Being placed in foster care is a necessary intervention for some children. But many advocates worry that kids can languish in foster care too long, with harmful effects for children who are temporarily unattached from a permanent family.A new study co-authored by an MIT economist shows that an innovative Chilean program providing legal aid to children shortens the length of foster-care stays, returning them to families faster. In the process, it improves long-term social outcomes for kids and even reduces government spending on the foster care system.“It was amazingly successful…
