A campaign to ensure bright futures for kids in foster care.

See this new brief to learn more about how states are doing on foster parenting practices identified by CHAMPS as being key to promoting better outcomes for children and youth in foster care.

See here for the campaign’s FOUR winning policy solutions for promoting better and more equitable outcomes for children and youth in foster care by strengthening foster parent recruitment, retention and support.

This four page brief provides the latest research on the benefits of family-based foster care over group care and highlights four winning policy approaches to help states recruit, support and retain kin and non-kin foster families.

Explore our new searchable database to learn about state policies to strengthen foster parenting. Policies include those from the CHAMPS playbook, states’ diligent recruitment plans and other resources.

The report highlights innovative examples of foster parent recruitment and retention strategies from around the country and can be an excellent resource to child welfare agencies looking to strengthen their state and local strategies.

Nearly forty state-based organizations of foster and kinship families write to Congress to highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on foster and kin families and the children they are caring for.

In this brief, CHAMPS highlights the game-changing benefits of peers support to families, children and agencies. It describes different approaches to peer support and showcases several examples from the field.

The P-EBT was passed by Congress to provide temporary food resources for all families with children who receive free or reduced lunch. Children and youth in foster care are categorically eligible for free lunches. Learn more about this benefit in your state.

In December 2019, Congress enacted the Family First Transition Act, which provides $500 million in federal funds to help child welfare agencies implement the Family First Act. This new CHAMPS brief urges agencies to devote at least 50 percent of the transition grant funds in support of strengthening family-based care.

See this op-ed by CHAMPS for commentary on the Children’s Bureau’s Information Memoranda on improving the quality of foster parenting through better use of data and improved policies on family time.

This new guide can assist child welfare agencies in planning and implementing best practices in foster parent recruitment, development and support. It features six key drivers for driving better results and offers specific strategies for achieving and sustaining excellence in foster parenting.

This video features foster parents from across the country sharing their insights about how the CHAMPS policy goals can strengthen and support foster parenting.

On February 4, 2019, the U.S. Children’s Bureau issued its final policy creating a new National Model for Family Foster Home Licensing Standards. State and Tribal child welfare agencies must align their licensing standards with the new National Model.

The CHAMPS policy playbook is grounded in research and draws on best practice examples, such as those generated by the Quality Parenting Initiative. The playbook offers recommended policy approaches as well as examples of existing policies. We hope policy makers use the playbook as a resource to strengthen foster parenting policies and programs. Click below to visit our online policy playbook.

The CHAMPS policy playbook features six policy goals: (1) Support relationships between birth and foster families, (2) Implement data-driven recruitment and retention practices, (3) Engage foster parents in decision-making (4) Provide timely access to trusted, dedicated staff and peer support to foster parents, (5) Prioritize placements with family members and other family connections, and (6) Ensure timely access to physical and mental health services.

Sign the pledge to show your support for today’s amazing foster parents and the importance of quality foster parenting.

All aspects of the CHAMPS campaign draws on an abundance of research that points to the vital importance of stable, caring families in promoting child well-being. See here for highlights of research that support the policy goals outlined in the CHAMPS playbook.

Learn more about our national campaign to ensure every child in foster care has a bright future–CHAMPS.

A video about CHAMPS in Spanish

Advocates, legislators, providers, and youth from across the state were on hand as CHAMPS NY was unveiled on May 30, 2018 at the Capitol in Albany.

Being recognized as a valued partner is important to most foster parents. The CHAMPS campaign provides an array of tools to help child welfare agencies and community partners show their appreciation of foster parents in their community. A check list of ideas and examples of how other states and communities are taking action is available here.

The March 2018 edition of NCSL’s monthly magazine features legislative examples that support quality foster parents by making sure foster parents get timely access to the supports and services they need to provide top-notch care.

A key focus of CHAMPS is to promote state policy changes that lead to better supports for foster parents so they can provide amazing foster parenting. See this message from CHAMPS co-chairs.