Child Welfare
Child welfare systems serve millions of children and families around the world. For decades, Chapin Hall has researched how these systems work and their impact on those they serve. We use that research to help child welfare jurisdictions improve performance, and to shape public policy to advance the use of evidence-based approaches across the child welfare field.
Focus Areas
Our Work Focuses On
Integrating and improving systems to improve family outcomes is the focus of Chapin Hall’s local, national and international child welfare capacity building efforts. Find project descriptions and reports related to this work.
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Reports and project descriptions that demonstrate how rigorous data analysis in child welfare systems helps define problems and inform solutions.
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Outcomes for foster youth--from education to housing to economic independence--are explored in Chapin Hall’s unrivaled body of research on those who have been in the foster care system.
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The intersection of juvenile justice and child welfare, program evaluations, child abuse prevention and more are explored in a range of child welfare-related reports.
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Spotlight
Child Welfare
Spotlight
Supportive Housing Helps Homeless Families Leave Child Welfare System
Researchers evaluated Bringing Families Home, a supportive housing program for child welfare system involved families.
2024
Kinship Homes Need More Resources, Fewer Obstacles
This brief summarizes obstacles faced by kinship foster families that reduce stability for the children moved into their homes.
2023
Economic and Concrete Supports are Key Ingredients in Programs Designed to Prevent Child Welfare Involvement
This brief discusses the current evidence for the value of economic and concrete supports as a child welfare prevention mechanism and identifies key program and...
2023
Child Welfare Resources
Access Chapin Hall toolkits, webinars, and other resources for child welfare.
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Recent Content
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Child Welfare
Recent Content
Report
Evaluating San Francisco’s Guaranteed Income Program for Young People Who Aged out of Extended Foster Care
This brief describes the evaluation of the pilot of a guaranteed income program in San Francisco, in which 150 young people participated.
2025
Report
Understanding Child Care Assistance in Illinois: Who is Enrolled and Where?
Chapin Hall researchers analyzed Child Care Assistance Program data to calculate the number of child participants.
2025
Project
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care
Chapin Hall works with Chicago's Lawrence Hall to ensure quality independent living programming for LGBTQI+ youth who are aging out of foster care.
March 6, 2025
Policy
Implementing Motivational Interviewing in Illinois Child Welfare: Strengthening Family Engagement and Casework Practice
This policy brief shares insights for strengthening motivational interviewing as a standard casework practice in Illinois child welfare services.
February 24, 2025
Project
Access to Medicaid and Healthcare Promotes Child Safety
Access to Medicaid and healthcare for children and their families is associated with reduced risk for child welfare system involvement.
February 10, 2025
Research
Improving Collaboration Between Child Welfare and Home Visiting Workers in Illinois
Chapin Hall and the Erikson Institute DCFS Early Childhood Project are co-leading a process to monitor the implementation of the Family First plan’s home...
2025
Project
Supporting Young People Aging out of Foster Care through Independent Living Programs and Supervised Independent Living Placements
This policy brief examines the critical roles that Independent Living Programs and Supervised Independent Living Placements can play in supporting young people...
February 3, 2025
Project
Disrupting the Link Between Poverty and Child Welfare Involvement through Policy, Practice
This brief provides examples of innovative state and local approaches to reducing family child welfare involvement.
February 3, 2025
Report
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy May Be Effective as Prevention Service
This qualitative study assesses the implementation of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in the child welfare system in Illinois
2024
Report
Surveying the Illinois Child Welfare Workforce: A Snapshot of Worker Well-Being
This brief examines the challenges child welfare workers face that impact their ability to effectively support children and families.
2024
Report
Child Care Workers and Wages: The Impact of COVID-19 and Minimum Wage Increases
These briefs explore how childcare workers have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and increases to minimum wage.
2024
Project
Establishing Community Pathways to Prevention Services
This report explores the innovative “community pathway” approach within the Family First context.
September 24, 2024
Project
Chapin Hall Explores How AI can Improve Child and Family Well-being
As AI evolves, our experts explore how it can be applied to solve public policy problems and improve child and family well-being.
September 17, 2024
News
Chapin Hall Researcher Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr. named Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow
Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr. is part of the 2024 cohort of the Aspen Institute's Ascend Fellows. During his 18-month fellowship, Boyd intends to launch a trade...
September 6, 2024
Project
Keeping Families Safe and Connected
This manual for Safe & Connected breaks down each Basic Tenet and Framework critical component, illustrating how each will be achieved.
August 6, 2024
Report
Overall TANF Caseload Declined between 2010 and 2022
This brief describes results from a series of longitudinal analyses using federal TANF administrative data from 28 states.
2024
Project
Chapin Hall Resources Address Racial Bias in Research, Systems
How Chapin Hall works to address bias in research and advance racial equity in systems.
June 17, 2024
News
Chapin Hall Receives APHSA Research and Evaluation Innovation Award
Chapin Hall's work on economic and concrete supports in the preservation of families and prevention of child welfare involvement is called “groundbreaking.”
June 13, 2024
Report
First Steps Initiative Brings Effective Interventions to Young Families Experiencing Housing Insecurity
The authors evaluated a project that implemented interventions to improve the health of housing-insecure young families.
2024
Report
Counties Make Progress Implementing 100% New Mexico Initiative
County leaders in New Mexico are coordinating efforts within and across counties to address service barriers in each of 10 vital services, all with interrelated...
2024
Research
In Statewide Survey, New Mexicans Identify Barriers Accessing Vital Services
Report describes the baseline results from 6,549 local community members from 11 New Mexico counties about barriers they face accessing vital services.
2024
Report
Providing Flexible Funds for Concrete Supports to Families as a Child Welfare Prevention Strategy
Policy framework for expanding economic and concrete support services to families as a comprehensive child welfare prevention strategy.
2024
Project
Framework Centers Meeting Family Needs, Preventing Child Welfare Involvement
This framework helps develop an integrated and holistic child and family well-being system. It provides a vision of this system and the practical steps to get...
March 11, 2024
Report
Doris Duke Fellowships Launched Fellows’ Careers and Facilitated Long-Term Connections
This survey of eight cohorts of Doris Duke Fellows examines the strength of network connections.
2024
Project
Supporting and Evaluating Illinois DCFS Wraparound
Chapin Hall is partnering with DCFS to provide implementation support and evaluate Community-Based High-Fidelity Wraparound.
February 27, 2024
Report
Supportive Housing Helps Homeless Families Leave Child Welfare System
Researchers evaluated Bringing Families Home, a supportive housing program for child welfare system involved families.
2024
Project
Helping Providers Choose Effective Programs
This Guide allows case workers and providers to make informed decisions and ensure a good fit between clients and the services they receive.
December 5, 2023
Report
Evaluation Yields Mixed Results Regarding LifeSet’s Impact on Young People in Extended Foster Care
This report summarizes findings from Phase II of an evaluation of LifeSet, which helps young people in foster care successfully transition to adulthood.
2023
Report
National Survey Assesses Use of Economic and Concrete Supports to Prevent Child Welfare System Involvement
This survey of child welfare leaders examines state leaders’ perceptions and practices regarding the use of economic and concrete supports in preventing...
November 9, 2023
News
Nov. 1 Webinar Introduced Toolkit Aimed at Reducing Racial Inequities in Child Welfare
A Nov. 1, 2023 webinar focuses on new tools for sustaining efforts to reduce racial inequity in child welfare.
October 18, 2023
Report
Kinship Homes Need More Resources, Fewer Obstacles
This brief summarizes obstacles faced by kinship foster families that reduce stability for the children moved into their homes.
2023
Research
Core Components for Authentic Youth Engagement Identified
This study examines what authentic youth engagement means and how it can be best practiced at youth-centered organizations.
2023
News
Aug. 24 Webinar Explores Program to Prevent Homelessness Among Head Start Families
This webinar will describe Pathways Home, a partnership between Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and The Alliance for Community Empowerment. Presenters...
August 10, 2023
Project
Building Evidence on New York City’s Efforts to Provide Comprehensive Supports for Youth in Foster Care
This project examines whether New York City's Fair Futures Program is meeting its goals.
August 2, 2023
Research
Evaluation of Fair Futures Shows a Well-Developed but Still Emerging Model for Working with Young People in Foster Care
This report details the findings from an 18-month study of the implementation of the Fair Futures initiative.
2022
Project
Promoting Sustainable Data Use in State Programs
A new toolkit helps public sector agencies build the culture and infrastructure to apply data analysis routinely, effectively, and accurately
July 28, 2023
Project
Chapin Hall Offers Sessions on Family First Prevention Services, Economic and Concrete Supports at 2023 CWLA Conference
Chapin Hall staff presented at the 2023 CWLA conference. Read about the presentations and view the slides.
July 13, 2023
Project
Home Visiting in the Family First Context
This brief is an outgrowth of the 2022 National Home Visiting Summit hosted by Start Early.
June 30, 2023
Project
Bringing Kinship Care Out of the Shadows
This project compiled key definitions and evidence to better clarify kinship practices. Policy staff developed a list of recommendations for those implementing...
May 31, 2023
Report
Economic and Concrete Supports are Key Ingredients in Programs Designed to Prevent Child Welfare Involvement
This brief discusses the current evidence for the value of economic and concrete supports as a child welfare prevention mechanism and identifies key program and...
2023
Report
Family First Implementation of Congregate Care Reforms: Where are We One Year Later?
This report examines how states are changing or reducing the use of congregate care under Family First and implementing and financing QRTPs and other...
2023
Report
Resilience of Latina Caregivers Improves after Participating in a Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Intervention in their Medical Home
This brief describes the effects of a Social Determinants of Health intervention on Latina caregivers’ well-being.
2023
News
Chapin Hall and Gov. Pritzker Launch Blueprint for Transformation of Mental Health Services for Illinois Youth
Dr. Dana Weiner, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and other elected officials launched the Blueprint for Transformation, a road map that will guide the overhaul...
February 27, 2023
Report
Youth Participants Give High Marks to LifeSet Program in Illinois
This brief examines the ways LifeSet is and is not supporting the transition from foster care to adulthood for 13 young people.
2023
Research Collection
Alameda County’s Youth Transitions Partnership: Lessons from a Formative Evaluation of a Program for Transition-Age Youth in Care
Chapin Hall conducted a formative evaluation of YTP and released several reports and briefs.
2022
Research
Demonstration Project to Improve Outcomes for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Yields Mixed Results
Urban Institute and Chapin Hall evaluated the FUP-FSS Demonstration's implementation and short-term effectiveness in helping youth aging out of foster care move...
2021
Report
Risk Reduction Training for Youth in Care Improves Parenting Skills
This report evaluates the effectiveness of DCFS risk reduction training for pregnant and parenting youth in care.
2020
Report
Home Visiting Services Help Homeless Families Navigate Children’s Health and Development
This report examines Start Early's Home Visiting for Homeless Families project and its progress toward increasing access to home visiting services among...
2022
Report
LifeSet Providers Identify Model Strengths and Implementation Challenges
This brief summarizes findings from Phase I of an evaluation of LifeSet, an intensive, evidence-based, youth-centered, and service-focused model developed by...
2022
Report
Illinois Childcare Workers Experienced Employment Interruptions During Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic
This report analyzes Illinois employment data through 2020 to better understand the impacts on the childcare labor market in the early days of the pandemic
2022
Report
Greater Investments Needed to Support College Students with Foster Care Backgrounds
This memo takes a closer look at the types of colleges that foster youth enroll in.
2022
Report
Foster Youth Not Receiving Needed Support to Succeed at Community College
This mixed methods study was conducted to determine the college enrollment and graduation rates among young people in foster care in Illinois and to learn more...
2022
Research Collection
Supporting Transition-Age Youth through the Federal Chafee Program
This research collection features evaluations of programs funded by the Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood.
November 4, 2021
Report
Despite Decline in Interactions, Higher Quality Connections for Doris Duke Fellows in 2019-20
This report presents findings from the most recent survey of Doris Duke Fellows, capturing connections made between July 2019 and June 2020.
2021
Report
Majority of CalYOUTH Participants Enrolled in College, with 10% Attaining Degree by Age 23
This memo provides an early look at factors that promote or stymie college degree completion by around age 23 of youths transitioning to adulthood from the...
2021
Report
Expanding Data Use and Evidence in the TANF Program: Identifying Strengths and Areas for Growth Across the U.S.
This brief summarizes the national landscape of how TANF agencies use data and identifies areas of success and opportunities for growth.
2021
Report
Addressing Economic Hardship Key to Preventing Child Welfare System Involvement
This brief provides an overview of policy, programmatic, analytic, and engagement strategies for leveraging economic supports to promote child and family...
2021
Report
Impacts of Extended Care on Youth Outcomes Two Years after Foster Care Has Ended
This report builds on prior findings to examine the impact of extended foster care in California on youth outcomes at age 23.
2021
Research Collection
The California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study (CalYOUTH)
CalYOUTH is an evaluation of the impact of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act on outcomes during the transition to adulthood for youth in...
2021
News
Bryan Samuels Named to Blue Ribbon Committee on Juvenile Justice
Chapin Hall executive director to advise on Cook County juvenile justice practice.
April 21, 2021
Report
New Method for Interpreting a Predictive Analytic Model in Child Welfare Shows Promise
This report seeks to identify an interpretation methodology for machine learning to translate research into actionable practice and policy.
2021
Report
Challenges, Benefits Found in Providing Home Visiting Services for Pregnant and Parenting Foster Youth
Study on providing home visiting services to pregnant or parenting youth in foster care finds both ongoing challenges and benefits.
2021
News
Bryan Samuels named ‘Champion for Children’
The Child Welfare League of America named Chapin Hall Executive Director Bryan Samuels one of its “100 Champions for Children” in celebration of the...
January 21, 2021
Report
Final Wave of CalYOUTH Study Surveys Former Foster Youth at Age 23
This report presents findings from an evaluation of the impact of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act on outcomes during foster youth's...
2020
Report
Nearly One-Third of Foster Youth in California Not Involved with Creating Transitional Independent Living Plan
This memo investigates two aspects of foster youths’ transition planning: their roles in their transitional independent living plan development and their level...
2020
Report
Foster Youth Would Benefit from Emphasis on Prevention and Treatment to Reduce Justice System Involvement
This memo examines CalYOUTH participants’ justice system involvement within two timeframes: (1) involvement before their age-17 interview and (2) involvement...
2020
Report
COVID-19 and Child Welfare: Using Data to Understand Trends in Maltreatment and Response
This work summarizes efforts to respond to concerns about child welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide empirical guidance to child welfare system...
2020
Report
Embedding Legal Support in Preventive Health Care
This study examines the effects of embedding holistic problem solving with legal support into preventive health care for young children.
2020
Report
Challenges in Rigorously Evaluating College Success Programs for Students Who Experienced Foster Care
This paper describes a formative evaluation of one college success program to assess its readiness for future rigorous evaluation.
2020
Report
Substantial Interaction and Connectedness Strengthens Doris Duke Fellowships
This report presents findings from the most recent survey of Doris Duke Fellows.
2020
Report
Addressing Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in the Harmful Impacts of COVID-19
As communities address and recover from the impacts of COVID-19, effective public policy and corresponding interventions to support children and families need...
2020
Report
Systemic Approaches to Addressing Child and Family Trauma are Key to Fully Leveraging Family First
This brief explains how trauma-informed practices support Family First implementation and recommends measures that are consistent with an established framework...
2020
Report
Intercept Program Evaluation Shows Reductions in Likelihood of Out-of-home Placement
This report describes Intercept, the Center for State Child Welfare Data’s evaluation of the program, and the extent to which the findings demonstrate an impact...
2020
Report
Central Referral Systems Help Reduce Contributors to Family Toxic Stress
This study examines the Help Me Grow system model to understand how different stakeholders use the model and how it impacts children's development.
2020
Report
Advancing Trauma-informed Care Within and Across Child-Serving Systems
This guide offers a framework and process informed by preliminary lessons learned from the MSTIC work, along with guidance from the fields of trauma-informed...
2020
News
A Season of Crisis
Chapin Hall issues statement on race, health, justice and our collective commitment to transforming systems.
June 11, 2020
Report
Blueprint for Practice: Chapin Hall’s Approach to Building and Sustaining a Practice Model
This white paper describes how Chapin Hall helps child welfare agencies create and implement individually-tailored practice models.
2020
Research
Foster Youths’ Capacity To Live Independently Should Drive Extended Foster Care Placement
This memo examines youths’ predominant placement type between ages 18 and 21. It compares the characteristics of youth who resided predominantly in Supervised...
2020
Report
Researchers Find Association between Participation in Extended Foster Care and Reduced Risk of Homelessness
This memo examines whether participating in extended foster care decreases the odds of experiencing homelessness among foster youth by age 21.
2020
Report
System Changes Could Improve Relationships between Incarcerated Mothers and Their Children
This brief shares comments from incarcerated mothers interviewed by researchers and researchers' findings about programs for incarcerated mothers.
2020
Report
Integrating Healthcare and Early Childhood Systems Requires Capacity and Expertise
This brief examines how integrating healthcare and early childhood systems can be effectively implemented.
2020
Report
Finding Effective Strategies to Expand Data Use in State Human Service Agencies
This paper discusses successes and failures in working with state and local human service agencies and researchers to compile administrative data sources that...
2020
Report
Program Integrates Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Assessment Into Primary Health Care; Connects Families with Services
This study assessed the experiences of patients and clinic staff receiving the SCAN intervention.
2020
Research Collection
Record Linkage among Human Services Data Sources
Chapin Hall has developed a body of research about technical best practices for linking human services data sources to facilitate research and analyses on...
2019
Report
Unlocking the Potential of Electronic Health Records in Pediatric Healthcare
Researchers surveyed and held discussions with staff from nine pediatric clinics in 5 communities to learn about the technical capabilities of clinics to use...
2019
Report
Innovations in Linking Human Services Data
This report examines challenges in human services record linkage and how they can be addressed.
2019
Report
Administrative Data Quality Varies between Programs, Affects Use of Data
Linking together administrative data sources across programs (“record linkage”) is necessary for many analyses of programs and family well-being. However, the...
2019
News
Chapin Hall Releases Three-Year Strategic Plan with Focus on Child Welfare, Community Capacity and Youth Homelessness
Chapin Hall's strategic plan covers projected work from 2019 through 2022.
November 13, 2019
Report
Moving Upstream to Address Contributors to Toxic Stress in Pediatric Primary Care
This study examines the integration and implementation of pediatric care innovations in nine pediatric practices in 5 communities in California, Florida, and...
2019
Report
Moving Upstream to Address Contributors to Toxic Stress in Pediatric Primary Care
This study examines the integration and implementation of pediatric care innovations in nine pediatric practices in 5 communities in California, Florida, and...
2019
Report
Colorado Showed Increased Kinship Care Utilization Paired with Fiscal Savings during Title IV-E Waiver
This evaluation examined the process, outcome, and fiscal impact of a Title IV-E Waiver in the state of Colorado
2019
Report
Survey of Doris Duke Fellows Finds Network Connections are Increasing
This report presents findings from the most recent survey of Doris Duke fellows and compares the level of engagement to prior years.
2019
Report
Extending Child Care Eligibility Increases Duration of Participation in Child Care
This report focuses on preliminary findings related extending the eligibility redetermination period from 6 months to 12 months for families who receive child...
2019
Report
Creating Effective Services Depends on Engaging Youth in Care
A better understanding of the relationships between the service context of extended foster care, youths’ satisfaction with the services they receive, and the...
2019
News
Chapin Hall Identifies Systemic Issues in Assessment of IL DCFS Intact Families Program
Chapin Hall released its Systemic Review of Critical Incidents in Intact Family Services, an assessment of this Illinois Dept. of Children and Family Services...
May 15, 2019
Report
Systemic Challenges at Illinois DCFS Contribute to Oversight Lapses in Child Fatality Cases
This Review identifies systemic factors that contributed to child deaths and critical incidents among children whose families received Intact Family Services...
2019
Report
California Foster Youth in Extended Care Have Better Postsecondary Education Outcomes
This memo evaluates the impact of extended foster care on three postsecondary education outcomes.
2019
Report
Improvements in Service System Collaboration Lead to Youth Spending More Time in Extended Foster Care
This memo examines the relationship between several county-level factors and youths’ extended foster care participation among a sample of older adolescents in...
2019
Report
Foster Youth, Caseworkers Diverge in Views of Youths’ Preparedness for College
This memo adds to the growing literature on the transition to college for young people in foster care, focusing specifically on issues of preparedness to enter...
2019
Report
Using Predictive Analytics to Improve Outcomes in Child Welfare
This brief provides an overview of the use of predictive analytics in child welfare.
2018
Report
Improved Outcomes at Age 21 for Youth in Extended Foster Care
This report builds on prior findings from the CalYOUTH project and examines outcomes at age 21 from state administrative data and from the third interview wave...
2018
Report
Trauma a Contributing Factor to Youth Moving From Child Welfare System to Juvenile Justice System
This study explores the role of trauma, child welfare involvement, and other factors among youth who crossed over from the child welfare system into the...
2018
Research
What is Administrative Data?
An explanation of administrative data, and examples of Chapin Hall projects that use this data.
October 31, 2018
Report
Effective Use of Administrative Data Can Strengthen Efforts to Maintain a Stable Supply of High-Quality Foster Homes
In this report, we demonstrate the potential of administrative data to contribute robust evidence in support of child welfare systems’ efforts to maintain a...
2018
Report
Despite Implementation of Extended Foster Care in California, Permanency Rates Declined
An increasing number of states, including California, have extended foster care to age 21. However, there has been some concern that providing extended care may...
2018
Research
Applying a Housing Lens in Early Childhood Service Provision
This report examines the utility of the QRAFT-EC as a tool to apply a housing lens in an early childhood service setting.
2018
Report
One Summer Chicago Qualitative Study Explores What Makes Youth Summer Jobs Programs Effective
This study explores the key components that make up Chicago’s summer jobs program for youth and the processes through which the program helps to shape...
2018
News
TCOM Conference Registration Open
Registration is open for the annual Transformational Outcomes Management (TCOM) conference, which will be held Oct. 3-5, 2018 at the Drake Hotel in Chicago.
August 9, 2018
Report
Many California Foster Youth Have Inadequate Social Support and Need More Support From Adults
This memo investigates the types and sources of social support for young people in extended foster care.
2018
Report
Wave 3 of CalYOUTH Study Surveys Former Foster Youth at Age 21
This study provides the most comprehensive view to date of young people approaching the transition to adulthood from foster care in the wake of the federal...
2018
Report
Bringing Big Data into Policy Research
Studying large public social programs can be a challenge for social scientists. One big data approach, text mining, contributed to a better understanding of the...
2018
News
Bryan Samuels Honored by Family Focus
Chapin Hall Executive Director Bryan Samuels is awarded the Bernice Weissbourd Award for Family Support at Family Focus' 2018 gala.
May 16, 2018
News
Joint Research Fund Awards Announced
Three family-centered research projects for 2018-2019 funded by Chapin Hall and University of Chicago.
March 2, 2018
News
Pilot study shows high reliability of mental health testing tool
Pilot study shows high reliability of mental health testing tool used in child welfare.
February 1, 2018
News
Chapin Hall Launches Technical Assistance Institute in New York
Chapin Hall launched the “CANS NY Technical Assistance Institute” in January 2018 to support effective use of tools to measure child and family strengths and...
January 27, 2018
Report
Housing Options for Young Adults in Extended Foster Care Vary Across and Within States
This paper synthesizes a convening about housing options for young adults in extended federally funded foster care.
2017
Report
Half of Older Adolescents in Foster Care Use Psychotropic Drugs
In this brief, researchers explore the use of and experiences with psychotropic medications over time for California foster youth transitioning to adulthood.
2017
Report
Each Month Spent in Care Beyond Age 18 Increases Likelihood of High School Completion
This memo examines factors that influence the likelihood of young people in foster care finishing high school and entering college.
2017
Report
Youth in Extended Care in Los Angeles County Seek Improved Services
This report provides the most comprehensive view to date of young adults making the transition to adulthood from foster care in Los Angeles County.
2017
Report
More Youth Staying in Care Past Age 18, but Time in Care Varies
In this memo, researchers examine why understanding factors associated with youth’s extended foster care participation is important for predicting future...
2017
Report
Additional Time Spent in Foster Care Improves Education Outcomes
This brief provides an early look at the relationship between extended foster care and selected outcomes for youth transitioning to adulthood from care in...
2017
Report
Developmental Perspective Important when Considering Placement Options
This report highlights the importance of understanding placement outcomes from a developmental perspective and how outcomes differ for young people depending on...
2017
Report
Unified Court and Child Welfare Data System Streamlines Research, Practice
The New York State Child Welfare Court Improvement Program (CWCIP) is a federally funded initiative that promotes continuous quality improvement at the...
2017
Report
Developing Capacity for Growth and Excellence at a Private Family Service Agency
Necco engaged researchers at Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago to develop the company’s administrative data resources into research evidence to build...
2017
Report
Majority of California Youth in Foster Care Believe Extended Care Helps Them Reach Life Goals
This study focuses on the state of California, an early adopter of the new policy that also has the largest foster care population in the U.S. It addresses...
2016
Report
Caseworkers Say Lack of Appropriate Placement Options Presents Challenge to Implementing Extended Foster Care
This report presents the views and attitudes of caseworkers four years after the implementation of the California Fostering Connections to Success Act (AB 12).
2016
Report
Training for Attorneys Representing Children Affects Some Child Welfare Outcomes
Most states require that children in child welfare cases be represented by attorneys. Most of these attorneys are solo practitioners or in small, general...
2016
Report
Data-Driven Solutions are Key to Reductions in Congregate Care
Congregate care has long been viewed as an appropriate placement alternative for children and adolescents, especially those whose histories, mental health...
2016
Research
Comprehensive Report Reveals Glaring Rural-Urban Disparity in the Well-being of Children in China
The Report on the State of Children in China is a research collaboration of policy researchers between the University of Chicago, the University of Peking, and...
2015
Report
Foster Youth Motivated to Stay in Care Beyond Age 18 but Desire More Freedom
This report examines youth and caseworker attitudes about and knowledge of extended foster care in California.
2015
Report
Implementation of Extended Care Leads to Youth Remaining in Care Longer
This study explored the relationship between the implementation of California's extended foster care law (AB 12) and foster youths' exits to legal permanency.
2015
Report
Prevalence of Mental Health Disorders Suggests Youth Reaching Age of Majority in Foster Care Need Special Attention
This report examines mental health and substance use problems of foster youth at age 17, as well as related services provided to the participants.
2015
Report
Survey of Child Welfare Workers Finds Few Appropriate Housing Options for Foster Youth over 18
California child welfare workers were surveyed about the service delivery context of extended foster care. Most workers were concerned about the availability of...
2015
Report
Study of Foster Youths’ Education Status Finds Many are Facing Hurdles to Success
This report examines the educational status of and services available to older adolescents in foster care in California, both from the viewpoint of the youth...
2015
Report
Use of Research Evidence Leads to Faster Permanency for Youth in Foster Care
Research evidence is information that has been generated according to scientific principles and practices. The term research evidence use – or REU – refers to...
2015
Report
Designing Education Programs to Meet the Needs of Young Adults in Care
The Administration for Children and Families contracted with the Urban Institute and Chapin Hall to plan for the next generation of evaluation activities funded...
2014
Report
Caregivers and Child Welfare Case Workers Find Benefits from Pregnancy Prevention and Sexual Health Promotion Training
Chapin Hall conducted a formative evaluation of a training on pregnancy prevention and sexual health promotion for foster parents, other caregivers, and child...
2014
Report
Understanding the Relationship Between Housing and Child Welfare System Involvement
Research has shown that homeless or precariously housed families are more likely to be involved with the child welfare system than families with stable housing....
2014
Research
Study of Youth in California Foster Care at Age 17 Reveals Need for Ongoing Support
This study addresses whether extending foster care past age 18 in California influenced youths' outcomes during the transition to adulthood.
2014
Report
Study of California Fostering Connections Act Finds Strengths and Weaknesses in Housing Opportunities
The Fostering Connections Act provides young people with a longer period of transition, including the opportunity to learn how to manage growing autonomy and...
2014
Report
Toward a Common Understanding of CQI in Child Welfare
Today, child welfare agencies are taking stock of their capacity for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and thinking about how to build their capacity. These...
2014
Report
Children of Young Parents in Care at Higher Risk of Child Welfare Involvement
Youth in foster care have high rates of early parenthood and face many personal and parenting challenges. This study looks at the risk of child welfare...
2014
Report
Economic Independence of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care
Young people in foster care who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) may face unique barriers to achieving economic independence. We analyzed data from...
2013
Report
Early Implementation of Extended Foster Care Requires Engagement and Patience
The most important lesson other states might learn from California’s experience with extending foster care is that it requires considerable effort, time, and...
2013
Report
Elev8 Initiative Strategies Facilitate Successful Implementation of School-Based Health Centers
This report highlights the strategies and structures that the Elev8 initiative successfully employed to improve the working relationship between school-based...
2013
Report
Study of Fostering Connections to Success Act Highlights Importance of Evidence
This report documents the successes and challenges of implementing California’s Fostering Connections to Success Act.
2012
Report
Child Maltreatment Prevention: Past, Present, and Future
Child maltreatment prevention is a critical component of the nation’s child protection system. Dr. Deborah Daro outlines strategies and interventions that have...
2011
Research Collection
Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth
The Midwest Evaluation of the Adult Functioning of Former Foster Youth (Midwest Study) is a longitudinal study following a sample of young people from Iowa,...
2011
Report
Despite Decline in Criminal Behavior, Young Adults Formerly in Care Arrested More than Peers
Young people transitioning from foster care to adulthood are at risk for numerous negative outcomes including criminal behavior and justice-system involvement....
2011
Report
No Impact for Youth Participating in an Independent Living-Employment Services Program
Evidence indicates that youth aging out of foster care often struggle with the transition to adulthood. One program to address these youth’s needs is the...
2011
Report
Educational and Economic Benefits Found for Foster Youth in Massachusetts Outreach Program
Studies show that the transition out of foster care and into independent living can be challenging for young adults. The Massachusetts Adolescent Outreach...
2011
Research
Extended Foster Care Delays but Does Not Prevent Homelessness
One of the challenges faced by young people aging out of foster care is finding a safe and affordable place to live. Before the Fostering Connections to Success...
2010
Report
College Enrollment and Graduation a Challenge for Former Foster Youth, Even with Extended Care
Foster youth entering adulthood have college aspirations like other young people their age. Unfortunately, for far too many foster youth, graduating from...
2010
Report
Coordinated Systems Key to Employment for Youth Formerly in State Care
Preparing youth for employment is a major goal of federal policies to help youth in foster care successfully transition into adulthood. This analysis suggests...
2010
Report
Parenting, Behavioral Health are Barriers to Extended Foster Care for Some Young People
The Fostering Connections Act extended eligibility for federally funded foster care to young people who meet certain eligibility requirements until their 21st...
2010
Report
Pregnant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care: Their Needs, Their Experiences
Youth in foster care have much higher rates of adolescent pregnancy and childbearing than their peers. To better understand the needs and experiences of...
2009
Report
Financial Benefits of Extending Foster Care Outweigh Costs to Government
This report examines the financial benefits of extending foster care to age 21.
2009
Report
Few Impacts for Youth Participating in Life Skills Training Program
Studies show that youth aging out of foster care encounter many challenges as they transition to adulthood. The Life Skills Training (LST) Program was designed...
2008
Report
Tutoring Program for Youth in Foster Care Shows Little Effect
In 1999, the John Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) allowed states more funding and flexibility to provide support to youth transitioning from...
2008
Report
Families and Child Welfare Caseworkers Disagree about Service Needs
This report shares the findings of a comprehensive evaluation of the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare.
2008
Report
Persistent Patterns Provide Insight into Child Welfare System
Using data from the Multistate Foster Care Data Archive, this report provides an overview of what happens when children are placed in foster care. The results ...
2007
Report
When Should the State Cease Parenting?
Prior to the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, youth became ineligible for federally funded foster care when they turned 18...
2007
Report
Youth Who Run Away from Out-of-Home Care
Given child protective services’ responsibility to provide stability for children in their care, running away from out-of-home care is an event of great...
2005
Report
At Age 19, Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care Face Multiple Challenges
The Midwest Study was designed to learn how young people fare as they age out of foster care. This report provides a snapshot of study participants at age 19.
2005
Report
Conditions of Youth Preparing to Leave State Care
The Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 gave states more funding and greater flexibility to provide support to youth making the transition from being in foster...
2004
Report
Cash Assistance in Illinois Has Limited Impact on Employment Outcomes
This report describes the changes in cash assistance status and employment changes of the population over time in the 1990s.
2001
Report
Examination of Service Receipt and Earnings History Shows Decrease in Use of Cash Assistance
This report analyzes the service receipt and earnings histories of nine cohorts of cash assistance recipients during a period of significant policy change.
2000
Project
New Resources Put Equity at the Center of Research, Evaluation, and CQI Processes
These resources help child welfare leaders implement strategies to identify and address racial and ethnic disparities.
December 7, 2022
Project
New Study to Apply Race Equity Lens to Federal Child Welfare Data
In a new project funded by the federal government, Chapin Hall and partners at Georgia State University will apply a race equity lens using national...
November 4, 2022
Project
Family First Toolkit Part 3: Evaluating & Improving Quality
This section includes additional and refined guidance and tools for using data and evidence gathered through implementing the measurement framework in a CQI...
August 9, 2022
Project
Partnering with Illinois DCFS to Improve Child Welfare Practices
How Chapin Hall is working with Illinois DCFS to realize the potential of their Core Practice Model.
August 1, 2022
Project
A Model for Supporting Youth in Care Transitioning into Adulthood
Chapin Hall evaluates program that provides support during the critical period after youth age out of foster care.
July 19, 2022
Project
Kinship Care Leads to Better Outcomes for Children
Chapin Hall policy experts partner with jurisdictions and organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate kinship navigator programs.
June 16, 2022
Project
A Key Connection: Economic Stability and Family Well-being
Providing economic and concrete supports is an important component of preventing child abuse and neglect and reducing involvement with child welfare. This page...
June 1, 2022
Project
Family First Evidence-Based Practices Exploration and Cost Tool
This tool is designed to help jurisdictions select evidence-based programs or practices (EBPs) for their Family First prevention plan.
April 18, 2022
Project
Making a Difference in Chicago
Chapin Hall is uniquely committed to applying our expertise, tools, and experience in our home city.
April 14, 2022
Project
Partners Develop Analytic Framework to Address Economic-Related Risk Factors in Child Welfare
This brief summarizes a recent Roundtable on a building a framework to address economic-related risk factors in child welfare.
December 15, 2021
Project
Tool to Assess Survey Data for Racial Bias
This tool provides a clear, systematic method for researchers to determine whether survey data they plan to analyze were collected with a racial equity lens or...
November 22, 2021
Project
Family First Toolkit Part 2: Implementation & Change Management
These tools align with the second phase of Family First Implementation: implementation and change management.
October 7, 2021
Project
Activate Produces Reproductive Health Resources for Health Care Providers
Chapin Hall, Child Trends, and Healthy Teen Network partner to develop, promote research-based sexual and reproductive health resources.
June 23, 2021
Project
Preparing Emerging Child Well-Being Scholars for Leadership
After 10 years as a fellowship program, Doris Duke Fellowships is transitioning and expanding into the Child Well-Being Research Network.
April 27, 2021
Project
Family First Toolkit Part 1: Planning & Readiness
These tools align with the first phase of Family First Implementation: planning and readiness. They provide a systematic way for jurisdictions to think through...
April 1, 2021
Project
Family First: Readiness Assessment, Planning, and Implementation
Chapin Hall is collaborating with jurisdictions and organizations across the country as they assess readiness and plan for Family First implementation and align...
June 27, 2019
Project
Supporting Strategic Efforts in Illinois Child Welfare
Chapin Hall's team of experts bring policy, practice, and data expertise to improve services for families in Illinois.
June 19, 2019
Project
Untangling a Traffic Challenge that Thwarts Family Visitation in Los Angeles
Chapin Hall works with LA children's services to increase family visitation, reunification.
September 20, 2018
Project
Administrative Data for the Public Good
Creative use of government data described in dozens of proposals for Chapin Hall-Census Bureau project.
September 5, 2018
Project
Studies Explore Use of Administrative Data
Six studies chosen as demonstration projects to explore how administrative data can be used to advance evidence-based policies are described.
September 5, 2018
Project
Transforming Child Welfare Practice in Maryland through the Integrated Child Welfare Practice Model
Chapin Hall works with Maryland to transform the quality of child welfare and adult services in the state.
August 20, 2018
Project
Can ‘Housing First’ Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect?
Chapin Hall evaluates two sites in a five-year demonstration project to test the effects of supportive housing for families who were involved or at risk of...
August 10, 2018
Project
Expanding Trauma-Informed Care
A national collaborative, funded by the U.S. Dept. of Justice, works to reduce the long-term impact of trauma on children.
July 24, 2018
Project
Building a Practice Model
A Practice Model is an organizing framework that describes an agency’s approach and strategic direction.. Practice Models within child welfare agencies can be...
June 12, 2018
Project
Implementation Collaborative
How can child welfare agencies improve outcomes for children and families? The Chapin Hall Implementation Collaborative-- a group of policy, practice, and...
March 19, 2018
Project
Assessing Mental Health in Under Six Minutes
A field test of a computerized adaptive mental health test (CAT-MH™), which is designed to diagnose and report on the mental health of young people in the child...
March 19, 2018
Project
Amplifying Success in Washington
The Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) program is designed to provide effective, intensive care to Washington’s Medicaid-eligible youth who have complex...
March 19, 2018
Project
Applying Predictive Analytics
A Chapin Hall team developed predictive analytic models to help one child welfare jurisdiction address risk of repeat reports for child abuse or neglect. With...
March 19, 2018
Project
Time Use Studies
Talking to children, calling foster parents, and supervising visits are only a few of the tasks that appear on the daily schedule of a social worker. Chapin...
March 19, 2018
Project
Well-being Dashboard
A Chapin Hall team co-developed a well-being dashboard to consistently measure and assess children and families’ well-being. The dashboard reflects information...
January 15, 2018
Project
The Center for State Child Welfare Data
The Center for State Child Welfare Data–or the Data Center–supports child welfare systems in more than 30 states to make evidence-based decisions designed to...
January 1, 2018
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