What's Best for Children
Posted September 24, 2013
By the Annie E. Casey Foundation
The research is clear: Living in families is what’s best for children, no matter their age. Come to find out, providing what’s best for children’s developmental needs can also be good for state budgets.
Recently I visited with the National Governors Association to explain the developmental toll group settings can have on children. I also explained that without spending more money, children can have better outcomes if communities change how they help abused and neglected kids. Don’t send them to group placements that do not meet their needs. Instead, repurpose that money to pay for approaches shown to be effective to help kids while they live at home with their parents, relatives or foster parents.
