welfare reform September 01, 2015 by Rise From Rights to Reality is designed to unite parents and parent advocacy around a common set of goals. It identifies 15 rights for parents affected by the child welfare system. Most parents do not yet have… [read more]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people are in America’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems in disproportionate numbers. Like all young people in care, they have the right to be safe and protected. All too often, however, they are misunderstood and mistreated, leading to an increased risk of negative outcomes. This tool… [read more]

Every State, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have statutes providing for the termination of parental rights by a court. Termination of parental rights ends the legal parent-child relationship. Once the relationship has been terminated, the child is legally free to be placed… [read more]

Health care is a basic necessity for all children and youth. Children and youth who enter foster care because of abuse or neglect often have significant health-care needs. Changes in the nation’s health-care laws have increased access to and affordability of health care for some of our most vulnerable children and youth—those involved with child… [read more]

The purpose of this guide is to support adoptive and foster families by strengthening the abilities of pediatricians to: 1) identify traumatized children, 2) educate families about toxic stress and the possible biological, behavioral, and social manifestations of early childhood trauma, and 3) empower families to respond to their child’s behavior in a manner that… [read more]

This New Jersey guide serves as a useful tool to assist you through the transition into adulthood. The information in this guide outlines resources as well as people who are available and willing to help you plan for your future. Ultimately, we want you to reach adulthood successfully!

What’s Inside: • Talking with children about the changes • Helping children understand their histories and losses • Helping children cope with trauma and loss • Helping children transfer attachments • Conclusion • Resources Published by: Child Welfare Information Gateway Children’s Bureau/ACYF 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW Eighth Floor Washington, DC 20024 800.394.3366 Email: info@childwelfare.gov https://www.childwelfare.gov

WHAT’S INSIDE Who must be included in the home studyAgency or person conducting the study Qualifications for adoptive parents Elements of a home study Grounds for withholding approvalWhen studies must be completed Postplacement study requirements Exceptions for stepparent or relative adoptionsRequirements for interjurisdictional placementsFoster to adopt placementsSummaries of State lawsTo find statute information for a… [read more]

NJ ARCH has created a useful handbook to help you with your adoption needs. This easy-to-read 34-page handbook covers issues in adoption including: lifelong adoption, behavioral and developmental needs, and adoption resources. To view and print an electronic, PDF version of this handbook, please click on the handbook cover to the left. If you would like to… [read more]

This booklet covers expenses common to most adoptions, expenses unique to the various types of adoption, financial assistance for adoption and post-adoption expenses, and tax breaks available to adoptive parents.