Administration for Children and Families

This tip sheet helps child welfare agencies collaborate with community-based partners to assess agency services and prevention efforts, promote communication and information sharing across systems, increase understanding of the family’s needs, and provide better overall support to children and families. Learn more.  ...

The resource contains a series of lessons learned that highlight the fundamental insights and knowledge gained about child and youth engagement, with special attention to permanency decisions. The lessons include:   Authentic engagement of children and youth must be reimagined and clearly defined  Leaders set the tone for building relationships that drive authentic engagement of ...

This rule finalizes requirements under titles IV-E and IV-B for young people in foster care who are LGBTQI+. This final rule requires agencies to ensure that placements for all children are free from harassment, mistreatment, and abuse. Learn more. 

This brief (PDF, 17 pages) provides an overview of the grantees and strategies funded through the Community Collaborations to Strengthen and Preserve Families Initiative (CWCC). The brief outlines the CWCC’s goals, timeline, and technical assistance; describes each of the 13 CWCC grantees; and summarizes the strategies used in CWCC projects. ...

May is National Foster Care Month. The 2024 theme, Engaging Youth. Building Supports. Strengthening Opportunities, highlights the need to create a child welfare system that authentically engages and supports young people who are preparing to leave foster care. Learn more. 

This information memorandum (PDF, 14 pages) provides guidance to Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grantees regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) Program. This resource provides information to ensure eligible young adults experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness who have previously been ...

This webpage contains resources on behavioral health for the following audiences: For Parents and Caregivers For Teens and Young Adults For Providers For American Indian and Alaska Native Communities For Grant Recipients For Individuals Supporting Early Childhood Needs Additional resources on maternal health, mental health, and substance use are provided. Learn more. ...

This Dear Colleague Letter (PDF, 9 pages) provides information on young people’s unique developmental stage and suggests approaches and resources for incorporating practices into programs to meet their particular needs. This letter includes information on co-regulation practices, youth peer support, and authentically partnering with youth with lived experience. Learn more. ...

This fact sheet (PDF, 16 pages) provides information to help adoptive families support their child in developing a healthy racial, cultural, and ethnic identity and live a vibrant multicultural life. The fact sheet discusses the need for parents and families to examine their thoughts and biases and explores the importance ...

This tip sheet (PDF, 2 pages) shares guidance from young people who have experienced mental health challenges about what they wish parents and caregivers would say and do when talking about mental health. Learn more (PDF, 2 pages).