The Second Access Tax: How Family Court Privatized the Cost of Parenting
The article examines the concept of the "Access Tax" in American family court systems, highlighting how financial burdens are disproportionately placed on parents, particularly during custody disputes. Costs escalate due to systemic incentives benefiting…
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,…
Texas, Parental Rights, and the Expanding Power of the State
A recent opinion piece highlights concerns over child welfare investigations in Texas, emphasizing the need to balance child protection with parental rights. The aggressive state actions can erode constitutional protections, particularly when acting on…
Cash for Kids: How Federal Bonuses Incentivize the Destruction of Families
Senator Nancy Schaefer revealed corruption in Child Protective Services, exposing a system incentivized by the Adoption and Safe Families Act to financially reward states for adopting out children from foster care. This has led to unjust removals,…
The Constitutional Crisis No One Voted For
The family court system in America deviates from constitutional principles, operating without proper legal frameworks and standards. This unaccountable system harms families through arbitrary judgments, lack of transparency, and financial incentives.…
Maryland’s Missing Foster Children: What the Numbers Reveal
The Maryland Department of Human Services has revealed that 990 children in foster care have been missing since 2020, following an MPIA request by advocates. Policy changes obscured the distinction between runaways and missing children, raising concerns…
The Moral Economy of Neglect: How Maryland’s “Compassionate Governance” Betrays Its Foster Children
Maryland's foster-care system is under scrutiny following the death of Kanaiyah Ward, highlighting systemic failures and racial inequities. An audit revealed neglect and unsafe placements, particularly affecting Black children, while the state's reliance…