The Foster Care System

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Getting Started

Begin your research by brainstorming keywords - the words and phrases you’ll use to search for books, articles, websites, government documents, and other resources. These may include names of people and places or historical concepts like eras and movements. A librarian can suggest “subject headings” to find the most relevant resources.

Example Keywords & Catalog Subject Headings

FOSTER home care
FOSTER children
FOSTER care system
Foster home care -- United States

Books/Print Resources at DPL

Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care
Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families--and How Aboli…

Database/Online Resources

Library databases are online collections of information, organized for research. Databases contain articles, eBooks, images, maps, primary sources and more. If you don’t have a library card, register online for immediate access to these resources. The following recommended databases are available on our Research and Teen Social Studies pages.

Sample Articles
Iron status, development, and behavior in young children in the Pennsylvania foster care system.
From the Editor: The Sting of Homelessness among Youth Exiting the Foster Care System.
The field education experience in a privatized foster care system.
THE FUTURE . . . "A TIME REGARDED AS STILL TO COME".
"AGING OUT" GRACEFULLY: Housing and Helping Youth Transition Smoothly out of the Foster Care System.
Prevalence of Resilience, Risk, and Protective Factors in Children and Youth in Foster Care: A Systematic and Meta-Analytic Review.

Academic OneFile (Gale)

Access full-text, peer reviewed scholarly journal articles written by experts in their field, plus podcasts, videos, and transcripts from United States (U.S.) and international news sources. Subjects include biology, chemistry, criminal justice, economics, environmental science, history, marketing, political science, psychology, science, and technology.

Available with library card

Visit Academic OneFile (Gale)
Sample Articles
America's Hidden Foster Care System.
The forgotten children of the foster care system: making a case for the professional judgment standard
Need for trauma-informed care within the foster care system: a policy issue

CQ Researcher

In-depth analysis of  current events and topics in the news, ranging from social and teen issues, to environment, health, education, science, politics and technology. Covers all sides of the issues. Great for school assignments and debate preparation. Video Tutorial

Available with library card

Visit CQ Researcher
Sample Articles
Foster Care: Can the system handle soaring demand?

Internet Sources

Before using information you find on the internet for assignments and research, it is important to establish that the information comes from a reliable and appropriate source. The following websites, from government, academic and nonprofit organizations, have been evaluated for authority, accuracy, content and currency.

CHILDREN'S BUREAU An Office of the Administration for Children & Families
Official Website from the Federal Government
An economic look at child protection policies of the foster care system
From the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics
Key Facts and Statistics
Great set of Data from Childwelfare.gov
Estimating the number of children in formal alternative care: Challenges and re…
From Elsevier- should be able to download PDF for free

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