How to cover child welfare - and not just the system - Poynter

"Reporters should center kids and families in ways that give them agency and avoid retraumatizing them, at least to the extent that's possible. That means thinking about welfare and children holistically, taking into account their short- and long-term mental well-being."

"The stated goal of said system is to protect children from harm. But research shows kids who come out of foster care often struggle as adults. Officials will say they don't judge poverty as neglect, which underpins most investigations. And yet, parents will find their inability to secure work used against them in dependency court, as states funnel money to foster care and group homes rather than extending help to struggling parents."

"When using official language, reporters can add context on agencies' family separation policies or how race impacts their implementation to flesh out why some with lived experiences bristle at the common terminology. Diving into works by National Coalition for Child Protection Reform director Richard Wexler and sociology professor and author Dorothy Roberts can lay the groundwork for that approach."

Reporters covering child welfare systems must prioritize children and families by centering their agency and avoiding retraumatization. This requires questioning official language and understanding how poverty is often misclassified as neglect, despite stated policies against such judgments. Research demonstrates that children exiting foster care frequently struggle as adults, yet resources flow toward foster care rather than family support. Journalists should add context about family separation policies and racial disparities in implementation. Oversimplifying stories to meet deadlines disserves families and their complex circumstances. Coverage should extend beyond crisis moments to examine systemic issues comprehensively, informed by scholars like Richard Wexler and Dorothy Roberts.

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