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Child Welfare

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Children who live in impoverished conditions or who experience traumatic events face numerous challenges as they develop. RAND conducts research on issues that affect child welfare such as poverty, abuse and neglect, foster care, adoption, child protective services, and other government services designed to protect children and encourage family stability.

Report
Challenges in Implementing Physical Security Measures in K–12 Schools
Creating safe and secure environments is essential to supporting effective teaching and learning in America's classrooms. What are the most common challenges to physical security planning in schools?
Jun 3, 2021
Essay
How the Child-Welfare System Could Protect More Kids and Save Billions of Dollars
It costs billions of dollars each year to investigate child abuse reports, counsel and support families, and provide foster homes for kids at risk. A greater focus on preventing abuse and neglect, and on placing children with relatives rather than strangers, could improve thousands of young lives.
Apr 25, 2018

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News Release
Military Child Care System Should Reassess Delivery of Services to Better Meet Goals
The U.S. military should reassess its child care system to look for ways to make it better fit the needs of military families and more effectively meet recruitment, readiness and retention goals.
Sep 29, 2008
News Release
Few Parents of Chronically Ill Children Use California Paid Family Leave Program
California's pioneering paid family leave program has largely failed to reach one of its major target groups. Few parents of children with serious chronic illnesses have used the program, despite having paid into the program through payroll withholdings, and the vast majority of these parents aren't even aware that the program exists.
Sep 2, 2008
News Release
RAND Study Provides Primer for Using Economics to Help Guide Early Childhood Policy Initiatives
A growing body of economic research suggests that public investment in early childhood programs may be able to lower public costs for social services by improving children's long-term welfare.
May 12, 2008
Research Brief
What Does Economics Tell Us About Early Childhood Policy?
This research brief describes how insights from the field of economics -- human capital theory and monetary payoffs -- provide science-based guidance for early childhood policy.
May 8, 2008
Journal Article
Crowd-out in the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP): Incidence, Enrollee Characteristics and Experiences, and Potential Impact on New York's SCHIP
Most movement from private to public insurance in New York was not crowd-out from the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Under current program structure in New York, crowd-out concerns should not dampen enthusiasm for SCHIP.
Feb 1, 2008
Journal Article
The Effects of Pregnancy Spacing on Infant and Child Mortality in Matlab, Bangladesh: How They Vary By the Type of Pregnancy Outcome That Began the Interval
Assesses the effects of duration of intervals between pregnancy outcomes on infant and child mortality and how effects vary over child subperiods and by the outcome that began the interval. Shorter intervals are associated with higher mortality.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Population-based Assessments of Ophthalmologic and Audiologic Follow-Up in Children with Very Low Birth Weight Enrolled in Medicaid: A Quality-of-Care Study
Finds a shortfall in provision of critical services for children with very low birth weight (<1500 g) at high risk for vision and hearing problems and enrolled in Medicaid. Findings support the importance of enrollment in Early Intervention Program.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Does Public Insurance Provide Better Financial Protection Against Rising Health Care Costs for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs?
Rising health care costs increased financial burden on families of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in 2001-2004. Public insurance coverage provided better financial protection than private insurance for families of CSHCN.
Jan 1, 2008
Journal Article
Appetite for Change: School Meals Policy in the Limelight 2005
This case study examines the Government's decision in 2005 to establish new nutritional standards for school meals.
Jan 1, 2008
Report
Human Trafficking Problem Hits Close to Home
While many of us think of human trafficking—both sex and labor trafficking—as occurring mostly in foreign countries, it is a growing national concern, and one that often hits home in local communities.
Oct 13, 2007
Research Brief
Schools Not Sustaining Mental Health Aid to Children Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
Despite strong initial efforts to support the mental health needs of students displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many schools have not been able to fulfill students' mental health needs over the long term.
Oct 8, 2007
Commentary
Iraqi Refugee Challenge
Better relations with [Iraqi refugee children] and the rest of the Arab world's
Jun 28, 2007
News Release
Better Access to Federal and Employer-Provided Time Off Helps Working Parents of Chronically Ill Children
Working parents are more able to care for their chronically ill children when given greater access to federal and employer-provided time off from their jobs, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.
Jun 21, 2007
News Release
School Playgrounds and Athletic Facilities Are an Untapped Resource in Fight Against Childhood Obesity
April 19, 2007 news release: RAND Study Finds School Playgrounds and Athletic Facilities Are an Untapped Resource in Fight Against Childhood Obesity.
Apr 19, 2007
News Release
RAND Study Finds Few HIV-Positive Parents Make Formal Guardianship Arrangements for Their Children
February 5, 2007 News Release: RAND Study Finds Few HIV-Positive Parents Make Formal Guardianship Arrangements for Their Children.
Feb 5, 2007
News Release
RAND Study of Los Angeles County Neighborhoods and Their Impact on Children Enters Second Phase
January 24, 2007 News Release: RAND Study of Los Angeles County Neighborhoods and Their Impact on Children Enters Second Phase.
Jan 24, 2007
Journal Article
Availability of High School Extracurricular Sports Programs and High-Risk Behaviors
Opportunities for participation in high school extracurricular sports are limited. Future studies should test whether increased opportunities will increase physical activity and impact the increasing overweight problem in youths.
Jan 1, 2007
Journal Article
Few HIV-Positive Parents Make Guardianship Arrangements for Their Children
Few unmarried parents who are HIV-positive have made legally documented arrangements for who would care for their children if the parents die. Having guardianship in place could help ease the trauma their children would suffer when losing a parent.
Jan 1, 2007
Journal Article
Pilot Test of Project CHOICE: A Voluntary Afterschool Intervention for Middle School Youth
The current study reports findings from a pilot evaluation of a voluntary alcohol and marijuana intervention for young teens.
Jan 1, 2007
Journal Article
Active Parental Consent for a School-Based Community Violence Screening: Comparing Distribution Methods
Students are unable to benefit from many school programs designed to address their mental health needs if their parents do not consent to their participation.
Jan 1, 2007

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RAND Topic:
Child Welfare

Topic Synonyms:
Child Protection

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Alex R. Dopp

Behavioral and Social Scientist

Alex Dopp (he/him) is a behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation. Also an implementation scientist and child clinical psychologist, he studies the use of research evidence, and related policy implications, for improving youth mental health and substance use services. He has rare…
Dionne Barnes-Proby

Senior Social Policy Researcher

Dionne Barnes-Proby is a senior social policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, director of its Summer Associate Program, a faculty member at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and cochair of RAND's Black Employees Leading in Inclusion, Equity, Vision, and Education (BELIEVE) Employee Resource…

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