An examination of recent federal and philanthropic funding for child welfare research in the United States

Abstract

This study identified the dollar value and research topics of federal and philanthropic grants made for child welfare research in a recent five-year period (2014–2018). More than $1 billion in child welfare research grants were identified and examined. Federal funding totaled $977 million and appeared to emphasize research related to evidence-based services and programs; child and youth behavioral health; behavioral health treatment; parent training and coaching; permanency planning and services; staff training; trauma-informed services; child developmental health; culturally competent services; case management; substance abuse treatment; birthparent services; systems reform and integration; implementation science and implementation evaluation; and adoption. Multi-state foundations funded $51 million in child welfare research, which appeared to emphasize mapping data related to child well-being; needs and services for adolescents ages 14–17 and young adults ages 18–25; independent living/transition services; education services; child and youth behavioral health; employment training/placement; systems integration/reform; child well-being indicators; research center support; needs and services for children ages 6–13; studies focused on urban areas; behavioral health treatment; building evidence on treatments and services; and juvenile justice, juvenile corrections, and juvenile probation. Foundations appear to fund areas that received fewer child welfare-related grants from federal agencies.