This bulletin addresses the specific challenges of permanency planning with older youth and highlights successful strategies and programs from across the country. From the Child Welfare Information Gateway, recommendations include making kinship care a priority to improve permanency among older youth.

Senators Paul Wellstone (D-MN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced legislation in Fall 1999 aimed at protecting the youngest victims of domestic violence. The Children Who Witness Domestic Violence Protection Act of 1999 (S. 1321) includes many of the same provisions as Title II of the Violence Against Women Act of 1999 (H.R 357), as well as authorization for new grant programs. The bill provides for partnership-building between domestic violence service agencies and child welfare agencies; training for child welfare workers and police officers; and training for elementary and secondary school officials on recognizing and meeting the needs of children and teenagers who are witnessing or experiencing domestic violence in their homes or relationships. The "Children Who Witness" bill also makes funds available for the creation of supervised visitation centers and crisis nurseries for victims of child abuse. This bill is not yet legislation.

For more information on S. 1321, contact National Coalition Against Domestic Violence 's Public Policy Office at (202) 745-1211 or ncadv2@sprynet.com

The U.S. teen birthrate has continued to decrease over time -- although it is the highest among industrialized countries. This research reviews the impact of teen pregnancy and how this rate can affect the public. It is estimated that teen childbearing costs taxpayers around $9.1 billion annually; costs included public health care, child welfare and prison system costs.

This Web site offers information from the Child Welfare League of America on increasing effective kinship programs in States and explores the role of kinship care in family preservation.

Since the establishment of TANF, welfare cases declined by 52 percent nationally. However, child-only cases declined by only 25 percent. Half of the child-only are currently residing with a relative. There is little information on these children and if they are receiving benefits. This publication explores this population and gives information on the well-being of these children and their needs.

This is a November 2003 Newsletter generated by the Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network on how TANF and Child Support Enforcement can partner to better serve families.

This article, through the Center for Law and Social Policy, reviews the child support enforcement program and its contribution as an "unsung hero" in welfare reform to bringing additional income to low-income families.

From the National Poverty Center, this working paper outlines the impact on welfare reform policies, such as work requirements, and child support enforcement policies on maternal health and health behavior by utilizing the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing data.

This report details the September 2002 Conference on ACF's Positive Youth Development initiative and provides information on how to effectively incorporate the initiative into a cross section of ACF supported programs such as TANF, Child Support, Head Start, Child Care, Child Welfare, Independent Living, and Runaway and Homeless Youth.

This brief, from the Heritage Institute, outlines the objectives of the TANF program and progress towards meeting its goals. In the past ten years of welfare reform, authors argue that the legislation was a success in reducing welfare dependence and increasing employment; reducing child poverty; and reducing out-of-wedlock childbearing and strengthening marriage.