Court tools

Every Kid Needs a Family overview

The EKNF report for courts and anyone interested in why and how to safely reduce reliance on institutional care placements in child welfare.

Attorney advocacy guide

Advocacy tips and questions for attorneys to ask about institutional placements.

Benchcard for Judges

Questions for judges to ask about institutional placements (including inquiries under the Family First Prevention Services Act).

Congregate Care Infographic

Guidance for CASAs and GALs

The National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association developed an infographic on reducing congregate care and the role of CASA and GAL volunteers in keeping children in families.

Explore the data

To view an interactive map with the most recent data on institutional care placements and the eight-year trend for each state, visit the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Center.

NCSC.org NACC Annie E. Casey Foundation

Production of this site is a partnership of the National Center for State Courts and the National Association of Counsel for Children with the generous support of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The contents were also informed and strengthened through collaboration and feedback from the American Bar Association’s Center on Children and the Law, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association, National Association of American Indian Court Judges Association, Association of Children’s Residential Centers, and the Building Bridges Initiative.