A few efforts fail, but enough succeed to raise serious questions about Washington's traditional focus on out-of-home care.

This type of out-of-home care is for orphans, or for children whose parents cannot or will not look after them.

When children in out-of-home care cannot be safely reunited with their birth families, adoption is often the most desirable goal.

Some child welfare programs provide targeted services to achieve permanency for specific populations of children and youth in out-of-home care.

The resources below discuss guardianship as an option for children in out-of-home care, including State and local examples.

During the first half of the 20th century, residential institutions were still the standard form of out-of-home care.

The most common outcome of a childhood spent in out-of-home care reported to the Senate inquiry was a loss of identity.

Children in out-of-home care may live in a number of possible settings.

While in out-of-home care, children are usually in the legal custody of the State.

While in out-of-home care, children and their parents or other family members receive services.