JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Wrong Way to Fix Foster Care.

  • Published In: National Review, 2026, v. 78, n. 5. P. 21 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: RILEY, NAOMI SCHAEFER 3 of 3

Abstract

This article critically examines the claim that expanding early education programs like Head Start can significantly reduce the number of children entering foster care. It highlights that the supporting research is weak, noting methodological flaws and limited evidence that Head Start enrollment prevents foster care placement. The article emphasizes that poverty alone is not the primary cause of child removal; rather, factors such as parental substance abuse, mental illness, and neglect play a more substantial role. It cautions against broadly applying safety-net programs as a solution for child maltreatment, arguing that such approaches risk diverting resources from children who are genuinely at risk. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:National Review. 2026/05, Vol. 78, Issue 5, p21
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Political Science
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0028-0038
  • Accession Number:192366766
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of National Review is the property of National Review Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.