Investigative Journalism | Exposing What Lies Beneath
The investigation into federal adoption incentives is broadening, revealing over $1 billion in bonuses and $52 billion in Title IV-E funding. Key findings include decreased foster care caseloads and increased adoption payments. Riptide Investigations is examining state funding patterns, policy changes, and the effectiveness of financial incentives in achieving child welfare goals.
Since 1997, the federal government has paid states over $1 billion in adoption incentives, encouraging adoptions instead of family reunification. While foster care numbers declined, adoption assistance payments surged by nearly 43% in recent years, highlighting a troubling financial structure favoring permanent separations over reunifications.
Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families Read More
A new presidential order effective January 1, 2026, halts most international adoptions from 39 “high-risk” countries, impacting thousands of vulnerable children. Framed as a national security measure, the policy has drawn criticism for disproportionately affecting African and Muslim-majority nations and lacking public discourse prior to implementation.
New Travel Ban Quietly Freezes International Adoptions—And Leaves Children in the Crossfire Read More
Hundreds of lawsuits, state violations, and survivor accounts paint a devastating portrait of San Diego County’s flagship children’s shelter — the same facility where Giselle Smiel’s kids were taken before being handed to their abusive father.
Polinsky’s story reveals how California’s “child-protection” pipeline can deliver children straight back into danger.
Maryland’s Department of Human Services confirmed that 990 children in state foster care have gone missing between 2020 and 2025. Most are teenage girls, raising concerns about the classification of cases as “runaways.” Advocates argue this lack of transparency masks deeper issues in a failing foster care system, demanding federal oversight and accountability.
Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls Read More
The article by Michael Phillips argues that family courts and child welfare systems have evolved into profit-driven industries, prioritizing revenue over family stability. Federal laws like Title IV-D and Title IV-E incentivize conflict and child removal, creating a cycle of dependency and trauma for families. Reform is essential to shift these damaging incentives.
The Hidden Market in Broken Homes: How Family Courts Became a Profit Center Read More
American family courts are increasingly removing children from parents who refuse to affirm a child’s transgender identity, regardless of evidence of abuse or neglect. Parents are losing their rights to make critical decisions, while state agencies and activists impose their views. This trend indicates a worrying erosion of parental authority in favor of ideological agendas.
When Parental Rights Collide With State Power: The Growing Battle Over Transgender Custody Cases Read More
Idaho’s marriage laws permit minors to marry with minimal oversight, leading to potential custody manipulation. A legal loophole allows one parent to unilaterally arrange marriages, bypassing court orders. This issue raises significant concerns about child protection and legal consistency, prompting calls for reforms to prevent exploitation and uphold family values.
The Idaho Child Marriage Loophole: When “Parental Rights” Become a Custody Workaround Read More
In June 2025, a Baltimore County daycare owner was released after serving time for shooting her husband, who sexually abused children at their facility. The case highlights flaws in the justice system, which punishes those protecting children while enabling predators. It raises crucial questions about child safety, moral accountability, and systemic reform.
Baltimore County Daycare Owner Released After Prison Term: A Stark Reminder of How Our Justice System Fails Families and Children Read More
The Maryland Department of Health launched a Gun Violence Data Dashboard to track firearm-related deaths, revealing 671 incidents in 2024. While aimed at informing policies for violence prevention, concerns arise about potential misuse of data. The dashboard lacks contextual analysis, risking distorted narratives linking legal gun ownership to urban violence and impacting family courts negatively.
Maryland’s Gun Violence Dashboard: A Step Toward Transparency, or a Political Tool in the Making? Read More