Child Welfare Reading List

This resource list aims to provide materials related to what is traditionally referred to as the child welfare system—its history, its current practices, its impacts, and its intersections with other systems. Also included are materials exploring approaches and movements for advocacy related to this system. Because this list is a resource for learning and continuing dialogue, links will be updated periodically to reflect and elevate narratives and research as they become available.  

The Shriver Center is continually working to expand accessibility and inclusivity— particularly for communities and identities historically marginalized by power structures and systems—of the available resources in terms of language, voices of impacted communities, and the myriad ways folks engage with and understand the world around them.

How It Works 

There are 7 categories of topics to explore, which are listed in the far left column. Within each topic, you will see 3 sections:  

• Quick overview (media or reads that should take less than about 15 minutes to explore) 
• Learn more (media or reads that should take between 15-30 minutes to explore) 
• Deep dive (media or reads that will take longer than 30 minutes to explore) 

The 3 sections include a few items for you to click on. Each work included in this reading guide is hyperlinked to the source where you can find it.

Child Welfare Reading List (PDF)