For years, we’ve talked about modernizing child welfare systems and improving child welfare policy—now it’s happening.
The new federal Executive Order (EO), Fostering the Future for American Children & Families, is more than a policy update—it’s a blueprint for transformation. It builds on the foundation of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), and it aligns closely with the goals of Comprehensive Child Welfare Information Systems (CCWIS) by calling for modernization of state information systems and interoperability across programs. The ultimate goal being to support better child safety and improve well-being for children and families.
From prevention to transformation: how policy, partnerships, and technology are modernizing child welfare
Family First shifted the focus toward prevention, helping keep children safely with their families whenever possible. This order takes that vision further by introducing annual scorecards to measure outcomes like reducing unnecessary entries into foster care, shortening stays in foster care, and accelerating permanent placements. It’s about accountability, transparency, and results.
NYTD has been essential for tracking how older youth fare as they age out of care. The Executive Order strengthens that mission through the “Fostering the Future” initiative, creating partnerships with private sector leaders, nonprofits, and academic institutions to open doors for education and employment. It also calls for an online platform that connects young people to housing, healthcare, mentoring, and career pathways—giving them a roadmap for independence and success. Resources like the Child Welfare Information Gateway and the Children’s Bureau will play a key role in guiding agencies and child welfare professionals through these changes.
Modernization in action: CCWIS and the technology mandate
This is where CCWIS comes into play. The EO’s technology mandate pushes states to modernize child welfare systems, adopt AI and predictive analytics to improve caregiver recruitment and child matching, and leverage data-driven tools to reduce placement disruptions and shorten time in care. This is a shift from outdated, siloed systems to smart, interoperable platforms—exactly what CCWIS envisioned. Together, these initiatives create a unified, future-ready ecosystem for child welfare agencies. These modernization efforts can have a wide-reaching impact, supporting health and human services programs, child care coordination, and out-of-home care planning.
This conversation is especially timely because this executive order was announced in November which was National Adoption Month—a reminder of the urgent need to find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care. Modernizing systems and leveraging technology can help make that happen faster and more effectively, supporting reunification, kinship care, and independent living for youth aging out of care.
Balancing innovation with fairness: risks we can’t ignore
While this Executive Order sets an ambitious vision for modernization, we must also acknowledge potential challenges. Many young people enter foster care after experiencing rejection or mistreatment tied to their identity or circumstances—particularly LGBTQ+ youth, who are significantly overrepresented in the system. These children face heightened risks of discrimination, instability, and aging out without a permanent family.
As we consider strategies to expand the pool of foster families, it is critical to keep front and center what matters most: ensuring that foster families are prepared to recognize and set aside their own biases to provide a safe, affirming, and supportive environment. Modernization cannot succeed if we fail to prioritize fairness and the needs of every child.
There’s also a risk that cultural and identity preservation may be overlooked without strong safeguards. Predictive analytics and AI can help improve matching and resource allocation, but if algorithms are trained on biased historical data, they could reinforce systemic disparities rather than solve them. Similarly, modernization mandates could widen gaps between states with robust IT infrastructure and those with limited resources, creating uneven access to innovation. Without adequate funding, technical assistance, and oversight, we risk building a two-tier system where some children benefit from advanced tools while others remain in outdated processes. Progress must be paired with fairness, transparency, and practices that ensure every child and family has access to the benefits of transformation.
Continuing the momentum to strengthen child welfare
The question now is: How do we turn this vision into reality? What role will technology—and those of us who champion it—play in bridging the gap in child welfare practice? I’m optimistic that this renewed focus on child welfare practice, combined with smart technology built for child welfare, can drive meaningful change for children and families. Let’s start the conversation. We’ll continue sharing updates and insights as new developments unfold, so stay tuned for more.
