This article explores how New York lawmakers have approved a bill that would bring greater transparency to “hidden foster care,” a practice where child welfare agencies pressure parents to place their children with relatives or others outside the formal foster care system, often without court oversight or access to legal protections. Advocates argue that this system bypasses due process and leaves families vulnerable, while agencies defend it as a way to keep children out of foster care.
The legislation requires local child welfare agencies to collect and publicly report data each year on these informal placements, including how often they occur, how long they last, and the demographics of the children involved. By mandating this reporting, lawmakers hope to shed light on a system that has long operated in the shadows and to spark debate about whether hidden foster care should be reformed or curtailed.