ARTICLE TAG

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

5/8/2026

NYC Investigator Accuses State of Blocking Child Welfare Oversight

Nadia Shihata at City Hall on Feb. 12. Photo: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
New York social services law and resistance by the state child welfare agency have hindered a city watchdog from exercising “meaningful, comprehensive oversight” of the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), a new report states.

Youth Services Insider
Top Federal Child Welfare Official Declares New Focus on Psychotropic Medication Use in Foster Care at RFK “Overmedicalization” Summit

5/4/2026

Top Federal Child Welfare Official Declares New Focus on Psychotropic Medication Use in Foster Care at RFK ‘Overmedicalization’ Summit

At a gathering of federal health and human services officials, the nation’s leading child welfare official pledged to focus on the problem of overmedicated foster youth.

Youth Services Insider
Restructuring on the Horizon for ACF’s Research Branch

2/16/2026

Restructuring on the Horizon for ACF’s Research Branch

An internal memo issued last week shows that the Administration for Children and Families plans to restructure its research and evaluation operations.

Youth Services Insider

2/4/2026

Top Trump Health Officials Announce New Funding for Opioid Addiction Treatment To Prevent Foster Care Removals 

A new funding opportunity will allow child welfare agencies to pay for opioid use disorder medications for parents fighting to keep custody of their children, like this Southern California mom once did. Photo by Boaz Aquino for The Imprint.

Youth Services Insider

12/18/2025

Alex Adams Seeks Names in Hasty Push For Personal Data of Minnesota Social Service and Foster Care Recipients

The Trump administration’s top child welfare official has sent letters to Minnesota officials asking for citizenship data on assistance program participants.

12/11/2025

Feds Asks 39 States To Stop Taking Foster Kids’ Benefits

Officials sent letters to 39 governors calling for “immediate action to protect vulnerable foster youth” from having benefits seized.

Trump Administration Says It’s Aiming to Significantly Increase Foster Home Capacity

11/24/2025

Trump Administration Says It’s Aiming to Significantly Increase Foster Home Capacity

President Donald Trump’s top child welfare appointee announced his plan to help realize the administration’s goals: an initiative titled A Home for Every Child.

7/22/2025

Senators Press For Commitments From Trump’s Top Children and Families Nominee, As He Pledges to Prioritize Foster Care 

Alex Adams parried attacks on his deregulatory agenda and made clear where he’d put his focus: the foster care system.

Youth Services Insider
Trump’s Planned Spending on Child Welfare and Youth Justice

7/15/2025

Is the Trump Administration Slow-killing Certain Grants?

Dozens of child welfare and youth justice grant opportunities are still stuck a the starting line with few days left in the fiscal year