Foster Care and Public Policy

Abstract

In this article, policies are considered that affect children in substitute care and their natural families. Over the last decade there has been an unusual amount of interest among family advocacy groups and family professionals in the problems and abuses in this policy area. Reform legislation has been enacted at the federal level, but it is still unclear whether this legislation will be fully implemented. Moreover, chronic dilemmas in this policy area remain, and these will impede the solution of problems. Observations are made by these authors concerning the role that family professionals can play in improving the situation of these children and their families.