Texas. Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). (2026)
The DFPS Annual Plan 2026 outlines the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ strategic goals, priorities, and planned actions for the 2026 fiscal year. The plan focuses on strengthening families, improving case management services, and modernizing workforce and infrastructure to improve outcomes for children and vulnerable adults across Texas. It also highlights key initiatives, system improvements, and progress from the 2025 Annual Plan.
Oregon. Department of Early Learning and Care. Child Care Licensing Division. (2025)
This rule book is intended for registered family child care homes and all child care facilities in Oregon and presents rules that become effective from December 2023 to July 2025. Key sections address relevant definitions and the purpose of the rules to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of children in care; the application and registration process; caregiver and program requirements; health and safety standards; facility and equipment standards; guidelines for positive behavior and guidance, prohibited discipline and actions, and the use of physical restraint and documentation requirements; and compliance and enforcement procedures for inspections, investigations, and handling complaints, sanctions, and civil penalties for violations of rules.
Minnesota. Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Child Safety and Permanency Administration. (2025)
Children and youth in foster care may qualify for federal benefits like SSI, Social Security, and veterans’ benefits—often managed by a representative payee to meet their daily needs. At the direction of the Minnesota Legislature, DHS partnered with DCYF and Management Analysis and Development to explore how these benefits could be better preserved for young people in care. Informed by county, Tribal, and community stakeholders, the report highlights the complexity of the issue and outlines key policy decisions that must be made before a savings plan can move forward, including risk, cost, and Tribal participation.
Sarrasin, Julia.; Vermont. Agency of Human Services. Department of Health. (2026)
Vermont’s Child Fatality Review Team examines unexpected, unexplained, or preventable child deaths to uncover system gaps and risk factors—and to help prevent future tragedies. This report shares key findings and recommendations from cases reviewed between October 2024 and September 2025, along with the Team’s 2025 activities and priorities for 2026. The recommendations reflect the CFRT’s independent analysis and are intended to inform policy and practice improvements statewide.
Montana. Department of Justice. Office of the Child and Family Ombudsman. (2025)
A new report from Montana’s Office of the Child and Family Ombudsman (OCFO) examines how citizen concerns are addressed and identifies systemic issues within the child protection system. In 2024, OCFO saw its highest level of Requests for Assistance in a decade, serving more than 230 children and issuing formal recommendations to strengthen Child and Family Services. The report also reviews child fatalities, outlines extensive outreach efforts, and calls for clearer communication with families and improved staff training—reinforcing OCFO’s independent role in protecting children’s rights and improving outcomes statewide.
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