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The prescription of psychotropic drugs to children in the child welfare system has rightfully attracted increased public and institutional attention. Significant challenges include (1) the integrity of the scientific literature that concerns the use of psychotropic drugs; (2) the nature and scope of the influence of pharmaceutical companies on prescribing patterns; (3) the regulatory rigor of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); (4) the accuracy of psychiatric diagnosis that provides the basis for prescribing decisions; and (5) the efficacy of psychotropic drugs and their long-term impacts on children. This article describes the extant knowledge on these crucially important issues from the perspective of child welfare researchers and practitioners. In particular, a disconnect often exists between the scientific data and the routine psychiatric treatment of youth involved in the child welfare system. Such issues represent significant challenges for the implementation of evidence-informed clinical practice. Recommendations are made for improving the current situation at the levels of child welfare practice, policy, and education.

The coronavirus outbreak has provoked a dramatic change in research culture. Such changes embody the essence of the scientific enterprise and should be fostered going forward, in order to solve other pressing global problems.

As part of its rating evaluation, A.M. Best is identifying companies with substantial catastrophe exposures and reflecting that risk in their ratings. This has encouraged companies to better understand their property exposures and engage in more prudent risk management. Since Hurricane Andrew, many primary insurers have recognized the potential of their exposures and have used a variety of methods to mitigate them. These include canceling, limiting and reducing policy coverage, initiating substantial rate increases, increasing deductibles, implementing policy exclusions and caps, terminating agents and reducing commissions. Federal and state governments are also considering initiatives. One is the Natural Disaster Insurance Corp. (NDIC), which would be owned by participating insurers and would sell natural disaster coverage to homeowners and reinsurance to insurers that would otherwise have trouble obtaining reinsurance. A.M Best believes that prudent catastrophe management will involve a combination of risk-sharing among consumers, insurers, reinsurers, investors and the government.