Episode 62: Thriving Families, Safer Children - Part 2

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. 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. Part 1 provides a more thorough description of the Thriving Families, Safer Children effort; discusses the characteristics of successful partnerships; and emphasizes the important role family voice has in shaping change.

The following individuals are featured in this episode:

• Dr. Melissa Merrick, president and CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America
• Frank Alexander, managing director, Judicial and National Engagement Systems Improvement, Casey Family Programs
• Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, vice president, Center for Systems Innovation, Annie E. Casey Foundation

Topics discussed include the following:

• How implementing the Thriving Families, Safer Children effort mirrors a public health approach
• What national organizations learned from listening to families and those with lived experience in the child welfare system
• How the coronavirus pandemic increased the urgency for change