Foster Care: Challenges Faced in Implementing the Multiethnic Placement Act

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the implementation of the Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994, as amended by the interethnic adoption provisions in 1996, focusing on the: (1) actions taken by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the California Department of Social Services, and two of that state's larger counties, Alameda and San Diego, to implement the act; (2) actions taken by these agencies to implement the 1996 amendment to the act; and (3) challenges all levels of government face to change placement practices.