Michigan Child Welfare Reform:
Research & References

Arizona Department of Child Safety - Establishment and Accountability
Official announcement of the 2014 legislation creating a stand-alone Department of Child Safety and establishing transparency and accountability requirements.
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Arizona HB 2860 (2026) - Proposed Independent DCS Oversight Committee
Introduced legislation proposing an independent oversight committee for the Department of Child Safety. The bill did not become law; retain as a legislative proposal, not an enacted statute.
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Chapin Hall - Arizona Department of Child Safety Independent Review (Supplemental Report, 2015)
Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago; background data supplement to the independent review of Arizona child safety. Covers maltreatment, foster-care placement, time in care, and permanency trends.
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State Advisory Council
The State Advisory Council (SAC) provides the Department of Children and Families with oversight and advisement.
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County of Los Angeles Commission for Children and Families
County-level commission advising on services and outcomes for children and families in Los Angeles County.
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Maryland Governor's Office for Children, Children's Cabinet
Cross-agency cabinet coordinating child- and family-focused strategies, funding, and local partnerships across health, education, social services, and other systems.
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Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Transition to DCYF
Overview of Minnesota DCYF creation and the phased transfer of child- and family-focused programs from four existing state agencies between 2024 and 2025.
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Minnesota Management and Budget, Early Childhood Spending (2025)
July 2025 analysis of expenditures on children ages five and under using the Minnesota Children's Fiscal Map; examines spending across state agencies and programs.
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Minnesota Supreme Court Council on Child Protection and Maltreatment Prevention
Status Report March 31, 2025
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New Jersey DCF, 2025-2029 Child and Family Services Plan
Five-year child and family services plan covering child welfare goals, performance assessment, prevention, service coordination, and support for transition-age youth.
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New Jersey Department of Children and Families
Family Support Organizations led by parents with lived experience; stand-alone children’s department.
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New Jersey Department of Children and Families, FY 2024-2025 Budget Discussion Points
Discusses the transition from federal monitoring to independent state oversight of child welfare, including performance metrics and the Staffing and Oversight Review Committee.
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Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Office of Juvenile System Oversight
Independent monitoring and investigation of complaints, facilities, and child welfare and juvenile justice services in Oklahoma.
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Oklahoma Statutes, Title 10, §§ 601.4, 601.5, 601.6, 601.9, 601.14
Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth: duties, director, Office of Juvenile System Oversight, annual State Plan, Parent Partnership Board.
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Oregon Rev. Stat. § 418.044
Governor’s Child Foster Care Advisory Commission.
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City of Philadelphia Executive Order No. 1-18
Children’s Welfare Oversight Board: reviewing reform progress, recommendations, fatality reviews.
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Center for the Study of Social Policy, Lessons Learned from Child Welfare Class Action Litigation: A Case Study of Tennessee’s Reform (2019)
Leadership disruption after a change in administration slowed Tennessee’s reform under Brian A. v. Haslam.
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Tennessee Code Ann. § 37-3-103
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth: duties, recommendations, foster care review monitoring, annual report.
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Tennessee Code Ann. § 37-3-104
Executive director appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the commission.
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Tennessee Code Ann. § 37-3-116
Resource mapping of all federal and state funding for children.
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Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, Ombudsman Program
External problem-resolution for children and families involved with the Department of Children’s Services.
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Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, Reports and Resource-Mapping Archive
Archive of TCCY publications, including State of the Child reports, resource mapping of expenditures on children and youth, annual reports, and related oversight resources.
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The Center for State Child Welfare Data, The Tennessee Accountability Center

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Texas Children’s Commission, Order Creating Commission and Procedural Guide
Collaborative Council including foster youth and parents; data-driven, evidence-based practice.
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Virginia Code Ann. § 30-174
Virginia Commission on Youth: continuing review and study of youth and family services.
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Virginia Commission on Youth
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Washington Legislature, 2023 Final Bill Report for SHB 1590
Legislative history of the DCYF oversight board and proposed changes to its membership; the final bill report records a full veto, so the bill did not take effect.
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Washington RCW 43.216.015
Establishes the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and outlines duties, performance data, and powers and responsibilities of its oversight board.
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