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Describes the characteristics and benefits of AF-CBT, an evidence-supported intervention that targets (1) diverse individual child and caregiver characteristics related to conflict and intimidation in the home and (2) the family context in which aggression or abuse may occur. It was written primarily to help child welfare caseworkers and other professionals who work with at-risk families make more informed decisions about when to refer children and their parents and caregivers to AF-CBT programs. This information also may help parents, foster parents, and other caregivers understand what they and their children can gain from AF-CBT and what to expect during treatment.

The second Annual Meeting of State and Tribe Child Welfare Officials convened by the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice reviewed lessons learned from the Child and Family Services Review process and provided tips for program improvement plans. This issue of the Resource Center newsletter summarizes presentations and panel discussions from the conference. The articles highlight conformity with systemic factors assessed during the Child and Family Services Reviews. Presenters noted a need to focus on outcomes, especially in the areas of permanency and well-being. States were advised to target program improvement plans to the areas that had the most significant impact on children and families, using realistic and measurable goals. The Children's Bureau prefers plans that attempt to make systemic changes to the problem areas identified during reviews. Data collection should include accurate information about state status, national standards, and qualitative measures. States also should consider the implementation of innovative programs that apply the principles of family-centered practice, such as family conferencing, court improvement strategies, case plans, community-based collaboration, and culturally responsive services.

The first Annual Meeting of State and Tribe Child Welfare Officials sponsored by the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice addressed the Child and Family Services Review process and lessons learned from pilot states. This biannual newsletter from the resource center summarizes presentations about the benefits of the review system, important components, and the role of tribes in the planning process. Emphasis is placed on the importance of collaboration with stakeholders, including policymakers, parents, the courts, service providers, and critics. Reports from Rhode Island, Maine, and Mississippi describe improvements and outcomes that resulted from the review and subsequent technical assistance.

Community collaboratives for child welfare are being formed by local agencies to prevent child maltreatment and promote community responsibility for child and family well-being. The collaboratives feature the use of community-based resources, family-centered services, an emphasis on results, the participation of individuals and community organizations, and flexibility. This issue of the biannual publication of the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice examines the characteristics of community partnerships and describes initiatives implemented in several states. The role of the Patch model in the implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act in Massachusetts specifically is discussed. Adapted from the British neighborhood approach, Patch was used to improve cooperation between public agencies and consumers of services by increasing access to social services, eliminating miscommunication and boundaries between social service agencies and families, empowering individual and families, nurturing local resources, and respecting diversity.

This issue of the biannual newsletter of the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice examines differential response systems that customize services to meet the specific situation of each family. The differential or multi-track response system permits workers to direct high-risk families into the investigation process, while low-risk families receive assessment and support without substantiation. Some states have created more than two categories to provide a more tailored response. The newsletter outlines the benefits of the differential response system and describes models implemented in Washington State, Florida, Missouri, Michigan, Louisiana, South Carolina, Virginia, and Minnesota. Lessons learned about assessment, modification of services, and family and community involvement are discussed.

Despite research that substantiates the importance of father involvement in children's lives, family-centered child welfare services continue to be oriented toward the child's mother. This newsletter from the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice explains how child welfare services can engage fathers in the lives of their children. The articles suggest strategies such as family conferencing, support services, and outreach to fathers in prison or on parole. The findings from research about the positive and negative aspects of father involvement are discussed. Perspectives are offered from a case manager and a father. The newsletter includes an outline of tips for involving parents in child welfare services, including early identification and engagement, comprehensive assessment, safety planning, out-of-home placement, implementation of a service plan, permanency planning, and re-evaluation of the service plan. Numerous references.

This edition of the biannual newsletter of the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice examines the impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on children, families, and professionals in the child welfare system. The articles highlight the effects of personal loss, economic recession, and state funding shifts on individuals and families who were under stress before the traumatic event. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which child welfare agencies can plan to address the needs of affected children and parents. Responses from the New York City Administration for Children and Families and foster care agencies across the country are described. The newsletter also addresses strategies for identifying and treating children with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health needs, training for child welfare staff, the role of parents in decreasing stress, and secondary traumatic stress among child welfare workers. 2 references.

Aims to build the knowledge base about caseload and workload issues and help State child welfare managers, administrators, and others learn how they can improve caseload and workload situations in their agencies. Large caseloads and excessive workloads in many jurisdictions can make it difficult for child welfare caseworkers to serve families effectively, and reducing and managing caseloads and workloads are not simple tasks for child welfare administrators. Nevertheless, agencies are addressing these challenges and successfully implementing a variety of strategies to make caseloads and workloads more manageable.

Each of the systems of care principles has individual importance and relational value. Together, they are building blocks that form the infrastructure upon which each community's individualized system of care is built. The keystone to that infrastructure and the system of care itself is a community-based approach. This principle secures the others and allows the infrastructure to stand. Realizing that youth thrive in the context of their homes and communities, child welfare agencies and their partners can support a common or integrated case plan that is culturally appropriate, engages and involves the youth and family, is built upon the strengths of that family, and draws upon the assets of the community. This issue of A Closer Look examines the elements of a successful community-based approach to serving children and families involved with the child welfare system.

Provides an overview of differential response (DR) in the United States and highlights lessons learned through research and implementation experiences. A growing number of child welfare agencies are employing DR in an effort to respond more flexibly to child abuse and neglect reports and to better meet individual family needs. In these systems, families with screened-in child maltreatment reports may receive either a traditional investigation or an alternative assessment response, depending on the type of allegation and other considerations.

Provides an overview of the foundational elements of the family engagement approach, followed by strategies and promising practices for implementing this approach at the case level, peer level, and systems level.

A resource directory listing of national organizations that provide information & resources for and about fathers & their important role in families and the lives of children.

Gives the perspective of two foster parents who discovered helping children in their care means working to mend and promote healthy relationships with biological family members. The couple says collaborating with the biological family of a child in foster care made a huge difference in interactions with social workers and birth family members. Nurturing the collaboration took a lot of work, phone calls, and conversations, but all the dedication paid off. Building trust between the foster family, the child, and the birth family made the goal of health and happiness more attainable. This Real-Life Story was developed as part of National Foster Care Month 2019.

One family in Richmond, Virginia, learned the importance of working with biological families after they received their first foster placement, a 2-day-old girl. The baby's birth mother, Patty, had suffered much hardship and trauma throughout her life. Even after 7 weeks, when the baby girl returned home to Patty, the foster family stayed close, helped connect Patty with resources, and moved her and her daughter into safer housing. Tragically, Patty passed away from complications related to the flu just 9 months later, but she left the foster family with a desire to partner with biological mothers in the future. The family created the nonprofit Patty's Hope, which offers help, hope, and healing to mothers with children in foster care. This Real-Life Story was developed as part of National Foster Care Month 2019.

Provides professionals with information to help children, youth, and adoptive families develop and maintain appropriate and evolving connections with their birth families. Children and youth who are adopted need to maintain relationships with their birth families, previous caregivers, or other important connections, and it is vital that their parents support them in doing so. Nurturing these relationships is in the best interests of the child, as ongoing contact with birth family members may minimize or resolve his or her feelings of grief and loss due to separation.

Helps adoptive parents support children, youth, and birth families in strengthening their relationships. Children and youth who have been adopted and maintain relationships with their birth families, caregivers, and other important people in their lives benefit in significant ways. Adoptive parents can play an instrumental role in helping their children maintain contact with their birth families or other important caregivers.

Addresses child welfare's work with immigrant children and families; examines current issues related to immigration and child welfare; provides examples of programs and promising practices; and points to resources for professionals, families, and youth. Cultural competency and trauma-informed practice are also discussed.

Provides an overview of child welfare in-home services and examines issues related to service delivery, funding, and program evaluation. The brief is designed to provide child welfare administrators, policymakers, and related professionals with information about the types of child welfare in-home services that are being used in the field and what the evidence shows about them.

Organizations that provide services to support and advocate for the children and families of incarcerated people. If you are aware of any others, please contact Child Welfare Information Gateway at OrganizationUpdates@childwelfare.gov. Specific resources about family centered services for incarcerated parents, their children, and families may be found on our website at: Supporting Children and Families Affected by Parental Incarceration.

Explores parent education programming for child welfare and highlights programs that have shown positive results or promise for strengthening families and preventing child maltreatment. The brief looks at the elements of effective parent education programs and research that demonstrate their benefit. It also includes examples of State and local parent education programs and a list of resources.

Helps child welfare professionals gain a better understanding of parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT), including which clients should be referred for this approach, how it is implemented, and resources for additional information. PCIT is a family-centered treatment approach for children ages 2–7 with disruptive behavior and has also been used with abused and at-risk children ages 2–12. It is an appropriate therapy for all caregivers—birth parents, adoptive parents, or foster or kin caregivers—and includes the treatment of both the parent and child together along with live coaching. One of PCIT's benefits is that it can help reduce the risk for child maltreatment.

Describes the Parent Engagement Education and Resource (PEER) support unit in Washington, DC, a new approach being used by the city's Child and Family Services agency to assist birth parents working toward reunification. PEER is staffed by parents with personal experience with the child welfare system who can empathize with birth parents and what they are going through. PEER provides parenting support, advocacy, and coaching to birth parents as they navigate the family court and child welfare systems and work to reunite with their children. Sometimes these parents are struggling with trauma, poverty, substance use, mental illness, or domestic violence, but their partners at PEER can help to facilitate healing.

Shares stories and advice from caregivers and birth parents who have experienced kinship care on the importance of maintaining boundaries, managing family dynamics, building trust, positive parenting and communication, and securing support.

This special issue of Protecting Children is a response to the need for empirical knowledge and research on family group decision making (FGDM) to support its future implementation, practice improvement, and sustainability. The first four articles present overarching philosophical and methodological considerations in FGDM research and evaluation. The remaining articles summarize a wide range of FGDM studies in action or already completed, including experiences in California, Washington, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Utah, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and England. The overall findings, divided into the categories of implementation, process indicators, and outcome indicators, offer considerable support for the advancement of FGDM and good reasons to explore ways to mainstream its practice. (Author abstract modified)

Explores the prevalence of racial disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare system. It also describes strategies that can assist child welfare administrators, program managers, and policymakers with addressing these issues in general and at specific decision points in the child welfare process (e.g., prevention, reporting, investigation, service provision, out-of-home care, permanency). Examples of State and local initiatives that address disproportionality also are highlighted.

Highlights the importance of understanding the concerns and needs of children and families in rural communities, their strengths and resources, and the cultural sensitivity required of child welfare professionals as they work to achieve safety, permanency, and well-being for rural children.

Offers information to help child welfare agency managers achieve successful reunifications. This bulletin includes a description of the benefits of supporting reunification and preventing reentries, statistics, factors that affect reunification and reentry, and relevant strategies and approaches. It also includes examples of promising practices being implemented by States and localities.

Provides information for foster parents to help them learn about LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth in the child welfare system, the unique risks they face, and the important role that foster parents can play in reducing those risks. The factsheet outlines specific actions that foster parents can take to create a welcoming home for all youth in their care and to promote youths' health and well-being in the community. Also included are links to many resources for more information and support.

Provides child welfare professionals with an overview of how they can promote successful virtual family time, including research about virtual interactions, how to prepare children and families, and tips and activities for visits. Family time, also known as parent-child visits, is a key factor in promoting family bonding and setting the stage for successful reunification after a child has been placed in out-of-home care. Although in-person contact is the preferred method for family time, there are extreme occasions when in-person contact is not appropriate or safe, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual family time, during which contact is established through video or streaming services, offers a safe alternative.

Helps child welfare professionals build a better understanding of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), including which clients should be referred for this approach, how it is implemented, and resources for additional information. TF-CBT helps children, adolescents, and their parents (or other caregivers) overcome trauma-related difficulties, including child maltreatment. It helps children address distorted or upsetting beliefs and attributions and learn skills to help them cope with ordinary life stressors. TF-CBT also helps parents who were not abusive to cope effectively with their own emotional distress and develop skills that support their children.

Provides parents with information about successful virtual family time sessions, including how to prepare, tips, and activities. Family time, also known as parent-child visits, is critical to promoting family bonding and setting the stage for successful reunification. Although in-person contact is preferred, there are extreme occasions when in-person contact is not appropriate or safe, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual family time, during which parents contact their children through video, offers a safe alternative.

This study documents that nonresident fathers of children in foster care are not often involved in case planning efforts and nearly half are never contacted by the child welfare agency during their child's stay in foster care. By not reaching out to fathers, caseworkers may overlook potential social connections and resources that could help to achieve permanency for the child. A total of 1,222 local agency caseworkers were interviewed by phone about 1,958 specific cases between October 2004 and February 2005 to examine front-line practices related to nonresident fathers. Interviewers achieved an 83% response rate to the survey. Cases were selected from among children who had been in foster care at least 3 months but no more than 36 months. Children in the sample were all in foster care for the first time, and the child welfare agency's records indicated that each of the children's biological fathers was alive but not living in the home from which the child was removed. Additionally, only one child per mother was eligible for the study. The results of this study provide empirical evidence on the steps that child welfare agencies currently take to identify, locate and involve nonresident fathers in case planning; the barriers encountered; and the policies and practices that affect involvement.

Provides an overview of child welfare, describes how disaster preparedness and response (DPR) and child welfare professionals can support one another’s efforts when responding to the safety and well-being of children and families during all phases of disaster.

Provides an overview of child welfare and describes how educators and child welfare workers can collaborate to prevent child abuse and neglect and ensure children involved in child welfare receive the services and supports they need to succeed in school.

Provides health-care professionals—including pediatricians, family practice providers, hospital nurses, school nurses, and urgent care clinicians—with an overview of the field of child welfare and suggests ways that health-care professionals and child welfare workers can work together to promote better outcomes for children and families involved with child welfare, including children in foster care. Links to resources are also included.

Helps child welfare professionals promote kinship care by providing kinship caregivers with information, referral, and support services to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in their care. Topics covered include the types and benefits of kinship care, training for caseworkers and caregivers, specific strategies for supporting kinship caregivers, and examples of successful State and local child welfare programs that provide services to kinship caregivers.