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Family Support

Transforming the lives of babies in child welfare.

Babies, from 0 to 3 years old, make up the largest age group among children most at risk of maltreatment. And because of their rapid brain development during this crucial period, the stakes could not be higher for the youngest children entering the child welfare system. But the child welfare system was not devised to support the unique needs of babies or their caretakers. Infant-Toddler Court Teams in communities across the country focus on the development of young children, offer preventive services for families, and address family trauma while ensuring safe and loving environments for young children

 

 

 

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Tell Congress to #ThinkBabiesAndAct and transform the child welfare system!

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THE FACTS

93 percent of infants and toddlers in the Infant-Toddler Court Team program achieved permanency within a year, double the national standard.

THE FACTS

Every year in the United States, nearly 200,000 infants and toddlers experience maltreatment or neglect.

THE FACTS

One-third of children entering foster care are under the age of three.

THE FACTS

In the United States, a baby or toddler is removed from their parents every seven minutes and placed in out-of-home care.

Legislation At-A-Glance

Strengthening America’s Family Act (SAFA) 

Introduced in the last Congress and expected to be reintroduced in 2023, this bipartisan bill would support state efforts to transform child welfare policy and practice through community-based Infant-Toddler Court Teams (ITCT). The ITCT work collaboratively to prevent child abuse and neglect while addressing the needs of young children experiencing maltreatment and getting their families the support they need. Using the science of early childhood development and trauma-responsive policies and practices, SAFA would help keep families intact and thriving.

What it could mean for babies:

Families involved in the child welfare system would have access to a range of comprehensive, equitable and trauma-responsive resources needed to maintain safe, stable and healthy relationships with their children. Expanding the scale of Infant-Toddler Court Teams nationwide would build services families need to prevent the removal of children from their homes and transform how communities and the child welfare system respond to and support the well-being of infants, toddlers, and families. 

Advocacy Tools & Resources

The Safe Babies Approach:  Use this resource to learn more about the Safe Babies approach and how it improves outcomes for infants and toddlers.

Policy and Sustainability resources for an Infant-Toddler Court Team

Strengthening Families with Infants and Toddlers: A Policy Framework for States: The policy framework includes recommendations for states and communities that aim to advance equitable outcomes supporting the health and well-being of young children and their families, including those who are in or are at risk of entering the child welfare system.

Data and Policy Briefs

  • What the Data on Infants and Toddlers Tell Us: Disproportionality in Child Welfare
  • What The Data on Infants and Toddlers Tell Us: The Intersection of Parental Substance Use and Child Welfare

State of Babies Yearbook: 2022: Use national and state-by-state data on the well-being of infants and toddlers to call on federal, state, and local policymakers to improve outcomes for babies and families.

Building Strong Foundations: Learn more about the research behind home visiting and the federal programs that support parent support services and resources.