| Government Links |
| Non Government Links |
| Other Websites of Interest |
| Other Accreditation Organisations |

::: Government Links

Australia

» Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

The AIHW is the nation's authoritative source of information on children's and family services, child protection, crisis accommodation and support services and disability services. Look under Child Protection to find statistics on out-of-home care.

» Australian Law Reform Commission

» Crime and Misconduct Commission, Queensland

In January 2004, the CMC released an inquiry into the abuse of children in foster care in Queensland. The report is available for download on the website.

» Department of Families, Queensland

The Department of Families have resources available for kids who want to know about their rights. The Charter of Rights for Children in Care story book explains the charter in a clear, kid-friendly way.

» Federal Department of Family and Community Service

First State Super

New South Wales

» Attorney General's Department

» Commission for Children and Young People

» NSW Ageing, Disability and Home Care

» NSW Community Services 
This site contains data about out-of-home care. On the Community Services website you will also find the:
Charter of Rights for children and young people in out-of-home care (see under “for young people” – your rights in care), and
Interagency Guidelines for Child Protection Intervention 2006 edition (see under “news and publications” – reports and other publications)

» LawAccess NSW

» Best for kids
A website for families who are going through seperation. This website provides family law information for parents and children. 

» NSW Centre for Parenting and Research

This site has practical tips, information and resources to help make parenting easier.

» Office of the Public Guardian

» The Ombudsman's Office

In December 2002, the Community Services Commission was amalgamated with the NSW Ombudsman.

» Keep Them Safe: A shared approach to child wellbeing

» The Office of the Information Commissioner

» The Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT)

» The official NSW Legislation website

::: Non Government Links

» AbSec - The Aboriginal Child, Family & Community Care State Secretariat (NSW)

» Australian Council for Children and Youth Organisations

» Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS)

» Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia

» Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care

» Aboriginal Statewide Foster Carer Support Service

» Association of Childrens Welfare Agencies (ACWA)

This site has a list of organisations that provide out-of-home care for children and young people.

» Care Leavers of Australia Network (CLAN)

Care Leavers of Australia Network (CLAN) is a support group for people brought up in care as State Wards, Foster Children or Home children raised in Children's Homes, orphanages or institutions.

» Create Foundation

an organisation especially for children and young people in out-of-home care.

» NSW Council on Social Services (NCOSS)

» Youth Accommodation Association

» Youth Action and Policy Association

» NDS - National Disability Services

The Australian peak body for non-government disability services

» Cares NSW

» Karitane – Parenting services

::: Other Websites of Interest

Australian Organisations

» AusAnthrop - anthropological research, resources and documentation

This organisation focuses on Aboriginal people in Australia. Its website includes an introduction into studies about kinship.

» Australian Centre for Community Services Research

» Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies

» Early Childhood Australia (ECA)

» Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association

» Australian Institute of Family Studies

» Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth

» Case Management Society of Australia Inc (CMSA)

CMSA is dedicated to the support and development of the practice of quality Case Management. They provide a focus for practitioners, service providers and funding bodies who are confronting the challenges of the Case Management approach.

» Child Wise

» Children Australia

» Families Australia

» Family Support Services Australia

» National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect

» National Child Protection Clearinghouse

» National Children’s and Youth Law Centre

» Raising Grandchildren

Overseas Organisations

» A Guide to the Law for Young People in Care

An information site for children and young people in care in England and Wales. Children and young people can access a range of information from their rights in care to what happens when they leave care. Updated every 6 months.

» Audit Commission, UK

The Audit Commission’s aim is to be a driving force in the improvement of public services; they will promote proper stewardship and governance and will help those responsible for public services to achieve effective outcomes for users and the public.

» British Association for Fostering and Adoption

» Canada Child Welfare Research Unit

» Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Care, Ireland

Published by the Western Health Board, Ireland, this charter was developed by young people in care who shared their views on what it is like to live in care.

» Child Welfare League of America

» Children and Young People's Unit, UK

The Unit supports Ministers as they develop, refine and communicate the Government’s overarching strategy for children and young people. They promote active dialogue and partnership with children and young people, and with the voluntary sector.

» Children in Wales

Children in Wales is the national umbrella children’s organisation in Wales. They aim to promote the interests of and take action to identify and meet the needs of children, young people and their families in Wales.

» Children's Rights Officers and Advocates (CROA), UK

CROA is a membership organisation for children’s rights officers and advocates, children’s participation officers and individuals working to promote children’s rights and participation in England and Wales.

» Colorado Department of Human Services - Administrative Review Division

The Administrative Review Division conducts regular on-site reviews of all children in out-of-home placement. The review assures that children are in a safe and appropriate level of care.

» Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services

The Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services' website includes information about fostering and adoption, as well as their policies and procedures.

» Department of Health, UK - Children, Older People and Social Care

The DOH works with inspection bodies regarding social care policy. Social services are provided by those local councils in England designated with responsibility for providing social care support to the people that need it most.

» Department of Health, UK - Quality Protects Programme

The Quality Protects programme is a key part of the Government’s wider strategy for tackling social exclusion. It focuses on working with children looked after in councils; in the child protection system; and other children in need.

» Electronic Library for Social Care

eLSC is a free online resource providing access to a large range of social care information, including practice information, skills tutorials, and abstracts of books, reports, research papers, journals, official publications and articles.

» Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services provides background information on Foster Care in the state of Illinois with links to policy & rules on this and other related areas such as child protection and adoption.

» Institutions vs. Foster Homes — A report

A report on the costs/benefits of centralised care centres vs. foster homes by Richard P. Barth of the University of North Carolina. Barth argues that the long-term costs of institutional care outweigh the benefits gained from this form of placement.

» International Foster Care Organisation

» International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect

» Joint Reviews, UK

Joint Reviews provide an independent assessment of how well the public is being served by social services locally. The reviews identify what authorities do well, and highlight those areas that could be improved.

» Research in Practice, UK
br />Their aim is to promote the use of evidence to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families, and the capacity of policy and services to respond to the needs of these families.

» The Children's Society - Online Bookshop

The Children’s Society concentrates its resources on tackling the root causes of the problems children and young people face. Find out what the Children’s Society has published and what’s coming up over the next few months.

» The Commission for Social Care Inspection

CSCI is the independent inspectorate for all social care services in England and has as its primary function the promotion of improvements in social care.

» The Fostering Network, UK

The Fostering Network helps children in foster care to thrive by providing practical assistance to those who can make it happen.

» The Guardian, Public Voices - Child Protection

This page hosts a collection of articles by social practitioners in the UK on topics related to child protection, foster care and adoption.

» The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, UK

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation is one of the largest social policy research and development charities in the UK. The Foundation works in partnership with a large variety of academic and other institutions to achieve its aims.

» The Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (The Care Commission)

The Care Commission is a national organisation that regulates and inspects Scottish care services.

» The Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) - UK

The SEU works with colleagues in departments right across Government to find solutions to some of the most intractable social problems and act as a catalyst for change at the heart of Government.

::: Other Accreditation Organisations

Australian Organisations

» Aged Care Standards Agency

» Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency

» Australian Council on Health Care Standards

» National Childcare Accreditation Council

» Quality Improvement Council Limited


Overseas Organisations

» Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services, NY, USA

The Council on Accreditation (COA) is an international, independent, not-for-profit, child and family service and behavioural healthcare accrediting organisation.