The Missing Variable
Father absence significantly predicts juvenile crime in America, with evidence showing boys from fatherless homes are disproportionately involved in delinquency and violence. Despite the clear link demonstrated by decades of research, structural issues,…
Child Welfare Selective Service
The article critiques politicians' lack of urgency in addressing family court issues that result in children being separated from fit parents while they express concern over immigration-related separations. It highlights the systemic dysfunction in…
Federal foster care watchdog quietly rewrote the rules — then sent Maryland a smaller bill
A November 2025 letter from the Children's Bureau reversed a national foster care reimbursement policy, reducing Maryland’s disallowance by $16. Although the financial impact is minimal, the policy change affects all states seeking federal support. The…
Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families
Since 1997, the federal government has allocated over $1 billion in adoption bonuses to states, with additional funding of $52 billion for the overall child welfare system. This financial structure favors permanent adoptions over family reunification,…
New Mexico Ends a Practice That Should Never Have Been Normal
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has banned children in state custody from sleeping overnight in government offices, addressing a serious failure in the child welfare system. This order emphasizes the state's responsibility to provide safe…