Infants and toddlers in the child welfare system should have access to developmentally appropriate supports responsive to the needs of the child and family.
Children under age 3 make up an alarming proportion of children entering the child welfare system. Yet few states currently differentiate their policies and procedures or equip child welfare staff with the necessary skills to meet the unique needs of infants and toddlers or address their parents’ problems. A concerted focus at the federal, state, and local levels on the particular needs of infants and toddlers and their families is required to nurture positive development and promote resiliency that can enable these very young children to avoid the long-term consequences of adverse early experiences.
