Child welfare-involved parents are often isolated and lack support and skills to navigate complex systems. Programs using a parent representation service model in child protection can offer an exceptional and critical fo...Child welfare-involved parents are often isolated and lack support and skills to navigate complex systems. Programs using a parent representation service model in child protection can offer an exceptional and critical form of support and empowerment to birthparents, promote parental engagement and cooperation, and teach system navigation skills. While there is a notable emphasis on an overall family-centered and strength-based approach in child welfare, much progress is still needed in giving voice to parents, empowering them, including them in decisionmaking about the case, and seeking their cooperation. Funding should be directed to recruiting more parent representatives to assist birthparents in their communities as well to educating and training child protective services workers by transferring values and strategies implemented by parent representatives. Although additional research is certainly necessary, it appears that programs such as the Child Welfare Organizing Project in New York City may be an important step toward building partnerships with families impacted by the child welfare system in promoting child safety, well-being, and permanency.
This research involved three different groups of employees in a provincial government organization responsible for the delivery of child welfare services throughout northern British Columbia. The research sought to under...This research involved three different groups of employees in a provincial government organization responsible for the delivery of child welfare services throughout northern British Columbia. The research sought to understand the skills that are most important to supervision, how the skills can be developed, and the barriers that might impede this development.
Fisher PA, Mannering AM, Van Scoyoc A
… +1 more, Graham AM
Child Welfare
· 2013 · PMID 24923133
Placement instability is a common occurrence among foster children and others involved with child welfare system services, and is associated with negative psychiatric and mental health outcomes. The purpose of this paper...Placement instability is a common occurrence among foster children and others involved with child welfare system services, and is associated with negative psychiatric and mental health outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to review and synthesize research in this area and to consider this information in terms of child welfare practice and policy. Evidence from 59 sources is reviewed, including research on (a) the connection between placement instability and poor outcomes; (b) sources of information that can be employed to reliably predict risk for placement instability; and (c) interventions designed to mitigate the effects of placement instability. The available empirical evidence suggests that placement instability and other family chaos is associated with disrupted development of the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is involved in executive functioning. Poor executive functioning is implicated in elevated risk for ADHD, disruptive behavior disorders, substance abuse, and other forms of disinhibitory psychopathology. This might help to explain the high rates of psychiatric medication prescriptions for foster children. Notably, however, recent research findings have shown that placement instability is both predictable and preventable and that interventions to address placement instability have the potential to mitigate neurobiological and psychiatric effects of prior adversity.
This experiment was designed to study the Orff Approach--a child-centered, developmental approach to music education that aims to enrich the imagination through the acceleration of psychological activities. The study was...This experiment was designed to study the Orff Approach--a child-centered, developmental approach to music education that aims to enrich the imagination through the acceleration of psychological activities. The study was conducted in children who had exhibited problematic behavior possibly due to economical or psychological issues; it aimed to determine whether the Orff Approach satisfies educational and treatment purposes and is an acceptable alternative in improving self-expression, self-efficacy, and social skills. The experiment involved 43 elementary school children in South Korean households with a monthly income of 100% below the average (according to the National Basic Living Security Act, South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare), and the results showed an increase of the chil-dren's self-expression, self-efficacy, and social skills after musical activities with the Orff Approach. Also, children interacted with the musical activities--according to the Orff Approach--like a game.They noted that they were able to explain their thoughts and emotions better; their relationships with friends improved, as well. Therefore, this research is significant because it shows that musical activities according to the Orff Approach have possibilities to be utilized as a program for children's psychological and emotional support.
In 2006, the Wisconsin Children's Trust Fund launched a pilot initiative called "Community Response," a program targeted to families reported for maltreatment but not served by child protective services due to insufficie...In 2006, the Wisconsin Children's Trust Fund launched a pilot initiative called "Community Response," a program targeted to families reported for maltreatment but not served by child protective services due to insufficient child safety concerns. This article presents general information on the program, including the variation in models used by sites across the state, information on the families that were served by the program, and lessons learned from the experience that may guide practical decisions around the implementation of similar models elsewhere.
This paper puts forward a conceptual framework for engaging peers as central to transitional services for care-leavers. The situation of youth exiting care is examined and an evidence-informed approach to supporting care...This paper puts forward a conceptual framework for engaging peers as central to transitional services for care-leavers. The situation of youth exiting care is examined and an evidence-informed approach to supporting care-leavers is presented. Exploring the social networks of youth leaving care provides a mechanism for both supporting the maintenance of ties and fostering the development of weak tie connections that facilitate opportunities for social mobility.
Trauma affects children from all ethnicities, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, indigenous children may experience trauma differently than their majority population peers due to traumatic histories of...Trauma affects children from all ethnicities, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds. However, indigenous children may experience trauma differently than their majority population peers due to traumatic histories of colonization and marginalization. This article reports on an exploratory qualitative study of how service providers in Western Montana and Northern Norway conceptualize Native American and Sámi children's experiences of trauma today. Findings reveal that participants relate current trauma experiences of indigenous youth to historical and intergenerational traumas.
There is a shortage of professionally trained American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) social workers available to provide services including child welfare services to tribal communities. This study used a mixed-model surv...There is a shortage of professionally trained American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) social workers available to provide services including child welfare services to tribal communities. This study used a mixed-model survey design to examine the perceptions of 47 AI/AN BSW and MSW students enrolled in social work programs across the to determine the challenges associated with recruitment and retention. The findings are supported in the literature. Findings indicate that social work academic programs have not made substantial gains in the recruitment and retention of AI/AN students over several decades. Students identified the following seven major barriers to successful recruitment and retention: (1) a lack of AI/AN professors; (2) a shortage of field placement agencies that serve AI/AN clients; (3) conflicts between students' academic obligations and responsibilities to their families and tribal communities; (4) students' feelings of cultural isolation; (5) the need for AI/AN role models and mentors; (6) a lack of understanding by universities of cultural customs and traditional values; and (7) racism. Implications for policy and practice are offered.
Waterman JM, Nadeem E, Paczkowski E
… +4 more, Foster JC, Lavner JA, Belin T, Miranda J
Child Welfare
· 2013 · PMID 24851473
This study examined the trajectory of cognitive development over the first five years of adoptive placement among children adopted from foster care and how pre-adoption risk factors relate to this development. Overall, c...This study examined the trajectory of cognitive development over the first five years of adoptive placement among children adopted from foster care and how pre-adoption risk factors relate to this development. Overall, children's cognitive scores increased significantly, with the most rapid improvement occurring in the first year post-placement. By five years post-placement, children's mean cognitive and achievement scores were in the average range. Adoption is a positive intervention for children's cognitive development.
The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children suggests that intercountry adoption be considered as a permanent care option only after other solutions within the child's country of origin have been exhausted. Data fr...The Hague Convention on the Protection of Children suggests that intercountry adoption be considered as a permanent care option only after other solutions within the child's country of origin have been exhausted. Data from the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) were examined for 478 Indian children ages 4-18 adopted domestically, adopted to Norway, and adopted to the United States. The CBCL has a reported reliability of .9 (Achenbach, 1991; Achenbach & Edelbrock, 1983) and contains five subscales assessing internalizing problems plus a summative Internalizing Scale, and three subscales assessing externalizing problems plus a summative Externalizing Scale. Perceptions of Norwegian, American, and Indian adoptive parents regarding their child's functioning were compared. Children adopted to Norway and the United States were perceived by their parents to be functioning significantly better behaviorally than children adopted within country, while controlling for age of child and gender of adoptive parent completing the CBCL. Policymakers should examine the evidence prioritizing within country adoption over intercountry adoption.
This study addresses organizational factors associated with child welfare workers' data use in their day-to-day work. Survey data from 237 respondents were analyzed using logistic regression. Familiarity with data and su...This study addresses organizational factors associated with child welfare workers' data use in their day-to-day work. Survey data from 237 respondents were analyzed using logistic regression. Familiarity with data and supervisor support were significant predictors of child welfare workers' data use. Findings highlight the value of child welfare organizations (a) facilitating workers' familiarity with child welfare data and data use and (b) training or educating supervisors so that they can support workers' use of data.
Casanueva C, Fraser JG, Gilbert A
… +5 more, Maze C, Katz L, Ullery MA, Stacks AM, Lederman C
Child Welfare
· 2013 · PMID 24818431
This study presents preliminary outcomes for a problem-solving court improvement model, the Miami Child Well-Being Court (Miami-CWBC), which makes evidence-based clinical intervention and integration of the treating clin...This study presents preliminary outcomes for a problem-solving court improvement model, the Miami Child Well-Being Court (Miami-CWBC), which makes evidence-based clinical intervention and integration of the treating clinician's ongoing assessment and perspective central in the dependency court process. Records were reviewed for children adjudicated for maltreatment that completed treatment. Several promising findings suggest that this approach can help jurisdictions improve the lives of young children and their families' capacity to care for them.
Bronsard G, Lançon C, Loundou A
… +4 more, Auquier P, Rufo M, Tordjman S, Simeoni MC
Child Welfare
· 2013 · PMID 24818430
Here, the quality of life (QoL) of adolescents living in residential group homes (RGHs), is compared to QoL of a general adolescent population, and links between QoL and the presence of mental disorders are examined. Ado...Here, the quality of life (QoL) of adolescents living in residential group homes (RGHs), is compared to QoL of a general adolescent population, and links between QoL and the presence of mental disorders are examined. Adolescents living in RGHs reported a significantly lower perception of their overall QoL compared to the general adolescent population. The presence of mental disorders was significantly and negatively associated with QoL scores. Some indices of QoL (physical and psychological well-being, relationship with teachers) did not show differences with the general population, indicating that mental health needs or lack of wellbeing are expressed in unusual ways.
Trout AL, Lambert MC, Epstein MH
… +4 more, Tyler P, Thompson RW, Stewart M, Daly DL
Child Welfare
· 2013 · PMID 24818429
This study compares the On the Way Home (OTWH) aftercare program to traditional aftercare supports on placement and school stability for 82 youth (43 treatment, 39 control) with disabilities discharging from residential...This study compares the On the Way Home (OTWH) aftercare program to traditional aftercare supports on placement and school stability for 82 youth (43 treatment, 39 control) with disabilities discharging from residential care. One-year-post-discharge results revealed that negative event occurrence (i.e., returning to care or discontinuing enrollment in the community school) was three to over five times less likely for OTWH youth compared to youth in the control condition.
This study utilized secondary data analysis to examine therapeutic mentoring (TM) as a service intervention in helping to reduce trauma symptoms in foster youth. Outcomes were compared for mentored (n = 106) and non-ment...This study utilized secondary data analysis to examine therapeutic mentoring (TM) as a service intervention in helping to reduce trauma symptoms in foster youth. Outcomes were compared for mentored (n = 106) and non-mentored (n = 156) foster youth related to experience and symptoms of trauma. Results showed that mentored youth improved significantly in the reduction of trauma symptoms relative to non-mentored youth, suggesting that TM shows promise as an important treatment intervention for foster youth with trauma experiences.