Transforming the lives of babies in child welfare.
Babies are the age group most vulnerable to maltreatment. And because of their rapid brain development, the stakes could not be higher for young children entering the child welfare system. Infants and toddlers are an outsized proportion of children in child welfare programs, but the child welfare system was not devised to support the unique needs of babies or their caretakers. Many states and communities do not have the support structures in place to ensure strong early development and address family trauma and ensure safe and loving environments for young children.