Impact of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 on monthly caseworker visits to children in Los Angeles County on California's foster care system

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 in Los Angeles County and California. Prior to the passage of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006, there was no Federal requirement that regulated how often children in foster care were visited by their caseworkers.

Publicly available data were used to assess the County of Los Angeles and California's compliance with the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006. Specifically, data were analyzed regarding the: recurrence of child maltreatment, percentage of reentry into the child welfare system, and percentage of reunification. This study found that Los Angeles County and California had only achieved some of the goals of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006. Recommendations for social worker are discussed.