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  • Stop Spreading Myths about Child Welfare

    In the wake of last year’s racial protests, calls continue to reform or even abolish the child-welfare system (CWS). In his state of the state address last month, New York governor Andrew Cuomo said he planned to create a “more just and safe” child-welfare system. And David Hansell, the New York City commissioner for the Administration of Children’s Services, wrote in a January op-ed that he planned to reduce racial inequities in the system and decrease the number of kids in foster care. In an article for The Hill, Lenette Azzi-Lessing, a professor at Boston University School of Social Work, explained the rationale behind these new plans. She argued that too many kids are being taken from their parents and that they’re being taken for reasons that are either unserious or can be fixed in other ways. Moreover, she claims that we are unfairly targeting certain families and that foster care simply “traumatizes already vulnerable children.” Embedded in these complaints are deep misunderstandings about the purpose of foster care, how it works, and the actual outcomes for children whom we remove. Here are four of the biggest myths about our child-welfare system: Myth #1: Most reports of child maltreatment lead to children being placed in foster care. The Administration for Children and Families recently called child welfare a system that “separates families” rather than strengthening them, echoing similar allegations from activists and academics. In fact, ACF’s own data show that about 7.9 million children were reported to child-protection agencies in 2019 (and thousands more to alternative systems that deal with less severe concerns); about 251,000 children entered foster care — a maximum rate of 3.2 percent. Even when there is clear evidence of harm, a majority of children are left at home — often only to be harmed again. Myth #2: Abuse is worse than neglect, and most of what the child-welfare system calls “neglect” is just poverty anyway. This claim (see here, here, and here) draws on two true statements: Most child-welfare system involvement is triggered by neglect allegations, and most children found to be neglected have low-income parents. Yet, most states do not consider involuntary neglect — deprivation due solely to poverty — to qualify as neglect for the purposes of CWS intervention. However, that has not stopped claims that foster care could be avoided if only we could purchase washing machines or other material goods for families. CWS records do a poor job of capturing the context of neglect, but examples of scenarios include very young children left alone, unsafely supervised due to parent intoxication or serious mental illness, or in the care of dangerous nonparent figures; exposed to family violence; or living in dangerously unsanitary conditions due to lack of parental upkeep. None of these are “just poverty,” and existing evidence implies that authorities can tell the difference. Thus, it should come as no surprise that neglected children suffer serious developmental consequences that are, for most outcomes, similar to those of abused children. Myth #3: Foster care makes a bad situation worse. Foster care has been singled out by many as a cure worse than the disease. The quality of foster care can and should be improved but experiences and outcomes of foster care are often misreported. The vast majority of children in foster care do not experience frequent placement changes, are not placed in group homes, and are not abused in foster care. The vast majority do not age out of care and instead are typically reunified, adopted, or placed with permanent guardians. A study of 1990s Illinois foster care — which overwhelmingly consisted of children in long-term kinship care — has been repeatedly cited as conclusive proof that foster care makes things worse. Yet, no rigorous studies have found similar effects — in fact, a comprehensive look at the best evidence does not show that children are “worse off” in foster care, and recent studies also suggest benefits of foster care for school performance. And, although there are cases of maltreatment in foster care, there is no doubt that children are safer in foster care than remaining in home after an investigation. Myth #4: With enough services, we won’t need foster care. This is the premise of the 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act, with seeks to reduce foster-care usage by allowing federal foster-care dollars to be used for non-foster-care cases. But, as a careful review of their own clearinghouse shows, few services are proven to prevent maltreatment among families who have already harmed children. Even those that show promise do not work for all families — not even close. In fact, there is an implicit acknowledgement that the services will not keep children safe “in their homes,” as the Act also funds informal placements with relatives (but not formal kinship care). As further evidence that we cannot safely eliminate foster care no matter how much support is given, countries with far more generous social programs than the U.S. still have sizable foster-care systems — in some cases, they use foster care at higher rates. These myths are pervasive because we want to believe them — it is distressing to acknowledge the true scope of child maltreatment, the long-term harms it inflicts, and that its causes are both numerous and difficult to address. Pretending otherwise does not protect children, help parents safely care for them, or rectify racial and economic inequalities. If we’re committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, it’s time to stop trotting out these myths and face the facts.

  • Bengals go all-in around Joe Burrow in new 3-round mock draft

    A new mock draft goes an interesting route for the Cincinnati Bengals.

  • Schumer, Biden still trying to find extra vote for Tanden confirmation despite Manchin's opposition

    Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Sunday that he is still working with President Biden to find the votes to confirm the latter's controversial nominee for Office of Management Budget director, Neera Tanden, CNN reports. Tanden's confirmation is looking increasingly unlikely after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), perhaps the most crucial swing vote in a Senate with the slimmest of Democratic majorities, said he won't back Tanden because she's made "overtly partisan statements" in the past that "will have a toxic and detrimental impact on the important working relationship between members of Congress and the next" OMB director. But Schumer and Biden apparently aren't giving up and will try to snag at least one Republican vote to get Tanden into the Cabinet, rather than shift their attention to a new nominee. Dem leadership not giving up on Tanden yet https://t.co/YGKPflSMFk — Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 21, 2021 More stories from theweek.comMichael Cohen predicts Trump tax investigation will end with jail timeDue to winter storm, IRS gives Texans 2 extra months to file taxesMerrick Garland assures senators he'd resign as attorney general if asked to do something unethical

  • Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said letting Trump 'define' the future of the Republican party will 'just further divide our country'

    Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson also said he will not back Trump during his reelection run in 2024 on CNN's State of the Union Sunday.

  • News Analysis: He's their brother. They want him kicked out of Congress

    The family of Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar is torn apart by his extremist views

  • Letters to the Editor: A Justice Department that investigates Trump is exactly what we need

    There is a political risk to the Justice Department probing Trump, but the risk from not holding him accountable is much greater.

  • Rep. Katko calls on Biden to boycott Beijing Olympics

    John Katko (R-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, is urging President Biden to boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in response to China's acts of genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups. What he's saying: "Participation in an Olympics held in a country who is openly committing genocide not only undermines those shared values but casts a shadow on the promise for all those who seek free and just societies," Katko wrote in a letter sent to Biden on Monday. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free."Before the eyes of the world descend upon China in 2022, I urge you to take action by working with our partners and allies to lead the free nations of the planet in a unified movement to hold this honored contest amongst nations in a country that actually lives up to the values of the Olympic Charter," Katko added. Katko's letter is also being sent to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Tony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the International Olympics Committee. The big picture: Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) introduced a resolution that called on the U.S. Olympic Committee to withdraw from the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing unless the International Olympic Committee finds an alternative site. In 2019, Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) urged NBC not to broadcast the Olympic games because of China's human rights abuses. The White House said on Feb. 3 that the Biden administration did not have any plans to boycott the games. Go deeper: New geopolitical fears surround 2022 Beijing OlympicsEditor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Katko was not the first U.S. official to call for a boycott. Information on Rep. Waltz's resolution has also been added. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

  • Trump Crisis Response Put U.S. in Deep Hole: NEC's Deese

    Feb.22 -- Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, says the Biden administration is taking the current economic risks "very seriously" and those risks outweigh the risks of "doing too much." He speaks with Bloomberg's Jonathan Ferro on "Bloomberg Markets: The Close."

  • Biden to temporarily target PPP loans to smallest businesses

    The Biden administration will temporarily prevent big businesses from applying for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program, restricting applications to businesses with fewer than 20 employees, according to administration officials.Why it matters: The White House wants to target small businesses and ensure that they are not shut out of the application process, as some were during the first round of the program last spring.Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.On Wednesday, a two-week window will open, where only business under the 20 employee threshold will be allowed to apply. The administration wants to ensure that small businesses, which account for 44% of GDP and employ roughly half of America's workers, have ample time to work with their banks and apply for loans and keep their businesses afloat.The administration will also change some eligibility requirements, concerning applicants with felony records, outstanding student loans and uncertain citizenship status. By the numbers: In the $900 billion relief package signed by President Trump in January, the Small Business Administration received an additional $284 billion to allocate to businesses. Some $134 billion of that pot of money has already been obligated. Since the first relief packages were passed last year, Congress has authorized $806 billion. In his American Rescue Plan, Biden is proposing an additional $7 billion. Applications for latest round of funding closes at the end of March. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free

  • Justice Department ‘became an arm of the White House’: Bill Barr slammed during Merrick Garland confirmation hearing

    As attorney general, Mr Barr was one of the most loyal members of Mr Trump’s administration until his last month in office

  • 'Bridgerton' star Nicola Coughlan reveals 1st scene gave huge clue about ending

    You could say it was a real feather in her cap.

  • House Democrats Introduce Sweeping Expansion of LGBTQ Civil Rights | RS News 2/22/21

    Congressional Democrats introduced broad legislation that would establish the first federal LGBTQ anti-discrimination protections, called the Equality Act, on Thursday. President Joe Biden promised to prioritize the act’s passage within his first 100 days in office. Get the full story at: https://bit.ly/3bzWirU

  • 14-year-old accused of killing sister while parents were asleep, Pennsylvania cops say

    Police say the girl called 911 and said she’d killed her older sister.

  • Yemen's Houthis raise stakes in Marib 'blood bath', sources say

    Hundreds of fighters have been killed in a weeks-long Houthi offensive on the Yemeni region of Marib, military sources and a local official said on Monday, in the conflict's most deadly clashes since 2018. The attack by Iran-aligned Houthi forces on government-held Marib city comes amid renewed diplomacy to end the six-year war, and as the United States said it would end support for a Saudi-led coalition backing the internationally recognised Yemeni government. The United Nations has urged the Houthis to return to negotiations, and said the offensive threatened mass displacement.

  • 19 Cake Frosting Recipes So Good You'll Lick the Bowl

    Here's how to make different types of frostings and cake fillings.

  • Texas power outage brings electrification-natural gas debate to a head

    Research shows the dangers of fossil fuels, including natural gas, but the recent winter storm that led to crippling power outages across regions in Texas has put into question the use of renewable energy instead of natural gas.

  • Experts say the plane and engine used by United have a safe track record - and the scary landing in Colorado should have minimal impact on the airline

    The Boeing plane has been using the Pratt & Whitney engines for over 25 years. Industry experts believe the incident will soon fade.

  • Taco Bell joins chicken sandwich craze — but there’s one big difference. What to know

    The entree is slated for a nationwide release after Taco Bell tests it in these two cities.

  • Kaia Gerber Pays Tribute to "Style Twin" Mom Cindy Crawford on Her 55th Birthday

    "To the person who always makes me do a double take..."

  • India-China dispute: Blogger detained for demeaning soldier 'heroes'

    The blogger, who has 2.5 million followers, is just one of six detained for remarks on the border clash.