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Case Study of the Missouri Foster Care System: Identifying System Vulnerabilities Related to Children Who Ran Away

In August 2019, the OIG Office of Investigations (OI), along with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and local law enforcement, targeted Missouri metropolitan areas to locate children who ran away from foster care. The Missouri foster care system, DOJ, and OIG OI, located 58 children. Running away from foster care is associated with serious negative consequences, including a heightened risk of human trafficking, as well as poorer outcomes related to health, safety, education, employment, and subsequent criminal justice system involvement. This study will review the foster care case files of these located children to determine whether documentation exists demonstrating that the State provided the children with required services (e.g., monthly caseworker visits, safety planning) leading up to when the children went missing from foster care, and evidence that the State actively attempted to find the children after they went missing. Further, we will review what services the State provided these children after they returned to foster care. We will evaluate whether the Missouri foster care system followed applicable Federal and State laws, policies, and procedures to protect these children.

Announced or Revised Agency Title Component Report Number(s) Expected Issue Date (FY)
April 2020 ACF Case Study of the Missouri Foster Care System: Identifying System Vulnerabilities Related to Children Who Ran Away Office of Evaluation and Inspections OEI-07-19-00372 2021