Category

Child Welfare System Research

Child welfare systems and heightened deportation efforts: State and local agency experiences

By | Child Welfare System Research, Deportation, Foster Care, Immigration Enforcement, Parental Interests Directive, Research

Child welfare systems and heightened deportation efforts: State and local agency experiences

Mark Greenberg & Mallory VanMeeter, Chapin Hall (July 2026)

This study of 13 jurisdictions finds that few children are entering foster care immediately after parental deportation, likely because relatives and trusted adults are stepping in, but warns that limited access to support could make this a growing concern over time.

Immigrant Parents’ Beliefs About the U.S. Child Welfare: System: The Role of Information Sources and Familiarity

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

Immigrant Parents’ Beliefs About the U.S. Child Welfare: System: The Role of Information Sources and Familiarity

Maryam Rafieifar, Yangjin Park, Chien-jen Chiang, Blessing Ramsey-Soroghaye, Yao Wang, and Sajede Tavakoli; International Journal on Child Maltreatment: Research, Policy and Practice (August 14, 2026)

This study finds that immigrant families with little direct knowledge of the U.S. child welfare system still hold strong beliefs about it, shaped by media and community narratives, highlighting the need for culturally responsive, multilingual outreach from child welfare agencies and immigrant-serving organizations.

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.

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