Child Welfare

During the past 20 years, social, cultural, and economic changes--such as increases in drug abuse, community violence, and poverty--have increased the severity of problems plaguing American families and the number of families that have come to the attention of child welfare agencies. From 1976 to 1992, the rates of child abuse and neglect increased fourfold. And from 1988 to 1993, the number of foster children increased nearly one-third, to 450,000. States have struggled to keep up with the increased demand for child welfare services, but worsening state fiscal difficulties have further strained the child welfare system's ability to serve vulnerable children and their families. As part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Congress authorized new funding for family preservation and family support services. More recently, Congress has considered proposals to incorporate these funds, along with other child welfare programs, into a block grant program for states. This report (1) describes the condition of child welfare in America that precipitated the 1993 act, (2) assesses federal and state efforts to implement its provisions, and (3) highlights areas in which these efforts could be enhanced.

GAO found that: (1) although reliance on foster care decreased in the early 1980s, the incidence of poverty, substance abuse, and child abuse and neglect began to rise by the mid-1980s; (2) states focused on services designed to prevent or remedy family crises that might result in foster care placement, but their efforts were often constrained by funding limitations and fragmented service delivery systems; (3) states have appropriately focused on understanding the law and federal guidelines, applying for funds, and initiating a comprehensive process to implement FPS provisions; (4) the Department of Health and Human Services has provided ongoing assistance to the states in implementing FPS provisions; and (5) states anticipate difficulties in developing various aspects of their implementation plans, such as goal setting and funding decisions, and performing their own comprehensive program evaluations.