Progress and issues in the implementation of the 1984 out-of-home care protection amendment

The purpose of this paper is to assess the status of implementation of out-of-home protection programs since 1984 in the U.S. Data was obtained from a survey of state child protection services (CPS) liaisons in summer, 1989. A framework for viewing protection after placement is presented and the development of policy regarding maltreatment in out-of-home care is traced from its roots in the deinstitutionalization movement. Changes in state statutes and rules, results in out-of-home abuse and neglect reporting, how states operationalize "properly constituted authority" and "independent investigation," the role of licensing in preventing and remediating out-of-home maltreatment, training initiatives and the extent of the use of background checks are reported. A summary evaluation of the status of the implementation of the federal 1984 out-of-home care protection amendments by state agencies is offered.