The Well-Being of Children Involved with the Child Welfare System: A National Overview

Most children involved with the child welfare system have experienced abuse or neglect and separation from a parent. These traumatic experiences can lead to a variety of behavioral and emotional problems including severe attachment disorders. Additionally, many children in the child welfare system not only come from but are placed in high-risk home environments characterized by poverty, instability, and parents or caregivers with poor psychological well-being. These factors can also contribute to a greater likelihood of poor child well-being, further compromising the healthy development of an already vulnerable group of children.