Structured Decision Making in Louisiana
By Deirdre O'Connor, NCCD-CRC
Human services agencies face a growing dilemma: how to provide services with limited public resources in a climate of increasing demand for those services. The National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) and the Children’s Research Center (CRC) work with state, county, and private agencies to implement evidence-based Structured Decision Making®(SDM) systems. These systems provide workers with simple, objective, and reliable tools with which to make the best possible decisions for individual cases, and provide managers with information for improved planning, evaluation, and resource allocation.
The principle behind the SDM®system is that decisions can be improved by the following:
- Clearly defined and consistently applied decision-making criteria;
- Readily measurable practice standards, with expectations of staff clearly identified and reinforced;
- Assessment results directly affecting case and agency decision making.
NCCD/CRC has developed and implemented research-based SDM systems in a variety of human services fields: child protective and child welfare services, adult protective services, and prevention services to families applying for income support (TANF).
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has partnered with CRC since 2007 to modify and implement several SDM assessments. In 2008, DCFS workers started using the SDM risk assessment, the in home risk reassessment, and reunification assessment in all ongoing cases. In 2009, DCFS implemented the SDM risk assessment on all child protection investigations and alternative response assessments, and in 2010 implemented an SDM screening and response assessment. Throughout this partnership, DCFS administrators have engaged workers, supervisors, and managers regarding the strengths and challenges of using SDM assessments to guide case decisions.
When workers and supervisors expressed concern regarding presumptive decisions or confusion regarding the use of tools, CRC visited field offices to staff cases with workers and supervisors. This allowed workers and supervisors to ask specific questions and discuss concerns using real case examples. CRC staff were also able to mentor supervisors on integrating the appropriate SDMs assessment into the case staffing process and on using the presumptive decision path as a guide for case decision making. Workers and supervisors from the local offices provided strong positive feedback to the OCS central office on the benefits of the facilitated case staffing.
In addition to specifically supporting the implementation of SDM assessments, CRC has partnered with DCFS to improve child protection practice, documentation and decision making. Since 2009, CRC staff have regularly facilitated focused case reviews in specifically identified parish offices. These reviews are intended to provide workers with an opportunity to be mentored by experts on how to gather and document information to make an informed decision; and to mentor supervisors on who to review and supervisors workers on case-specific activities.
For more information on these and other SDM systems, visit NCCD’s website at
www.nccd-crc.org, contact NCCD/CRC at (608) 831-8882, or email Kathy Park, NCCD’s Chief Program Officer, at
kpark@mw.nccd-crc.org.
Meaningful Family Engagement: Considerations for Moving Beyond “Getting a Parent”
By Pamela Marshall, Sherry Tomlinson & Nicole Bossard, NRCPFC Family Engagement Consultants
“We need you at this meeting.”
The statewide collaborative coordinator, Ray, has finalized the meeting agenda, and secured a commitment to attend from other State and provider agencies – but there’s just one final detail that’s missing as he reviews the invitation list – where’s the family voice? Realizing the missing link, Ray quickly scrambles through a stack of old meeting minutes looking for the name of that parent who shared her story at the last meeting. The coordinator emails the parent, Pat, informing her about all the meeting details, and follows up with a phone call, since the meeting is next week. Pat receives Ray’s email, and is excited about participating in this follow-up meeting. However, she notices that the meeting is scheduled for 10:00 AM next Wednesday, which conflicts with her work schedule. Even with time so short, she thinks it might be possible to get a co-worker to switch shifts, and since the meeting is during school time, she thinks she can make child care work if her mother can watch her son for a couple of hours after school. Pat calls Ray to tell him that she’s excited about participating, and to let him know that she’s got a few details to work out, but will do her best to get everything handled so that she can attend the meeting. However, to attend the meeting at the State office building, Pat will need to commute two hours each way. When she mentions this to Ray, and asks about help to cover the cost of gas, Pat is told that, unfortunately, there is no budget to reimburse collaborative members for committee work. She then asks if there’s a stipend that can offset the cost of gas she’ll expend traveling to and from the meeting. Ray reiterates how important her voice is at these meetings, but tells Pat that there is no budget for a stipend or mileage reimbursement.
It is becoming more common to have families participate in State-wide or countywide decision-making collaboratives for the purposes of improving child welfare outcomes. It is important for States to think about not just why it is important to involve families in these planning decisions, but how to secure and sustain meaningful family involvement over the long term. The purpose of this article is to present a few important considerations for States as they think about how to go beyond just “getting a parent” to forging mutually beneficial and respectful partnerships with parents, and to discuss how the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections can help States develop strategies to engage families as long term partners rather than as one time, or even repeat, presenters. The vignette above provides some food for thought as States consider how they can integrate families as partners in systems improvement.
Treating families as an afterthought. In the vignette above, Pat, the birth parent, was among the last to receive notice about the meeting. Additionally, the meeting was scheduled during the standard 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM business day. Because Ray didn’t reach out to Pat until all the meeting details were finalized, he didn’t even know about potential conflicts with her work. But, there is a more subtle point here that is just as important. The last minute scramble on Ray’s part to locate a parent, any parent.
The any-parent-will-do syndrome. Though it is commendable that Ray recognized the need for parent participation in the collaborative meeting, his approach to getting a parent was not very thoughtful. In the last minute scramble to remember “that parent who shared her story last time,” Ray missed an opportunity for mutually beneficial and meaningful family engagement. One of the common challenges identified by local, State, and even Federal staff is that there just aren’t enough, or any, parents available who can participate at this level. However, we’ve found that States that have dedicated the time, energy, and resources toward meaningful family participation find that parents are among the most committed and passionate partners they have, and that they had to invest in these relationships by providing the necessary information, training, and, yes, compensation for parents. The last minute search for ‘any parent’ doesn’t serve the parent or the collaborative. Authentic family engagement is driven by shared passion and vision, and supported by mutual respect and trust. It is not possible to take shortcuts in terms of the time and resources necessary for the relationship-and trust-building process.
Lack of adequate preparation for parents. The importance of taking the time to prepare parents with what they’ll need to know to be fully informed and contributing members of a committee or collaborative cannot be overstated. For example, Ray remembered Pat because he heard her share her story. However, it is not appropriate to assume that Pat’s story is all she’ll need to participate fully on the collaborative. Her experience is valuable and important for others on the committee to hear, but having her at the table involves providing her with the necessary background on the overall purpose of the group, objectives for the meeting, who else will attend, and even the dress code in order to prepare Pat to make her best contribution to the work of the collaborative and increase her own knowledge and capacity.
Meaningfully engaging families as partners in child welfare is new territory for many States and Tribes throughout the nation. However, as States continue the challenging work of systems change, family engagement invites new considerations about the roles that families can play as equal and valued partners at multiple levels throughout the child welfare system. To help States navigate this new terrain, the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC) has expanded its consultation team to include a cadre of consultants that have extensive experience working with local and State public child welfare agencies on family and community engagement. The NRCPFC team is prepared to assist States in forging partnerships with families and communities as an integrated part of their overall strategy to improve outcomes. We encourage you to stay tuned and visit the NRCPFC website often for resources – and don’t hesitate to submit a request for consultation or assistance with family engagement. Or, tell us about innovative approaches, practices, or models you’ve utilized to partner with families in improving safety, permanency, and well-being.
Engaging Non-Custodial Fathers in Child Welfare: TWO SIDES OF THE STORY
By Randy A. Jenkins, NRCPFC Family Engagement Consultant
Engaging and working with fathers whose children are involved in the Child Protective Services or Foster Care system has been a challenge for child welfare systems across the nation. As states enter the second round of the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), several continue to get low scores in the area of engaging fathers. CFSR findings reveal that mothers are more likely to have their needs assessed and addressed, are more likely to be involved in case planning, and are more likely to be granted visitation(1). The difference between how mothers and fathers are treated by the child welfare system becomes even greater when there is a non-custodial father involved. This article discusses how non-custodial fathers may feel about their first encounter with the system and how workers may feel about their first encounter with fathers.
I’ve interviewed many non-custodial fathers, asking them how they felt when they learned that their children were reported to the child protective system or were in foster care. Some fathers say that they were afraid of how they would be viewed and were confused about the system. They felt hopeless about their ability to be involved in decisions about their children’s lives, and some felt angry with their child’s mother for letting this happen(2). Because of these feelings, fathers may not take responsibility for the role they played in their child coming to the attention of the system. These fathers blame the mother or the child welfare system, and can become defensive or aggressive. Without support for dealing with these feelings, they may be less likely to cooperate with child welfare workers or attend meetings about decisions being made for their children. Other fathers expressed that when they learned that their children were in the system, they felt relieved. These fathers say that they wanted to be involved in their children’s lives, but were prevented from doing so by the child’s mother. They felt helpless about their ability to be involved, believing that they were a bad parent, and welcomed the opportunity to be involved. They may want to attend decision-making meetings and be a part of case planning conferences.
Non-custodial fathers often express an interest in gaining custody of their children. I’ve also interviewed social workers, asking them how they feel when they meet a non-custodial father for the first time. Workers explain that they are often apprehensive, cautious, nervous, and even afraid themselves when they meet non-custodial fathers(3). One of the first questions workers tend to ask fathers is, “Where have you been?” Workers also share that they do not know what to expect when a father shows up. Workers may become guarded, or judgmental, and may question whether or not the father really plans to remain involved.
Like fathers, some workers also express relief when a father shows up. They enjoy the opportunity to work with fathers who are supportive and want to be involved in their children’s lives. These workers provide equal support for both parents and develop goals that are in the best interest of the children.
As states grapple with issues related to engaging and working with fathers, it is important to look at feelings and behaviors for both sides. It is equally important to engage fathers in all decision making opportunities and to invite them to the planning table to hear about their experiences with the system before we move to developing new policies or making practice changes. Fathers can make a difference in the lives of their children and positively impact child safety, permanence, and well-being.
- National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System.
- Arizona Department of Employment Services, August 16-17, 2009 Fatherhood Forums.
- Wake County Human Services, Engaging Fathers Forum January 6-7, 2010
Child Abuse-or Mimic? A Tool for Pediatricians’ Clinical Use
UBM Medica's Pediatrics Consultant Live (
www.PediatricsConsultantLive.com) has a new series called "Child Abuse–or Mimic?" which helps clinicians distinguish cases of child abuse from pediatric disease or mere accidents. Child abuse is rampant and under-reported, but the consequences of mis-identifying abuse and wrongly accusing a parent also are dire. "Child Abuse–or Mimic?" builds physicians' diagnostic confidence so children get help quickly.
Each case in the series describes the real-life story of a patient referred to child protective services because of suspect marks and bruises consistent with signs of child abuse. After reading the clinical details and viewing relevant photos, physicians decide whether they think the patient has been abused. Section editor Dr. Gregory Wallace, who has specialized in child abuse for over 20 years, selects and writes the cases.
One recent case focused on a fussy infant. A CT revealed a brain hemorrhage. The final diagnosis? Cystic Fibrosis. Mis-identifying his bleeding as the result of abuse would have delayed his treatment. Another case involved a non-verbal girl with a neurological condition and bruising on her pelvis. A day-care worker reported the case to protective services. The parents denied abuse, claiming the girl fell getting out of the shower. Luckily, a home visit revealed how unlikely it was that a fall would bruise the girl where she was injured. Confronted by police, the father confessed abuse. Other symptoms reviewed include bruising, perianal rash, and treatment-resistant ADD/ADHD.
"Numerous children who are brought to primary care offices or the ED with seemingly mundane case histories are actually victims of abuse. A complete history and thorough investigation can make the difference in the final outcome. Many abused children present for medical care with minor trauma and are not properly identified: they often present later with more serious trauma," comments Dr. Wallace.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), nearly 3 million cases of child abuse and neglect involving almost 5.5 million children are reported each year in the United States. The majority of cases reported to Child Protective Services involve neglect, followed by physical and sexual abuse – though there is considerable overlap, with many abused children suffering a combination of neglect, physical abuse, and/or sexual abuse.
"This series and the teaching points that are offered with each case will help serve a critically important public health need," said Sue Kweskin, editor of Pediatrics Consultant Live. "Our goal is to promote the safety and welfare of a large group of potentially vulnerable people who often fall through the cracks of the healthcare system." SOURCE UBM Medica
Native Foster Care: Lost Children, Shattered Families
Nearly 700 Native American children in South Dakota are being removed from their homes every year, sometimes under questionable circumstances. An
NPR News investigation has found that the state is largely failing to place them according to the law. The vast majority of native kids in foster care in South Dakota are in nonnative homes or group homes, according to an NPR analysis of state records.
More From This Investigation
Native American grandparents like Janice Howe fight to bring children back to the reservation.
In South Dakota, Children's Home Society cares for hundreds of Native American children
Native Americans like Dwayne Stenstrom, who were sent away as children, seek the heritage they lost.
Suzanne Crow's struggle to bring home her grandchildren harkens her boarding school days.
October 26, 2011 In South Dakota, hundreds of Native American foster children are being placed in a large private group home, which gets paid millions of dollars, instead of with family or other members of their tribes.
Years ago, thousands of Native American children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to boarding schools, where the motto of the schools' founder was "Kill the Indian, Save the Man." Children lost touch with their culture, traditions and families. Many suffered horrible abuse, leaving entire generations missing from the one place whose future depended on them — their tribes. In 1978, Congress tried to put a stop to it. They passed the Indian Child Welfare Act, which says except in the rarest circumstances, Native American children must be placed with their relatives or tribes. It also says states must do everything it can to keep native families together.
But 32 states are failing to abide by the act in one way or another, and, an NPR investigation has found, nowhere is that more apparent than in South Dakota. "Cousins are disappearing; family members are disappearing," said Peter Lengkeek, a Crow Creek Tribal Council member. "It's kidnapping. That's how we see it."
State officials say they have to do what's in the best interest of the child, but the state does have a financial incentive to remove the children. The state receives thousands of dollars from the federal government for every child it takes from a family, and in some cases the state gets even more money if the child is Native American. The result is that South Dakota is now removing children at a rate higher than the vast majority of other states in the country.
Native American families feel the brunt of this. Their children make up less than 15 percent of the child population, yet they make up more than half of the children in foster care. Critics say foster care in South Dakota has become a powerhouse for private group home providers who bring in millions of dollars in state contracts to care for kids. Among them is Children's Home Society, the state's largest foster care provider, which has close ties with top government officials. It used to be run by South Dakota's Gov. Dennis Daugard. An NPR investigation has found that Daugard was on the group's payroll while he was lieutenant governor — and while the group received tens of millions of dollars in no-bid state contracts. It's an unusual relationship highlighting the powerful role money and politics play in South Dakota's foster care system.
"They make a living off of our children," said Juanita Sherick, the tribal social worker for the Pine Ridge reservation.
Some children are removed from their homes for legitimate reasons. But in South Dakota very few are taken because they've been physically or sexually abused. Most are taken under a far more subjective set of circumstances. The state says the parents are neglectful. But NPR's investigation shows that even Native American children who grow up to become foster care success stories, living happy, productive lives, say the loss of their culture and identities leaves a deep hole they spend years trying hopelessly to fill.
NEW RESOURCES
Love and Belonging for a Lifetime: Youth Permanency in Child Welfare
This special issue of Protecting Children, a professional publication of American Humane Association, highlights many of the nuanced practice and policy issues that support effective permanency planning and decision making with adolescents in foster care. Articles include:
- Love and Belonging for a Lifetime, by Stacie Hanson and Sarah Greenblatt;
- What Finding Permanency Means from a Youth Perspective, by Dianna Walters;
- Independent Living Program Transformation in California: Lessons Learned about Working with Older Youth and Implications for Permanency, by Karen Lofts Jarboe and Jen Agosti;
- Integrating Child Welfare and Mental Health Practices: Actualizing Youth Permanency Using the 3-5-7 Model, by Darla L. Henry and Gregory Manning;
- Permanency for LGBTQ Youth, by Gerald P. Mallon, D.S.W.;
- Reinstating Parental Rights: Another Path to Permanency?, by Susan Getman and Steve Christian; and,
- Adopt Cuyahoga’s Kids: Securing Adoptive Placements for Older Youth in Cuyahoga County’s Public Child Welfare System, by Sue Pearlmutter, Victor Groza, Teresa Garafolo, and Betsie Norris.
(Protecting Children, Volume 26, Number 1, 2011) http://www.americanhumane.org/assets/pdfs/children/protecting-children-journal/pc-26-1.pdf
Family Engagement: A Web-based Practice Toolkit
This NRCPFC toolkit is intended as an online tool for programs, states and tribes where promising practices, programs, and resources are made available. It can provide an opportunity to connect with colleagues and share program successes and challenges. Our goal is to continuously update this toolkit to reflect current practices and resources in the field. http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/fewpt/index.htm
Experts Design 'Toolkit' to Help Spot Teens With Mental Health Issues
Because many adolescents with mental health problems are never diagnosed and treated, an expert team has come up with a "toolkit" aimed at identifying those kids and getting them the right help. One in 10 youths have a mental health condition that is severe enough to impair functioning, either at home, school or in the community according to Gary Blau, chief of the child, adolescent and family branch of SAMHSA. "The toolkit will allow pediatricians, teachers and others that could help get the word out to families we can close the gap so the three out of four children with mental health disorders who are identified do get identified, " said Dr. Peter Jensen, lead investigator. Researchers convened over a period of several years to analyze data collected from more than 6,000 children and parents to identify the most common symptoms of mental health disorders and to see if children with these troubling signs were receiving appropriate care. The information was translated into warning signs that are written in easy to understand language. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/5/970.full.html
America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being - 2011 Report Released
A new report compiled by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2011 is a compendium of indicators depicting both the promises and the challenges confronting our Nation’s young people. The report, the 15th in an ongoing series, presents 41 key indicators on important aspects of children’s lives.
http://www.childstats.gov/pdf/ac2011/ac_11.pdf
Building Child Welfare Response to Child Trafficking
Human trafficking is arguably one of the most disturbing human rights abuses of our time. The United States Department of Justice has estimated that between 14,500 and 17,500 foreign men, women, and children are trafficked into the United States each year. These estimates, however, do not include U.S. citizens who have been trafficked, including an estimated 293,000 young people who may be at risk for being trafficked specifically for the sex trade.
Women and children may comprise as much as eighty percent of the total number of victims of human trafficking. These unprotected young children and adolescents are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, restaurant work, and other types of exploitative labor, or simply find ways to survive on the street. While estimates indicate that thousands of child trafficking victims exist in the United States, very few have been identified and recovered. Between 2001 and 2009, only 212 foreign minors were successfully recognized by U.S. authorities as victims of trafficking.
Many more, unnoticed and unidentified, continue to be exploited in slave-like conditions.
Human trafficking is a relatively new issue and emerging area of knowledge for most social service, legal, and law enforcement professionals. It was only in 2000 that the first federal anti-trafficking statute, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), was enacted. Thousands of organizations and agencies are unaware of this law and other state laws that provide critical support and protect the rights of victims. Even fewer have been adequately trained
or prepared to respond to child victims of trafficking, and fewer still have incorporated policies, protocols, and case management techniques to serve this population appropriately. Many organizations are hesitant to create specific services for an additional population and do not have the funding to pursue training or update their operational systems as needed. Moreover, the protection of children has rarely been included in government-funded
initiatives to combat human trafficking in the United States. The majority of victims are minors, yet support for this group has not been considered a priority.
The child welfare field is only beginning to recognize the need to prepare for and address the issue of child trafficking. For the past decade, child protection agencies across the United States have been unprepared to address the problem, despite laws requiring child welfare agencies to serve trafficked children. Additionally, the general public is becoming more aware of the issue via movies, documentaries and campaigns focusing on the issue.
Politicians, human rights organizations, and child protection advocates are developing and passing new legislation to protect and respond to the issue of trafficking in our communities. For example, in the state of Illinois, child protection professionals have been called to action by the new Illinois Safe Children Act signed by Governor Quinn in August 2010. This new law removes the criminal status of juvenile prostitution and identifies children who are prostituted as victims of human trafficking, with no exceptions. The law calls upon the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) to respond to these victims and provide appropriate support and case management. The level of awareness about child trafficking will continue to grow and will inevitably influence the work of service providers charged with the protection of children and youth.
More information can be found at the Child Information Gateway or at: Website
New and Improved AdoptUSKids Website
The new and improved AdoptUSKids website to help child welfare professionals recruit and retain foster and adoptive families is now available! The revamped website offers even more free services for both public and private child welfare professionals/agencies, including: resources to support agencies with recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive parents; comprehensive photolisting of children in foster care available for adoption and families who are home studied and approved to adopt; a news and announcements feed; and the ability to more easily connect and share with families and other child welfare professionals through social media sites.
http://adoptuskids.org/
New Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire Released
The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) is the largest, most comprehensive survey on youth victimization conducted in the United States. NatSCEV shows that many youth experience multiple forms of victimization, not just single types. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire-2nd Revision (JVQ-R2) is the core of NatSCEV. The full JVQ-R2, including supplements, assesses 50+ forms of victimization across five general areas:
- Conventional crime
- Maltreatment
- Peer and sibling victimization
- Sexual victimization
- Witnessing and other exposure to violence.
Goals of this toolkit:
The JVQ-R2 can be used in a variety of clinical, research, and community settings to help document the true burden of victimization experienced by youth. The JVQ-R2 does this by including a comprehensive set of questions about multiple forms of violence, instead of more traditional questionnaires which often ask about only one type of violence, such as bullying or maltreatment.
Psychologists, social workers, health care providers, child protection service professionals, advocates, program evaluators, and researchers can all use the JVQ-R2 to enhance the assessment of youth victimization. For example, the JVQ-R2 can be used to identify the needs of children in your community through needs assessment, determine whether your prevention or intervention program is effective, enhance clinical assessment, raise awareness among different types of providers about the full extent of youth victimization, and improve research on youth victimization.
FREE Father-Friendly Organizational Check-Up
The National Resource Center on Fatherhood offers a free Father Friendly Check-Up™ for organizations to use. It is designed to help you determine just how father-friendly your organization is! This assessment will analyze your physical environment/location, organizational philosophies, staff attitudes, and more to determine your score.
Website
Family Engagement in Child Welfare Video Series
The Child Welfare Information Gateway includes many resources. This video series showcases the experiences of two Systems of Care communities that worked with birth parents and kin caregivers in paraprofessional roles. The videos offer unique insight into the key elements needed to make peer-to-peer family engagement programs successful. From the perspectives of family members, caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators, the videos provide an inside look at program achievements and benefits, as well as fears and challenges related to family involvement.
The discussion guides are companion tools to the family engagement videos. With one for each peer-to-peer program model, each promotes reflection and generates a deeper understanding of the video content through guided questions. While primarily aimed at supporting training programs, the guides may also be used in coaching and other professional development activities.
The videos, and related discussion guides, can be used by State and local child welfare administrators, trainers, supervisors, and caseworkers as training tools and capacity building resources. The series can be used in its entirety or videos can be selected to meet specific needs.
- Parents Helping Parents Videos
- Parents Helping Parents Discussion Guide
- Supporting Kin Caregivers Videos
- Supporting Kin Caregivers Discussion Guide
For additional information:
Website
OJJDP Launches DMC Virtual Resource Center
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has launched the
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Virtual Resource Center. This online center provides DMC coordinators, state advisory group members, and other juvenile justice professionals with tools and resources to support their state and local DMC efforts.
The Web site also provides networking opportunities for users to exchange data and information, share DMC training materials, and notify others about upcoming conferences, events, and current policies, practices, and procedures. Regular Web site
spotlights will feature state and local DMC delinquency prevention and systems improvement activities.
Resources:
LINKS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Call for Abstracts – The Intersection of Immigration, Child Welfare, and Criminal Justice Systems Over the past several years, there have been notable increases in cases involving incarcerated parents who are referred to immigration detention after serving their criminal sentences. Increases in immigration enforcement activities have led to increases in children becoming involved in child welfare systems following the arrest or detention of their foreign-born parents. This has led to the introduction of federal legislation calling for mechanisms and policies to be developed to address these complex cases. Additional interactions with justice systems have led to increasing complexities for immigrant families and child welfare systems. This issue of “Protecting Children” will publish articles outlining policy issues, practices, and outcome data that are uniquely relevant to immigrant children and families with joint child welfare and justice system involvement. “Protecting Children” is American Humane Association’s quarterly, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to a broad range of child welfare topics. The deadline for abstract submission is December 15, 2011. (.pdf)
- Permanency Pact FosterClub's new free tool designed to encourage life-long, kin-like connections between a young person and a supportive adult. Download a free PDF of the publication. http://www.fosterclub.com/files/PermPact.pdf
- New Foster Care Law: H.R. 2883: Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act passed on October 4, 2011. The law will amend part B of title IV of the Social Security Act to extend the child and family services program through fiscal year 2016 and other included purposes. For the full text: Website
- Check out the Together We Can Conference at www.latwc.com Oct 23-25, 2012 in Lafayette, Louisiana
