This section provides information about the Children's Bureau, including its purpose, structure, and programs.
CB Fact Sheet
Want to learn more about CB? Check out our Fact Sheet! There, you can read about our mission, purpose, goals and more to get a better sense of how our programs serve children and families.
What We Do
The Children’s Bureau, an agency within the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, seeks to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with states, tribes, and communities.
Our Organization
The Children's Bureau is headed by the Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg. The Associate Commissioner advises the Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) on matters related to child welfare, including child abuse and neglect, child protective services, family preservation and support, adoption, foster care, and independent living. The Children's Bureau recommends legislative and budgetary proposals, operational planning system objectives and initiatives, and projects and issue areas for evaluation, research, and demonstration activities. It also represents ACYF in interagency activities to initiate and implement projects affecting children and families.
The Children's Bureau is composed of eight divisions and teams. These groups work to support the mission of the Children's Bureau through various activities that promote safe and stable families.
Programs
The Children's Bureau seeks to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with states, tribes, and communities. It has the primary responsibility for administering federal programs that support state child welfare services. Additionally, it provides matching federal funds to states, tribes, and communities to help them operate every aspect of their child welfare systems, including the prevention of child abuse and neglect, the support of permanent placements through adoption and subsidized guardianship, and the information systems necessary to support these programs.
Current Initiatives & Issues
The Children's Bureau leadership establishes priorities and leads initiatives that provide for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. The following resources provide additional information on a variety of issues related to child welfare.
Initiatives | Issues | Other Related Links
Children’s Bureau Video Series
In “The Children’s Bureau, 1912—2012: A Passionate Commitment. A Legacy of Leadership,” Children’s Bureau leaders and staff—past and present—speak passionately about their commitment to the Bureau’s work and how that passion translates into better outcomes for children, families, and communities. The series also includes seven spotlight videos on key topics. The series is available in English and en Español.
Laws & Policies
The Children's Bureau provides guidance to states, tribes, child welfare agencies, and more on the complex and varied federal laws as they relate to child welfare.