How to cover the child welfare system with depth and care
The child welfare system is arguably one of the most difficult systems to navigate.
The agencies that comprise the system wield enormous responsibility to ensure children’s safety. But they often punish struggling families by removing their children rather than providing services to support them. And while some children may benefit from being in a state’s custody, many more face mistreatment within a system that has lasting effects on education, mental health and more.
For reporters, it’s difficult to cover a complex, opaque system like child welfare. I spent the past six months going through Poynter’s training on it. Here are things to keep in mind as you look into your own local child welfare agency.
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