Maryland Just Created an Independent Watchdog for Foster Kids. Here’s What It Actually Does.

Maryland has passed Kanaiyah’s Law, creating an independent child welfare ombudsman, banning unlicensed foster placements, and tightening guardianship requirements. For…

Federal foster care watchdog quietly rewrote the rules — then sent Maryland a smaller bill

A November 2025 letter from the Children's Bureau reversed a national foster care reimbursement policy, reducing Maryland’s disallowance by $16.…

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

Since 1997, the federal government has allocated over $1 billion in adoption bonuses to states, with additional funding of $52…

Months Missing: The Tristan King Case Shows How the System Failed a Child

Tristan King, a nine-year-old boy missing for nearly six months in Baltimore, was ultimately found alive, raising serious concerns about…

About
Father & Co. is an independent journalism and advocacy platform dedicated to rebuilding trust between parents, children, and the systems meant to protect them.
We report the stories others won’t—on family courts, child welfare, disability rights, and constitutional accountability.
Learn More