Child Welfare Information Gateway

In-Home Restorative Justice Jun 14, 2023

Restorative justice is an approach that focuses on collaboration between the offender and the community. It requires the offender to accept responsibility for their decisions and the impact of their offenses on the victim and the community. For juvenile offenders who are involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, restorative practices often involve teaching skills to live independently and develop healthy relationships. This episode shares how Alternative Family Services provides highly individualized supportive services to help youth as they transition out of the foster care system. The goals of the programs are to improve outcomes for youth in foster care who are involved in the juvenile justice system by placing them in homes with trained resource parents and reducing the placement of youth in detention facilities that may not have the intensive services they need.

What Does an Effective Support System Look Like? Apr 03, 2023

Youth can face many challenges as they transition to living independently as adults. For youth in foster care, overcoming obstacles may require additional support and skills to be self-reliant. Caseworkers and child welfare professionals assist youth with securing employment, secondary education, housing, financial literacy, and other needs. However, additional support is needed to provide encouragement and stability as youth transition to adulthood. Support systems consisting of helpful, stable adults reinforce the goal of self-sufficiency and give youth a sense of community. This episode explores how Alternative Family Services (AFS) successfully creates effective support systems for youth in foster care. AFS supports northern Californian families, children, and youth in foster, adoptive, and extended family settings. The AFS clinical model focuses on a highly individualized social support model with a goal of safety, stability, and well-being.

Authentically and Respectfully Engaging Lived Experience in Storytelling Feb 09, 2023

Lived experience means the representation and understanding of an individual’s human experiences, choices, and options and how those factors influence one’s perception of knowledge from one’s own life. Those with lived experience in child welfare have a unique, firsthand perspective on issues that can inform partnerships, policies, and solutions that best meet the needs of children and families. Child welfare agencies and organizations should prioritize collaborating with individuals who have lived experience to gain a better understanding of how people are affected by the social issue. The ways in which agencies choose to engage in this collaboration must be authentic and intentional in order to prevent harm. This episode presents a panel discussion from the Capacity Building Center for State’s 2022 Child Welfare Virtual Expo. The panel members provide an array of approaches for organizations to engage people with lived experience.

Creating the Space for People With Lived Experience to Thrive Feb 09, 2023

Lived experience is a representation and understanding of an individual’s human experiences, choices, and options and how those factors influence one’s perception of knowledge” from one’s own life. Those with lived experience in child welfare have a unique, firsthand perspective on issues that can inform partnerships, policies, and solutions that best meet the needs of children and families. This episode provides strategies and examples of how child welfare agencies should respectfully engage individuals with lived experience for assistance. Agencies should prepare their staff to ask appropriate questions of those with lived experience and to create a safe space for them to share their stories. When collaborating with individuals who have lived experience, agencies should be flexible when scheduling times to talk, consider how the person would like to share their story, and provide appropriate compensation. This episode presents a session from the Capacity Building Center for State’s 2022 Child Welfare Virtual Expo. The speakers discuss why integrating lived expertise into the workforce is so beneficial to child welfare agencies as well as considerations for integrating people with lived expertise into the workplace.

Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 5 (New Mexico) Dec 09, 2022

Kinship caregivers and families may be faced with needs, questions, and constraints that are different than those of resource foster care families. Child welfare agencies continue to address these unique needs through kinship navigator programs that help caregivers manage the foster care licensing process; connect families to available supports and services; and understand legal, medical, or other systems and requirements. As jurisdictions place higher emphasis on placing children and youth in relative or familiar settings, some are expanding and advancing the support provided to kinship caregivers. The podcast series, Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers, comprises of episodes featuring the advances created and implemented by child welfare agencies and their partners to strengthen kinship families and meet the unique needs faced by these caregivers. Part 5 explores a series of changes within New Mexico’s Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) to improve the engagement and support of kinship families. These changes include internal workforce shifts, such as changes in supervisory practices and internal communications to improve how relatives and caregivers are viewed; programs to keep families engaged and involved in children’s lives even if they are unable to serve as primary caregivers; and streamlining the licensing process to be less invasive and more supportive of families facing the abrupt changes and challenges of raising children.

Advances In Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 4 (Clark County NV) Oct 03, 2022

Kinship caregivers and families may be faced with needs, questions, and constraints that are different than those of resource foster care families. Child welfare agencies continue to address these unique needs through kinship navigator programs that help caregivers manage the foster care licensing process; connect families to available supports and services; and understand legal, medical, or other systems and requirements. Part 4 explores the public-private partnership between FosterKinship and the state of Nevada. FosterKinship supports the state by providing both kinship navigator services and foster care licensing services, reducing the number of offices and agencies families have to interact with to adapt and prepare for the change becoming a kinship family requires. FosterKinship also provides programs and services to connect kinship families to access services or resources they need to raise healthy children.

Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 3 (Port Gamble S'Klallam) Sep 01, 2022

As jurisdictions place a higher emphasis on placing children and youth in relative or familiar settings, some are expanding and advancing the support provided to kinship caregivers. The podcast series, Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers, comprises episodes featuring the advances created and implemented by child welfare agencies and their partners to strengthen kinship families and meet the unique needs faced by these caregivers. Part 3 focuses on the unique successes experienced within the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, located inside Washington State. The Tribe’s flexible use of funding and its prevention-focused approach has resulted in a nearly 70-percent reduction in the number of children in care. Their success is built upon strong, trusting relationships forged between tribal members. The examples shared in this episode demonstrate the power of being able to tailor supports and services to the specific needs and culture of the families being served.

Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 2 (Washington) Aug 01, 2022

This episode focuses on Washington State’s approach to providing kinship support services. The conversation describes how the State’s kinship support is operated by the State’s Aging and Long-Term Support Administration and provides some of its services through a one-time stipend to help new kinship families meet basic needs. This episode also spends time discussing providing kinship navigator services in the Yakima and Tri-Cities region of central Washington, a rural, Latinx community. Topics discussed include the following: • Differences in formal and informal kinship caregivers and the differences caseworkers may have to navigate when working with each • Cultural considerations caseworkers and others should be aware of when working with rural, Latinx communities and families • The importance of building relationships across a community, not just with kinship families • Implementation of one-time stipends for kinship families in Washington State

Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 1 (Rhode Island) Jul 05, 2022

This episode features a group of kinship-centered services and programs from Rhode Island. The State’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families created a separate team dedicated to family search and engagement that identifies and attempts to create relationships with family members or those with connections to children and youth. The department also leverages caregiver peers as mentors and navigators to provide emotional support and connect families to services and support. Throughout all of its engagement with families and caregivers, Rhode Island emphasizes a customer-service approach to working with families and recognizes the emotions and added stressors placed on grandparents, extended family members, and close connections when asked to bring children and youth into their homes.

Building Parenting Skills to Address Trauma, Grief, and Mental Health Jun 06, 2022

Becoming and thriving as a foster or adoptive parent can present many challenges. Child welfare agencies dedicate time and resources to train prospective foster and adoptive parents to manage the challenges and develop parenting skills to support children and youth within the child welfare system. These children and youth may have experienced trauma, grief, and loss; have mental health considerations; and demonstrate different behavior patterns. However, the available training programs can vary on the competencies stressed, depth of content, and availability of posttraining resources and support. This episode explores the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) for Foster and Adoptive Parents, funded by the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NTDC was developed to provide free curriculum and resources for potential foster or adoptive parents so they will have the information and tools needed to parent a child who has experienced trauma, separation, or loss. NTDC offers classroom-based trainings that cover 23 themes; 4 of which are specific to either kinship caregivers or families who adopt private domestically or via the intercountry process.

Away From Home - Sharing the Impacts of Institutional Care May 02, 2022

This episode focuses on Away From Home, a report developed by Think Of Us to understand the perspectives, attitudes, and experiences of young people with recent histories in institutional placements, and to understand their beliefs around reforming or ending institutional placements. The conversation in this episode dives into the findings and recommendations from the study’s authors on improving institutional care, the emotional toll of institutional placements that participants conveyed, and the current barriers to connecting youth to stable and loving placements.

Threading Equity Throughout Child Welfare Apr 04, 2022

This episode features a conversation with Aysha E. Schomburg, J.D., associate commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly one year after her appointment by the Biden administration, Commissioner Schomburg released a vision for the Children's Bureau, with its highest priority being promoting equity in State child welfare systems and the following priority goals: • Prevent children from coming into foster care • Support kinship caregivers • Ensure youth leave care with strengthened relationships, holistic supports, and opportunities • Develop and enhance the child welfare workforce This conversation dives into each priority goal, including any Federal policy or guidance updates and recommendations, along with how these actions connect and relate to the work performed by frontline child welfare professionals.

Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons into Practice Part 3 Mar 02, 2022

"Engaging Fathers – Putting Lessons Into Practice" is a three-part series to share strategies implemented from three of the five State or county agencies: Los Angeles County, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and Prowers County, Colorado. Part three focuses on the strategies developed within Prowers County. The Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare (FCL) project sought to improve placement stability and permanency outcomes for children by engaging their fathers and paternal relatives. FCL implemented a methodology known as the breakthrough series collaborative (BSC). BSC is a continuous learning methodology developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement that is used to test and spread promising practices to help organizations improve in a focused topic area. Topics discussed include the following: • The flexibility and innovation small child welfare agencies can have in comparison to larger, more bureaucratic agencies • The collective accountability child welfare and partner human service agencies shared in Prowers County to engage and involve fathers and paternal families in their casework and prevention efforts • The "must-haves" necessary to spark and sustain culture change

Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons into Practice - Part 2 Feb 01, 2022

“Engaging Fathers – Putting Lessons Into Practice” is a three-part series to share strategies implemented from three of the five State or county agencies: Los Angeles County, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and Prowers County, Colorado. Part one focuses on the strategies developed within Hartford, Connecticut. The following individuals are featured in this episode: • Angela Parks-Pyles, deputy director, contract services, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services • Alan-Michael Graves, Ed.D., senior director of learning and capacity building, Good+ Foundation Topics discussed include the following: • What value community organizations provided, via their influence and leadership, in Los Angeles County's improvement team • How Los Angeles County's actions and thoughts diminished the importance of fathers and paternal families and the steps the agency took to change its processes and mindsets • Why the improvement team felt they needed the courage to act "intentionally and unapologetically" to implement meaningful change

Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons Into Practice Part 1 Jan 03, 2022

“Engaging Fathers – Putting Lessons Into Practice” is a three-part series to share strategies implemented from three of the five State or county agencies: Los Angeles County, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and Prowers County, Colorado. Part one focuses on the strategies developed within Hartford, Connecticut. Topics discussed include the following: -The benefits of including community partners and fatherhood advocates in Connecticut’s improvement team -Why Connecticut chose multiple, small strategies over a single, large-scale strategy to address fatherhood engagement -Successful strategies to impact agency-wide culture and thinking about engaging fathers in daily child welfare practice

Preventing Placement Disruptions Dec 05, 2021

This episode features a conversation surrounding the California Family Urgent Response System (FURS)-a coordinated statewide, regional, and county-level system designed to provide collaborative and timely phone-based State-level response and a county-level in-home, in-person mobile response during situations of instability—to preserve the relationship of the caregiver and the child or youth. The intention of FURS is to provide current and former foster youth and their caregivers with immediate, trauma-informed support when they need it and reduce hospitalizations, law enforcement contacts, and placement in out-of-home facilities.

Engaging Indigenous Families Nov 01, 2021

This episode shares insight from the National Native Children's Trauma Center for those caseworkers and agencies that are working or will work with indigenous communities to support children and families. Recognizing how Tribal communities approach child-rearing, community and family structures, justice, and law enforcement—and how those approaches may differ from what caseworkers may view as healthy—is important to developing trusting and supportive relationships. Topics discussed include the following: • Why Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) provisions can't be implemented in the same manner for every Tribe or Nation state and local child welfare professionals work with • How historical trauma within Native and Tribal communities is strongly connected to intergenerational trauma • What guidance State and local child welfare caseworkers and agencies can use when engaging with Native families and communities

Reimagining Child Welfare - Oregon's Vision for Transformation Oct 04, 2021

Changing or shifting how child welfare systems operate has been a topic of discussion, research, and even legislation. The goals of these efforts are to reduce the trauma experienced by children and families involved with child welfare, apply a greater prevention lens to casework practice, and eliminate the inequities and disproportionality child welfare systems currently demonstrate. This episode features one jurisdiction moving from discussion to action. Oregon’s Child Welfare Division has released its Vision for Transformation, which documents a strategic roadmap to success, including specific guiding principles, strategies, and measurable outcomes. Listeners will hear from Rebecca Jones Gaston, the director of Oregon’s Child Welfare Division, on why the vision was developed, how it will be implemented, and the internal and external changes required to transform the State’s child welfare system into one that supports the individual needs of families and best serves Oregon's children and youth.

Aging Out - Healing, Preparing, and Supporting Youth in Foster Care Part 2 Sep 01, 2021

Aged Out: How We’re Failing Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care: Insights and Recommendations, a report developed by Think Of Us, aims to reframe the approach to transitioning youth to adulthood and independent living. The report details three themes regarding areas where the child welfare system is failing foster youth and that should be given greater focus: helping youth heal and deal with trauma, centering youth in their preparedness, and helping youth build a supportive network. This is the second of a two-part episode series. Part 2 focuses on recommendations for agencies and supportive adults to address the three themes. In part 1, the discussion highlights insights and findings surrounding each of the three themes. Topics discussed include recommendations for communities and caseworkers to address the following: • Acknowledging trauma and directly helping youth heal from trauma as a part of care • Clarifying the facts, including dates, about leaving care and helping youth drive and develop their plans • Working with both youth and the adults in their lives to define and confirm what supportive networks can provide

Aging Out - Healing, Preparing, and Supporting Youth in Foster Care Part 1 Aug 02, 2021

Thousands of youth graduate from high school or reach the age of maturity while still in the foster care system. Many of these youth “age out” of the system with little or no connection to family or supportive adults and face the potential of poor life prospects. Foster care alumni face high rates of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and lack of access to health care. Aged Out: How We’re Failing Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care: Insights and Recommendations, a report developed by Think Of Us, aims to reframe the approach to transitioning youth to adulthood and independent living. The report details three themes regarding areas where the child welfare system is failing foster youth and that should be given greater focus: helping youth heal and deal with trauma, centering youth in their preparedness, and helping youth build a supportive network. This is part 1 of our conversation, featuring insights and findings for each theme. In part 2, the conversation shifts to recommendations for agencies and supportive adults to address the themes.

Foster Care Alumni - Making Lived Experience Matter Part 2 Jul 02, 2021

This episode is the second of a two-part series. “Foster Care Alumni – Making Lived Experience Matter, Part 2,” focuses on the healing journey alumni take and the importance of community and family support, along with guidance for future or current advocates and recommendations for improving the foster care system. “Foster Care Alumni – Making Lived Experience Matter, Part 1” shares stories of successful advocacy efforts as well as insights for agencies on selecting and screening potential alumni partners. Topics discussed in this episode include the following: • Why the panelists prefer to be called “alumni" instead of being referred to as having “lived experience” or “lived expertise” • Guidance for youth currently in foster care or alumni willing or considering sharing their personal story or serving as an advocate • The importance of ensuring advocates and alumni are comfortable and supported • Recommendations for the future of foster care

Reunification Jun 01, 2021

This episode focuses on the current reality of reunification across our public child welfare system. Listeners will hear a conversation among child welfare professionals, members of the American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law, the Children’s Bureau, and an alumnus of foster care. Topics discussed include the following: • What the data indicate regarding reunifying families involved in the child welfare system • What the Federal government and national partners are doing to increase reunification • The racial inequities, specifically for teen boys of color, within reunification efforts • How local agencies, caseworkers, and communities can shift their mindsets and actions to ensure reunification is treated as the primary goal when children are removed from their families

Foster Care Alumni - Making Lived Experience Matter Part 1 May 10, 2021

Developing or reviewing policies or programs through the lens of lived experience can help improve child welfare practice by recognizing trauma, providing more family-centered services, or increasing the likelihood of successful transition to adulthood. Successfully engaging foster care alumni requires more than asking youth to share their personal experiences with an audience. This episode, “Foster Care Alumni – Making Lived Experience Matter, Part 1,” shares perspectives, personal stories, and guidance from members and former members of Foster Care Alumni of America to help agencies understand the value of alumni of all ages, provide information on how to look for and find the right alumni partners, and discuss the impact sharing has on alumni, especially alumni who work as child welfare professionals.

Thriving Families, Safer Children - A National Commitment to Well-Being Part 2 Apr 12, 2021

The drive to reshape child welfare in the United States into a system with a greater focus on prevention and equity can not—and must not—involve the child welfare system alone. Stronger community partnerships and leadership at all levels are crucial to promoting family and community well-being. The Children’s Bureau, Casey Family Programs, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Prevent Child Abuse America have joined with parents, youth, and community organizations in their new initiative called, Thriving Families, Safer Children: A National Commitment to Well-Being. The goal of this partnership, which spans the public, private, and philanthropic sectors, is to assist jurisdictions in creating a more just and equitable child and family well-being system that benefits all children and families and breaks harmful intergenerational cycles of trauma and poverty. This episode is the second in a two-part series featuring conversations with leaders of the national organizations partnering with the Children’s Bureau. It focuses on implementing the Thriving Families, Safer Children effort, including guidance for how agency leaders can review their policies and tactics to evolve toward a more just and equitable child welfare system.

Thriving Families, Safer Children - A National Commitment to Well-Being Part 1 Mar 15, 2021

The drive to reshape child welfare in the United States into a system with greater focus on prevention and equity cannot—and must not—involve the child welfare system alone. Stronger community partnerships and leadership at all levels are crucial to promoting family and community well-being. The Children’s Bureau, Casey Family Programs, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Prevent Child Abuse America have joined with parents, youth, and community organizations in their new initiative called, Thriving Families, Safer Children: A National Commitment to Well-Being. This episode is the first in a two-part series featuring conversations with leaders of the national organizations partnering with the Children’s Bureau. The episode includes a deeper description of the Thriving Families, Safer Children effort; discusses the characteristics that lead to successful partnerships; and emphasizes the important role family voice has in shaping change.

What Did Child Welfare Learn From 2020 - Child Welfare as Public Health Feb 16, 2021

This episode continues a series looking into the lessons the child welfare field learned during 2020. The coronavirus pandemic forced agencies to approach their work and interactions with children and families differently. Agencies adopted precautions to maintain the safety of their staff and clients and began to build information-sharing and teaming partnerships. One such partnership is between child welfare and the public health field. Dr. Kathryn Wells, section head for child abuse and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the director of the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, joined the podcast to discuss the impact child welfare can have within a jurisdiction’s overarching public health approach.

What Did Child Welfare Learn from 2020 - upENDing Systemic Racism Jan 15, 2021

During 2020, the racial disparities and inequities rampant across the Unites States were magnified. The year also amplified the call to review many of the nation's social systems, including those involved with health care, criminal justice, economics, and education. The child welfare system as it stands is also in need of serious introspection. "What Did Child Welfare Learn From 2020 – upENDing Systemic Racism" continues the conversation around the roots of systemic racism within child welfare, how agencies can objectively review their policies and approaches, and the rise of a movement to abolish the current system in favor of one that provides greater support to families. This episode is part of a series that examines what the child welfare field learned during 2020. It features members of the Center for the Study of Social Policy who are working with the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work to lead the upEND movement. upEND seeks to end the practice of State-sanctioned separation of children from their families as a response to social problems like food insecurity, poverty, lack of affordable and safe housing, and lack of meaningful prevention services. upEND also seeks to reimagine how we support and serve families and eliminate the root causes that create conditions for harm to occur.

What Did Child Welfare Learn from 2020 - Caseworker Care Dec 15, 2020

This episode is part of a series that examines what the child welfare field learned during 2020 and identifies potential changes or shifts in how the field operates. Listeners will hear from Andrew Winters, a member of the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD), about interventions to build resiliency among caseworkers and supervisors, including interventions aimed at strengthening supervisors' ability to support their staff and themselves to better manage the negative impacts of the stress brought about by the uncertainty and fear of working during a pandemic.

Connecting Cross Border Families Nov 13, 2020

Approximately 1 in 4 children in the United States has a foreign-born parent. When child welfare cases involve international borders, caseworkers may find additional challenges in ensuring children have safe and permanent homes and family connections. These challenges include finding resources to identify family connections, understanding how children encounter State and local child welfare systems, and recognizing the Federal and international laws and policies governing adoption and foster care. This episode features a conversation with Elaine Weisman from International Social Service-USA. The discussion provides insight on the diverse types of cross-border cases and the supports and information that may help State and local caseworkers connect cross-border families.

Prevention Training for Home Visitors Oct 13, 2020

Child welfare agencies continue to seek effective, affordable, and time-saving professional development for caseworkers. This episode features the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, a collaboration between State agencies, universities, and home visiting organizations that offers 66 e-learning modules supporting the National Family Support Competency Framework. The framework is a shared model of competencies and skills common across home visiting and child welfare professionals. This episode features a conversation with Laurel Aparicio, director, Early Impact Virginia, and Janet Horras, State home visitation director, Iowa Department of Public Health.

National Adoption Month 2020 - Engage Youth, Listen and Learn Sep 15, 2020

In support of National Adoption Month 2020 and its "Engage Youth, Listen and Learn" theme, this episode shares two examples of jurisdictions increasing youth involvement with their own permanency plans. Listen to these examples of Ohio and Washington's Adoption Call to Action efforts to increase youth engagement and have more success with their ACTA plans and beyond.

Supporting Parenting and Expectant Teens in Foster Care Aug 14, 2020

In the crush of child welfare, State and local agencies may struggle with providing appropriate and holistic services to older youth in care who are parents or expecting the arrival of a newborn. The challenges can range from accounting for the number of parenting and expecting teens to applying—and funding—services that support their needs as youth and as parents. This episode features a conversation to help States and agencies leverage the provisions of Family First Prevention Services Act to support parenting and expectant teens in foster care.

Creating a Family First Prevention Plan - Utah Jul 14, 2020

This episode provides the historical background, strategies, and decision-making the Utah Department of Human Services applied in developing their Title IV-E prevention plan. The information shared may be helpful for jurisdictions developing prevention plans to implement FFPSA, which expands prevention services to help stabilize and strengthen families.

Creating A Family First Prevention Plan - Washington DC Jun 12, 2020

Washington D.C. was the first jurisdiction to submit a Family First Prevention plan to the Children's Bureau. This episode provides the historical background, strategies, and guidance CFSA applied in developing their prevention plan. The information shared may be helpful for jurisdictions developing prevention plans to implement the Federal Family First Prevention Services Act

Family First - Title IV-E Prevention Plan Implementation Updates - Part 2 May 15, 2020

This episode shares the second half of the webinar where CB shared tips to aid prevention plan developers as they shape their plans to align with Family First. Child welfare leaders from Washington, DC and Utah also answer questions submitted during the webinar by participants. The Children's Bureau provides tips that address prevention planning topics including service selection, ensuring child safety, continuous monitoring and evaluation, the systematic review process, and the Title IV-E Clearinghouse.

Family First - Title IV-E Prevention Plan Implementation Updates - Part 1 May 15, 2020

The Children’s Bureau hosted a webinar to share the lessons and experiences of two jurisdictions whose Title IV-E Prevention Plans received approval from CB. In “Family First – Title IV-E Prevention Plan Implementation Updates – Part 1,” leaders from two jurisdictions—Washington, DC, and Utah—speak about their different approaches to implementing Family First.

A Guide To Implementing Family First Apr 14, 2020

To help agencies implement Family First, The Children’s Defense Fund released Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act, a guide developed by a coalition of organizations to offer clear information about the provisions of the law and the congressional intent behind it. This episode shares insight on how states and jurisdictions should use the guide, common misperceptions about implementing Family First, how guidance was developed and agreed upon, and how the guide will remain relevant over time.

Changing the Face of Foster Care Mar 13, 2020

How can child welfare agencies, Federal partners, judicial and legal entities, and community organizations shift both the perception and application of foster care to one that supports families? Dr. Jerry Milner, Associate Commissioner of the Children's Bureau, explains his support for systemic change across child welfare systems: where foster care is viewed as a last resort for families facing challenges in maintaining safe and stable homes for children and youth.

Prevention - Evaluating Statewide Prevention Feb 14, 2020

What can States do to create a shared vision around prevention among all their regions and agencies, and how are all those diverse needs and efforts compared and measured across the State? Listen to representatives from California describe creating a single approach to evaluating the diverse prevention efforts across its 58 counties,

Prevention - Evaluating Prevention Programs Feb 14, 2020

This episode explores a series of evaluation and assessment tools to review and monitor one prevention-focused program across an entire State. Listen to representatives from Kentucky's Community Collaborations for Children. Grantees detail how they ensure prevention is considered when funding grants, developing policy and delivering services tailored to meet region-specific needs.

Prevention - Collaborating Across an Entire State Jan 14, 2020

This episode is part of a series focusing on Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP)grantees. These grantees are in a unique position of leadership as they assume responsibility for directing, leading, and evaluating the network of public-private partnerships and the continuum of preventive services for children and families in their states. Listen as grantees detail how states work to ensure prevention is considered when funding grants, developing policy and delivering services tailored to meet the region-specific needs.

Prevention - Implementing Evidence Based Programs Dec 17, 2019

This episode is part of a series focusing on Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grantees. Listen as grantees share from a local community and a statewide perspective how EBPs were selected and tailored to meet the needs of the grantees’ specific constituency groups.

Virtual Reality - The Next Step in Caseworker Training Nov 13, 2019

This episode discusses a virtual reality-based home visiting training currently being used by the university's B.S.W. students — Virtual Home Simulation (VHS) — which was developed by the University of Utah College of Social Work in partnership with the university's games and applications lab. While other online trainings exist, the developers of the VHS training point to the following features that set it apart from other simulation-based trainings.

Increasing the Impact of Community Organizations Oct 11, 2019

This episode is intended for those working with or for organizations looking to make a difference. It shares the insights and experiences of Families Forward Virginia, a nonprofit, prevention-focused organization. Since 2017, Families Forward Virginia and its network of local affiliates have provided statewide leadership and support for a multitude of Virginia programs through evidence-based and multigenerational strategies. Hear about how the organization develops open-minded and service-based relationships as well as provides tools, resources, and trainings.

Birth-Foster Mentoring Teams Sep 10, 2019

'Birth-Foster Parent Mentoring Teams,' features a conversation with both birth and foster parent mentors and leaders, along with the 2018 California Social Worker of the Year. Together, the group describes the work toward changing the culture around foster care to support reunification by creating relationships and partnerships between birth and foster parents.

Five Steps To A Stronger Child Welfare Workforce Aug 13, 2019

'Five Steps to a Stronger Child Welfare Workforce' explores the key components and requirements of a five-step process developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The process rose out of a 3-year effort to improve child protective services staff that was tested and evaluated through partnerships with Ohio’s Cuyahoga County Division of Children and Family Services and Colorado’s Jefferson County Division of Children, Youth, and Families.

Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Being Family Centered Jul 11, 2019

This episode is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. Listeners will hear examples of Tribal courts partnering with families and enabling families to shape how they use Tribal child welfare and support services for rehabilitation and reunification. “Being Family Centered” shares stories from Tribal court and child welfare staff from the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, Taos Pueblo of New Mexico, and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska.

Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Overcoming Challenges to Working with States Jun 13, 2019

This episode, 'Overcoming Challenges to Working With States', is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode shares examples of Tribal court and Tribal child welfare agencies navigating legal and jurisdictional challenges from the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, told by Tribal social services court staff, respectively. Some of the topics discussed include: Ensuring States and Tribes understand the full relevance and application of ICWA The importance of establishing a child welfare compact between Tribes and States How instituting mandatory communication channels keep Tribal social service and court staff engaged with Tribal families and ensure State counterparts of Tribal services and supports that may be available

Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Building Relationships with State Counterparts May 13, 2019

This episode, 'Building Relationships With State Counterparts', is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode features successful examples from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Saint Regis MohawkTribes, told by Tribal social service and court leadership. Some of the topics discussed include the following: What a statewide survey told Alaska's Office of Children's Services about their relationships with Tribes How Tribal social services can be a resource for States to understand ICWA and serve as expert witnesses The benefits of agencies and court officers participating in joint training

Foster Care - A Path to Reunification - Part 2 - San Diego Apr 11, 2019

'Foster Care: A Path to Reunification – Part 2' explores all the partnerships, training, and coordination within San Diego County’s Children’s Services. Listeners will learn about trauma-informed assessment tools, the collaboration with a county-based community college to support training, as well as listen to birth families and older youth as they share their experiences to enhance resource families’ ability to support the children in their care.

Foster Care: A Path to Reunification - Part 1 - Center for Family Life Mar 13, 2019

'Foster Care: A Path to Reunification – Part 1' shares the work of the Center for Family Life, an organization that aims to stabilize families by providing an array of neighborhood-based family and social services in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Foster care is one of their programs, and families involved in the center’s foster care program are linked to other services to address the family’s specific needs. As a neighborhood-based organization, they also work to ensure children in foster care can continue to attend their current schools and maintain their social and family connections, where appropriate.

Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Partnering with Tribal Social Services Feb 14, 2019

'Partnering With Tribal Social Services' shares the stories from three Tribes strengthening their partnerships with their Tribal social services departments and agencies. This episode is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode features the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, and Taos Pueblo of New Mexico. Some specific tools for successful partnerships discussed during this episode include the following: Developing effective processes and communication Including other departments in training that benefits court and social services staff Being a very good chef!

Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Revising Your Children's Code Jan 17, 2019

'Revising Your Children’s Code' features the challenges faced and methods used by two different Tribal courts in reviewing and updating their court’s Children’s Code. This episode is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode showcases the experiences of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Taos Pueblo of New Mexico, told by chief Tribal court judges.

Housing’s Critical Connection to Child Welfare — Part 2 Jan 07, 2019

'Housing’s Critical Connection to Child Welfare' — Part 2 continues a conversation exploring how the San Francisco Human Services Agency partnered with the San Francisco Housing Authority and the Homeless Prenatal Program to help families obtain vouchers and locate affordable housing in the Bay Area. Part 1 demonstrated how child welfare and housing specialists partner to identify families, support their case plan, navigate the housing system, obtain Family Unification Program vouchers, and work with landlords.

Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Adapting to Child Welfare Cases Dec 16, 2018

'Adapting to Child Welfare Cases', is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode shares the stories and perspectives from the Saint Regis Mohawk and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribes, told by a chief judge and chief of the Tribe’s Elders Judiciary Committee, respectively.

Casework: What It Really Takes Oct 17, 2018

'Casework: What it Really Takes', features a conversation with three former caseworkers who are current staff members of Child Welfare Information Gateway—Marla Belian, child welfare program manager, out of home care; Kelly Canter, discretionary grants manager; and Kari Kryda, child welfare content specialist—in which they share their insight and perspective.

Housing’s Critical Connection to Child Welfare — Part 1 Sep 13, 2018

'Housing’s Critical Connection to Child Welfare' — Part 1 explores how the San Francisco Human Services Agency partnered with the San Francisco Housing Authority and the Homeless Prenatal Program to help families obtain Family Unification Program vouchers and locate affordable housing in the Bay Area. The project, originally called "Families Moving Forward," was developed through Partnerships to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families in the Child Welfare System grant from the Children’s Bureau.

Family Group Decision-Making: Becoming a Family-Centered Agency Aug 16, 2018

'Family Group Decision-Making: Becoming a Family-Centered Agency,' features the lessons learned and experiences gained through the YMCA Families United Family Group Conferencing Program, a recipient of a 2015 Children's Bureau grant within the Building the Evidence for Family Group Decision-Making in Child Welfare discretionary grant cluster.

Prevention: The Power of the Parents’ Voice Jul 11, 2018

In 'The Power of the Parents’ Voice' three members of the Parent Advisory CouncilVisit disclaimer page provide guidance for agencies regarding: -Ways to identify and engage parents to share their voice and experience -How to involve parents across the entire system to improve outcomes -The biggest ‘a-ha’ moments practitioners have when hearing parent’s stories for the first time

Prevention: Stabilizing Families Through TANF Jun 14, 2018

'Stabilizing Families Through TANF' showcases the Oregon Department of Human Services' Family Support and Connections, a Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention program. Family Support and Connections works with families participating in Oregon's TANF program to identify their needs, connect them to community resources, and further develop parenting skills. Family Support and Connections family advocates partner with local Self Sufficiency Program offices, which administer the state's TANF program, to stabilize and strengthen families and avoid their involvement with the child welfare system.

Prevention: Delivering Services Through Education May 20, 2018

Community-based child abuse and neglect prevention efforts often offer resources and supports to strengthen and stabilize families. In some states, these efforts are not managed through the child welfare system. 'Prevention: Delivering Services Through Education' presents how the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services manages its network of Family Support Centers through its Office of Child Development and Early Learning.

Workforce Part 4 — Creating Change at the Local Level Apr 19, 2018

The decision to embrace a system-wide workforce development approach may come from agency leaders, but sometimes the best ideas to deliver and sustain change can come from staff directly serving on the frontlines of child welfare. 'Workforce Part 4 — Creating Change at the Local Level' shares how frontline child welfare professionals were empowered their staff to design solutions that improved office culture, partnerships, and outcomes for the children and families they serve.

Prevention: Reorganizing Community Collaboratives Apr 12, 2018

By effectively partnering with organizations that support families, child welfare agencies can empower a system of services that improve prevention outcomes. But effective community collaboration requires that the type and level of services are available to meet the specific needs of the families within the community. 'Reorganizing Community Collaboratives' details how Washington D.C.’s CSFA reorganized the contracts and the services for the Healthy Families Thriving Communities Collaborative Network, which serves the city’s diverse wards.

Prevention: Connections Matter Apr 11, 2018

'Connections Matter' podcast showcases how a specific training developed by Prevent Child Abuse Iowa serves as a community-based effort to promote and build understanding, trauma-informed communities by tailoring evidence-based training to the following community sectors: early education, education, health care, faith based, and workforce. This podcast focuses on the development of the Connections Matter training, how developers learned the value of having the curricula delivered by community members, and the statewide needs assessment that helped shape the training.

Workforce Part 3 — Child Welfare Scholars Mar 15, 2018

'Workforce Part 3 – Child Welfare Scholars' showcases a National Child Welfare Workforce Institute university-agency partnership between the University of North Dakota Department of Social Work and the North Dakota Department of Children and Family Services. The Child Welfare Scholars program funds B.S.W. and M.S.W. trainees who are current members of the child welfare workforce. This funding aims to help social work students grow their leadership and practice skills, help meet the increased child welfare demands of the state, and provide direct feedback for the university to shape its curriculum.

Workforce Part 2 — A State’s Approach to Change Feb 15, 2018

'Workforce Part 2 — A State’s Approach to Change' shares an example of how one state changed its approach to staff development, as well as provides insight on the “must-haves” and lessons learned in moving away from isolated interventions and toward a targeted and cohesive strategy.

Workforce Part 1 — The Workforce Development Framework Jan 18, 2018

'Workforce Part 1 — The Workforce Development Framework' gives listeners an opportunity to hear about how addressing your workforce can impact these and other challenges facing child welfare agencies. The podcast also focuses on the essential elements and implementation of the Workforce Development Framework, which was developed by the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI)Visit disclaimer page. The framework offers an integrated approach to continuously assess, plan, and implement strategies to address workforce gaps and evaluate results.

Child Welfare Then and Now Dec 14, 2017

With shifts in practice, an influx of technology and new communication methods, and high staff turnover, the child welfare field has experienced tremendous change during the last 30 years. But during that time, what are the biggest lessons learned by agencies and professionals? 'Child Welfare Then and Now,' shares the perspective from a child welfare veteran with nearly three-decades serving children and families.

Family Group Decision-Making: Parent Advocates in New York City Nov 16, 2017

'Parent Advocates in New York City', provides an overview of EFCI, which follows the principles of FGDM, and offers insight into how parent advocates steer families through their case plan, provide emotional support to the families, and use their past experience within the child welfare system to enable better outcomes for their client's families.

Family Group Decision-Making: Implementing the Family Group Conference Oct 12, 2017

'Implementing the Family Group Conference', gives listeners an overview of how Arizona Kinship Support Services implements the Family Group Conference (FGC) model, developed by the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. Arizona Kinship Support Services, part of Arizona's Children Association, was awarded a Children's Bureau grant in 2015 to explore FGDM. Listeners are also provided details about the rigorous evaluation criteria and what early program indicators are telling the evaluators about the types of families more likely to engage in Family Group Conferencing.

Diligent Recruitment — Regional Resource Navigators Sep 14, 2017

'Diligent Recruitment — Regional Resource Navigators' provides details about the New Mexico Regional Resource Navigator program. This program assigns navigators to work exclusively with specific regions of the state to guide families through the assessment and licensing processes. By enhancing communication and developing relationships between navigators and prospective foster families, the program intends to increase the number of available foster families throughout the state.

Diligent Recruitment — Intelligent Recruitment Aug 17, 2017

'Diligent Recruitment — Intelligent Recruitment' provides listeners greater detail into how the community-based care agencies, state agencies, and professional marketing teams partnered together. The conversation includes the approach to gathering target audience data, how agencies were provided marketing and outreach plans unique to their region, and a comparison of how the intelligent marketing approach has impacted the number of foster families.

Collaborating Between Child Welfare and Mental Health Jul 13, 2017

In 'Collaborating Between Child Welfare and Mental Health,' listeners will hear about a joint training and collaborative effort that occurred outside Baltimore, MD, designed for each group of professionals to better understand each other by sharing target outcomes for children and families, developing a common language to care, understanding each systems’ particular needs, and learning how to recognize and assess signs and symptoms of potential mental health disorders. This joint training, developed from a grant from the Children’s Bureau, addresses both sides of the child welfare/mental health relationship, leading to increased permanency while supporting clinical strategies and behavioral goals.

Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 2 Jun 15, 2017

'Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 2' is the second of a two-part series showcasing successful examples of communities improving the connections between kinship caregivers and available services. 'Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 1' introduces the Kinship Navigator Collaborative from California. 'Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 2' highlights the Kinship Interdisciplinary Navigation Technologically-Advanced Model (KIN-Tech) in Florida. This project was developed to address the large percentage of local kinship families who were not aware of or accessing services - specifically Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - for which they were eligible. KIN-Tech applied a three-pronged approach, including training for peer navigators and cross-agency collaboration.

Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 1 May 18, 2017

'Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 1' is the first of a two-part series showcasing successful examples of kinship navigator programs connecting kinship families with available services.

Protective Factors Part 2 Apr 13, 2017

'Protective Factors Part 2' is the second in a two-part series highlighting protective factors. This episode takes a detailed look into a local agency’s efforts to holistically implement a protective factors-based approach. The conversation also focuses on how a public IV-E agency and a policy organization collaborated to train and sustain the approach at all levels of the agency.

Protective Factors Part 1 Mar 16, 2017

'Protective Factors Part 1' is the first in a two-part series highlighting protective factors. This episode provides an overview of protective factors and helps listeners distinguish protective factors from risk factors. Guests provide examples of how child welfare professionals can recognize and work with parents and families to strengthen their protective factors.

Engaging Fathers Part 3 Feb 12, 2017

Child Welfare Information Gateway created a three-part podcast series on engaging fathers and working with fatherhood organizations. 'Engaging Fathers Part 1' and 'Engaging Fathers Part 2' of this series feature a conversation with leaders of local fatherhood organizations. The discussion provides perspective, insights, and recommendations to help child welfare agencies partner with fatherhood organizations to enhance the engagement and involvement of fathers and paternal family members in establishing permanency and safety for children in the child welfare system. 'Engaging Fathers Part 3' of the series provides listeners with insights gained from a partnership occurring in Spartanburg, SC.

Engaging Fathers Part 2 Jan 12, 2017

Child Welfare Information Gateway has developed a three-part podcast series on engaging fathers and working with fatherhood organizations. 'Engaging Fathers Part 1' and 'Engaging Fathers Part 2' feature a conversation with leaders of local fatherhood organizations in which they share their perspectives and insights on the following: -Examining fathers’ value in the lives of their children -Creating a father-friendly child welfare system -Locating noncustodial fathers in your community -Partnering with fatherhood organizations as a resource to support child welfare practice -Sharing the often unheard perspective of fathers

Engaging Fathers Part 1 Dec 07, 2016

Child Welfare Information Gateway has developed a three-part podcast series on engaging fathers and working with fatherhood organizations. 'Engaging Fathers Part 1' features a conversation with leaders of local fatherhood organizations in which they share their perspectives and insights on the following: -Examining fathers’ value in the lives of their children -Creating a father-friendly child welfare system -Locating noncustodial fathers in your community -Partnering with fatherhood organizations as a resource to support child welfare practice -Sharing the often unheard perspective of fathers

Working With the Correctional System and Incarcerated Parents Oct 13, 2016

'Working With the Correctional System and Incarcerated Parents' features a conversation between those with experience on both sides of the working relationship between the child welfare and correctional systems. Each side of this relationship shares the same vision for the incarcerated parents: reentry into society and reunification with their family where appropriate.

Secondary Traumatic Stress Sep 15, 2016

'Secondary Traumatic Stress', three veteran child welfare professionals discuss and provide examples about how to help child welfare professionals cope with secondary traumatic stress, such as the following: -Actions and trainings local agencies in Colorado and Michigan have taken to recognize, mitigate, and reduce secondary traumatic stress -Outcomes and positive impacts to service delivery that agencies have experienced by addressing secondary traumatic stress within their organizations

Interagency Collaboration to Address Human Trafficking Aug 21, 2016

Effectively addressing human trafficking requires agencies to collaborate on providing judicial, therapeutic, and prevention services. This podcast episode, 'Interagency Collaboration to Address Human Trafficking', features the Miami CARES project. Funded through a Children's Bureau grant, the Miami CARES project brings more than 10 government and community agencies within Miami-Dade (FL) County together to forge a collaborative, systemic approach to identifying minors who are, or are at risk of becoming, victims of human trafficking.

Prevention: Developing and Sustaining a Parent Partner Program Aug 11, 2016

'Developing and Sustaining a Parent Partner Program', listen to members of the Iowa Department of Human Services, along with Children & Families of Iowa, who helped institute and expand the State's parent partner program. A veteran parent partner is also featured and provides insight on recruiting and retaining parent partners.

Engaging Youth in Foster Care Aug 11, 2016

This podcast, 'Engaging Youth in Foster Care', gives caseworkers the perspective of a former youth in foster care and provides the following: -Insight and tips on using Facebook to learn more about youth in care -Information about the knowledge gaps youth may have about transitioning to adulthood -Ways to help youth recognize the supportive adults in their lives and develop trusting relationships

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