Moving Away from Family Separation: Cross-Systems Strategies to Support Young Children at Risk of Child Welfare Involvement

Children who are involved in the child welfare system, especially those under the age of five, are among the most vulnerable. Research has shown that access to high-quality early childhood programs and services, along with coordination between families and staff in both the child welfare and early childhood systems, is crucial for the future success of these young children.

Since 2020, BUILD has explored how the child welfare system and other early childhood systems (i.e., health, mental health, housing, early intervention, transportation, economic support, early care, and education and all the child-and-family serving systems) can align and work together to achieve better outcomes and families. In the process, BUILD has identified several states that have developed promising programs, policies, and strategies that can inspire other states to act.