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A community journalism project dedicated to exploring the foster care system, prioritizing community involvement and conducted with an unprecedented level of thoroughness not previously seen in media coverage of this topic.

Steve Volk is Resolve’s solutions investigative editor who leads this project. Our Kids is funded with support from the Stoneleigh Foundation.

Su'Layah Williams

Philly DHS took a 1-year-old from her mother but the girl was then kicked to death

One afternoon last February, Su’Layah Williams, a 1-year old with short, braided hair and a mesmerizing smile, was playing on the carpet of a West Philadelphia home where the city’s […]

Philly took $5 million in foster children’s Social Security payments

That money, however, was being collected by Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services.

Bill would bar Philly from keeping Social Security payments…

Gym’s legislation would end the practice, requiring the city to save the money for the youths…

In the Child Welfare System, Black Families Should Matter

“I was like, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong. You know that now, and you’re still keeping my kids?’”

Philly still keeps the benefits of foster care youths despite a 2022 law banning the practice

Despite the city’s new law, DHS acknowledges it’s still keeping the money meant for foster kids — about $1.3 million in Social Security benefits for 380 children in a typical year.