Assessing the Alaska Foster Care Agency's Compliance, Challenges, and Successes When American Indian and Alaska Native Children Go Missing From Care

OBJECTIVE

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children are disproportionately represented among missing children and are more likely to go missing from a foster care placement than any other location. When children go missing from foster care, they may experience 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. For AI/AN children who went missing from Alaska's foster care system (Alaska), this evaluation will review foster care case files and related documentation to determine whether Alaska complied with Federal and State rules before, during, and after the children went missing from care (e.g., attempted to locate the children while they were missing, provided children with services after they returned to care). This study will also examine whether Alaska involved children's Tribes throughout this process and attempt to gain perspectives from both the State and the Tribes about challenges and successes in these cases.

TIMELINE

• November 15, 2023
  Announced
• Today
  Office of Evaluation and Inspections In-Progress
• Est FY2026
  Estimated Fiscal Year for Project Completion

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