The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care has been established to develop recommendations to improve outcomes for children in the foster care system. The Commission was announced on May 7, 2003, as an independent, nonpartisan body with the goal of developing effective and practical recommendations to improve the foster care system. The Commission will focus on recommendations in the areas of improving existing federal financing mechanisms to facilitate fewer foster care entries and faster movement of children from foster care into safe, permanent, and nurturing families. The Commission will also focus on improving court oversight by providing state and local courts with tracking and management tools to help achieve safety and permanency for foster children.

The Commission members are committed to reach consensus on a set of achievable recommendations in these targeted areas and to seek implementation of these recommendations. A final report and recommendations are due to be released in the summer of 2004. CWLA urges Congress to carefully weigh these recommendations as they move forward in making changes to the federal/state partnership in financing child welfare services.

Request for Input Due August 1, 2003

The Commission is interested in considering a broad array of options and is requesting input from interested parties. Submissions should address federal financing and/or the courts and should be compatible with the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) priorities of safety, permanence and well-being for all children. All submissions must be received by August 1, 2003.

For More Information

Alert: Call for Input on Financing of Child Welfare! (7/9/03)