The Children's Bureau's Vision for the Future of Child Welfare

Abstract

This article sets forth a broad vision for the future of the Children's Bureau that focuses on the goals of reducing maltreatment and achieving optimal health and development of children and families. To accomplish these goals the Children's Bureau charts a path to strengthen the ability of States, tribes, and communities to offer a range of universal, effective services to families within a systems of care framework; improve public policy and financing of child welfare services; build public engagement in and support for systemic child welfare changes; and develop initiatives to strengthen and support the child welfare workforce.

KEYWORDS:

• public child welfare
• child abuse prevention
• child welfare workforce

Notes

This article not subject to U.S. copyright law.

The authors acknowledge and appreciate the input and ideas of many Children's Bureau colleagues, particularly Debi Hatfield, Lauren Kass, and Elaine Stedt.