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3 - Investigations / Child Welfare / Dark Money / Family Court / Foster Care / Money & Influence / Money and Finance / Politics / The Schaefer Files

Follow the money: how $1 billion in federal bonuses built an incentive to separate families

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

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
Accountability / Advocacy / Anne Arundel County / Baltimore City / Baltimore County / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Civil Rights / Civil Rights / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Foster Care / Maryland / Maryland Watch / Montgomery County

Maryland Admits Nearly 1,000 Foster Children Missing Since 2020 — Most Are Teenage Girls

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

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
Accountability / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Family Court / Federal Funding / Foster Care / Government / Maryland / Maryland Watch

The Moral Economy of Neglect: How Maryland’s “Compassionate Governance” Betrays Its Foster Children

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Maryland’s foster-care system faces scrutiny following the death of Kanaiyah Ward, highlighting issues of oversight and neglect. An audit revealed unsafe placements and significant financial mismanagement. Proposed reforms, including “Kanaiyah’s Law,” aim to improve vendor accountability and prioritize children’s welfare, emphasizing the need for systemic overhaul amid ongoing criticisms.

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Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Child Support / Child Trafficking / Child Welfare / Constitutional Rights / Court Corruption / Due Process Denied / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Family Values / Foster Care / Government / Government Corruption / Legal Reform / Parental Rights / Policy / Politics / The Corruption Series

The Hidden Market in Broken Homes: How Family Courts Became a Profit Center

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

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.

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Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Trafficking / Court Corruption / Donald Trump / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Legal Reform / Politics

Could Donald Trump Finally Take on America’s Family Court Corruption—and Save the Children?

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Donald Trump’s declaration on missing children and commitment to international cooperation raises a crucial question about his potential response to the corruption in America’s family courts. These courts, shrouded in secrecy, are accused of unjustly separating families for financial gain. Advocating for transparency and parental rights could define Trump’s legacy and address this hidden crisis.

Could Donald Trump Finally Take on America’s Family Court Corruption—and Save the Children? Read More
Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Court Corruption / Family Court Reform / New Mexico

Child Taken, Then Lost Forever: Did Judicial Overreach in New Mexico Lead to Baby Skylar’s Death?

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

The tragic case of ten-month-old Skylar’s death in New Mexico raises alarms about the power of family courts and child welfare systems. Removed from her mother due to unproven concerns, Skylar died in state custody, highlighting flaws in a system prioritizing risk management over family preservation. Calls for reform echo throughout the narrative.

Child Taken, Then Lost Forever: Did Judicial Overreach in New Mexico Lead to Baby Skylar’s Death? Read More