Author Archives: Susan Shaffette

Court Jurisdiction and Venue for Adoption Petitions

This publication presents an overview of State statutes that designate the appropriate jurisdiction and venue for adoption proceedings. Jurisdiction refers to the type of court that has the authority to hear adoption cases; venue refers to the geographic location of … Read More

Child Opportunity Index

This Valuable Data Tool Informs Policies that Shape Child Opportunity Jan 25, 2022, 11:00 AM, Posted by Dolores Acevedo-Garcia Millions of children live in neighborhoods with limited access to safe housing, green space, or good schools. Data can inform efforts by … Read More

Prevention Mindset Institute: Embracing Prevention Across Systems

Summary Report What does it take to shift mindsets across multiple, interconnected systems? Can mindsets be shifted within decades-old child-welfare systems—systems that wield enormous reach and power? What would motivate change? The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has promoted … Read More

Trauma-Informed Youth Transitions in Tribal Child Welfare

The Capacity Building Center for Tribes’ Tribal Information Exchange released a series of tip sheets on trauma-informed practice in tribal child welfare. One of the tip sheets, Trauma-Informed Youth Transitions in Tribal Child Welfare, focuses on helping tribal child welfare professionals … Read More

Addressing Structural Racism Through Equitable Policy Making for Black Families

Source: Child Trends This issue brief series identifies key information and opportunities for consideration by policymakers, researchers, practitioners, philanthropists, and others interested in supporting the progress of Black families and children—and, by extension, the country as a whole. The series … Read More

Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Children’s Behavior

A guide from AdoptUSKids aims to help parent group leaders support discussions between parents and caregivers about trauma and its effects. The goal of these discussions is to be able to better respond to the behaviors of children affected by trauma and … Read More

State-level Data for Understanding Child Welfare in the United States

This comprehensive child welfare resource provides state and national data on child maltreatment, foster care, kinship caregiving, and adoption from foster care. The data are essential to help policymakers understand how many children and youth came in contact with the child welfare system, and why. … Read More

National Quality Improvement Center Collaborative Community Court Teams

The Center for Children and Family Futures (CCFF) just released two briefs highlighting the efforts of these teams to improve safety, permanency, well-being, and  recovery. The Program Summary Brief focuses on implementation strategies, accomplishments, and lessons. The Evaluation Summary Brief, … Read More

Child Maltreatment Report 2020

This report presents national data about child abuse and neglect known to child protective services agencies in the United States during federal fiscal year 2020. Release date: January 2022. Child Maltreatment 2020 is the latest edition of the annual Child … Read More

Family Integrity & Justice Quarterly

Winter 2022 – PublicKnowledge Family Integrity & Justice Works at Public Knowledge® advocates for the replacement of harmful components of our child welfare system with more humane and respectful approaches. On January 25, 2022, Family Integrity & Justice Works published the Inaugural Issue … Read More