US: Seven Funders Working to Improve Child Welfare and Foster Care (May require subscription)
Inside Philanthropy – May 22, 2024
The U.S. child welfare system isn’t working – that is the consensus of those closest to the issue. Human Rights Watch concluded that it harms families, particularly those in Black, Indigenous and low-income communities, and two recent books underscore the scars it leaves on children and adults alike. The system’s mission – to protect children from abuse and neglect – is critical, but it is too often pursued in a way that leaves families broken and traumatized. While foster care represents a positive alternative in some cases, many young people endure a dizzying array of foster placements of varying quality, then age out of the system with little preparation or support. According to one study, close to 30% of foster youth experience homelessness after they age out of care. A wide array of philanthropies prioritize children and their wellbeing, and many of them are endeavoring to transform the child welfare system and make it more responsive to children and families. As nonprofits confront the system’s shortcomings, Inside Philanthropy has been following some of their key backers. Here’s a lineup of some important funders to watch in that space, with the caveat that this is not an exhaustive list.