ABSTRACT
As we complete this third edition of The Child Welfare Challenge, child and family services are struggling to effectively serve families but large and small child welfare agencies are making progress and generating promising innovations (e.g., Lindsey & Schwartz, 2004). In this new edition, we have taken a more assertive stance regarding the reforms needed in child welfare, informed by the many collaborations underway with public and voluntary child welfare agencies. We fi rmly believe that major changes in approach are essential in certain areas, such as reforming Title IV-E funding to be more fl exible and available for services; fuller implementation of community-based Alternative Response Systems, subsidized kinship care, subsidized guardianship, and the advancement of post-permanency services. We believe that these changes will improve the design, funding, and outcomes of child and family services in the United States and in many other countries.
