Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress

Stoltzfus, Emilie

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Children;    Child welfare;    Aid to dependent children;    Welfare;   

RP-ID  :  RL34388
RP-ID  :  RL34388_2008Feb26

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states have the primary obligation to ensure child welfare. However, Congress provides significant federal funds to help states exercise this responsibility ($7.9 billion appropriated in FY2008). Most of this support is provided for children who are in foster care and who meet specific federal eligibility criteria. This report discusses the federal framework for child welfare policy; reviews the scope of activities, and children and families served, by state child welfare agencies; summarizes several child welfare-related hearings that were held in 2007; describes child welfare and related legislative proposals that have been introduced in the 110th Congress; and reviews child welfare programs for which funding authorization has expired or is set to expire on the last day of FY2008.