Category

Child Welfare System Research

Considerations for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in the Child Welfare Reform Debate

By | Child Welfare System Research, Foster Care, Immigrant Youth, Research, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors

Considerations for Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in the Child Welfare Reform Debate

Zayna Lyon, Kerri Evans, Linda-Jeanne M. Mack, and Morgan Pardue-Kim; Families in Society (February 8, 2025)

This article examines how the debate over abolishing or reforming the child welfare system has overlooked unaccompanied immigrant children served by ORR, calling for greater access to ORR data and more participatory research to inform policy and practice.

 

Brief: An Examination of Immigration Status and Its Implications for Transition-Age Youth in the Child Welfare System

By | Child Welfare System Research, Foster Care, Immigrant Youth, Research, Research Highlight

Brief: An Examination of Immigration Status and Its Implications for Transition-Age Youth in the Child Welfare System

Anthony Gómez, Kristina K. Lovato, Andrea Lane Eastman, and Mark E. Courtney, Transition-Age Youth Research & Evaluation Hub (May 29, 2025)

This brief summarizes the findings and key recommendations from a study examining immigration status documentation in California’s child welfare records for transition-age youth in foster care.

Understanding the Needs of Immigrant Families Who Are Involved in the Public Child Welfare System: A Case for Transformation

By | Child Welfare System Research, Culture: Issues & Competencies, Immigration Enforcement, Language Issues, New CICW Resources, Peer-Reviewed Publications, Research, Social Work, State Policies

Understanding the Needs of Immigrant Families Who Are Involved in the Public Child Welfare System: A Case for Transformation

Kristina Lovato & Sophia Sepp, Families in Society (May 26, 2025)

This article explores an argument for radical reform of the child welfare system to better serve immigrant children and families who face the dual risks from immigration enforcement and child welfare involvement, proposing policy changes to improve service delivery and equity for these children and families.

What will deportations mean for the child welfare system?

By | Child Welfare System Research, Deportation, Detention, Family Separation, Foster Care, Immigration Enforcement, Research

What will deportations mean for the child welfare system?

Matthew Lisiecki, Kevin Velasco, and Tara Watson; Brookings Institution (April 22, 2025)

This article explores the implications of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts on the millions of U.S. citizen children living with undocumented family members, and the state and local child welfare systems that may serve them. 

“In Whose Best Interests? Comparing Children’s Treatment in Immigration Court and in Child Protection Hearings in Minnesota: Similar Issues Without the Relevant Tools or Best Interests Standard”

By | Child Welfare System Research, Immigrant Youth, Research Highlight, Unaccompanied Minors

“In Whose Best Interests? Comparing Children’s Treatment in Immigration Court and in Child Protection Hearings in Minnesota: Similar Issues Without the Relevant Tools or Best Interests Standard”

Susan Schmidt, Journal on Migration and Human Security (November 14, 2024)

This article compares the treatment of children in immigration court with the treatment of children in child protection proceedings in Minnesota, highlighting a prioritization of federal government interests over children’s best interests.

Families Torn Apart: Language-Based Discrimination at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families

By | Child Welfare System Research, Culture: Issues & Competencies, Language Issues, Research, Research Highlight, Social Work

Families Torn Apart: Language-Based Discrimination at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families

Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law & Justice (January 2021)

This reports explores research on the extent to which the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) provided adequate language access to limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. Findings identified a failure to provide these federally mandated services and critical implications and disparities for the experiences of LEP families who become involved with DCF.

An examination of child welfare agency models that serve immigrant children and families

By | Child Welfare System Research, Culture: Issues & Competencies, Peer-Reviewed Publications, Research, Social Work, State Policies

An examination of child welfare agency models that serve immigrant children and families

Kristina K. Lovato, Megan Finno-Velasquez, Sophia Sepp, Effie Clayton & Kelechi Chinyere Wright; Journal of Public Child Welfare (March 18, 2024)

This study examined child welfare system models for serving immigrant children and families. Findings highlight the importance of specialization of immigrant-related knowledge and skill sets, relationships with consulates and external stakeholders, and innovative engagement approaches.

Working With Immigrants Who Are Child Welfare Involved: Promoting Innovative Collaborations and Systems Involvement During a Public Health Crisis

By | Child Welfare System Research, COVID-19, Peer-Reviewed Publications, Research

Working With Immigrants Who Are Child Welfare Involved: Promoting Innovative Collaborations and Systems Involvement During a Public Health Crisis

Kristina K. Lovato, Megan Finno-Velasquez, Sophia Sepp, Jesse Jeffrey Ramirez, Robin Hernandez-Mekonnen, and Vanessa Mendoza; Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (December 13, 2023)

This research explores the experiences and innovations of child welfare agencies and community partners serving immigrant families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Pathway to Permanency: Collaborating for the Futures of Children who are Immigrants in the Child Welfare System

By | Child Welfare System Research, Foster Care, Immigrant Youth, Immigration Relief, Legal/Law, Research, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)

A Pathway to Permanency: Collaborating for the Futures of Children who are Immigrants in the Child Welfare System

Joanne Gottesman, Randi Mandelbaum & Meredith Pindar; Child Welfare League of America (2019)

This article explores the unique statewide collaboration between Rutgers Law School and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families to provide immigration legal services to children in foster care, including the purpose, structure, and staffing of the collaboration and services offered.

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