Author Archives: Susan Shaffette

ACF Child Maltreatment Report

Child Maltreatment 2019 is the 30th edition of the annual Child Maltreatment report series. States provide the data for this report through the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). NCANDS was established in 1988 as a voluntary, national … Read More

Message From Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg

Written by Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg One of the best ways that we can support children and families is to care for them in our daily lives, in our communities. I’m sure many of us can remember seeing stories … Read More

Five Ways to Serve Youth Through the Family First Prevention Services Act

A recent brief from the Center for the Study of Social Policy details five opportunities within the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) of 2018 for states to build a prevention continuum that focuses on healthy adolescent development. The brief also aims … Read More

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What You Need to Know About Child in Need of Care Cases in Louisiana (Quick Guide)

Authored By: Lagniappe Law Lab The information in this post is from the Louisiana Bar Foundation and its Lagniappe Law Lab. Link to site. The step by step chart is very short and direct – worth a quick review! Infographic: … Read More

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Family Matters: Multigenerational Living Is on the Rise and Here to Stay

A new study from Generations United, Family Matters: Multigenerational Living Is on the Rise and Here to Stay, finds that the number of Americans living in a multigenerational household with three or more generations has nearly quadrupled over the past decade, … Read More

Family First Prevention Services Act: Implementing the Provisions that Support Kinship Families

The Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First Act) makes historic reforms to the childwelfare system to better support children, families, and kinship caregivers, and promote a kin-firstculture. Many of the reforms have significant implications for connecting children to kinship … Read More

Child Welfare Court Cases Involving Prenatal Substance Use: Policy Considerations

State supreme and appellate courts presiding over civil child protection cases often decide legal issues relating to a mother’s prenatal use of substances. As courts answer questions that arise during child welfare proceedings, they often interpret state civil child abuse … Read More

How Judges Can Support Family Reunification through Parent–Resource Parent Partnerships

Something profound happens when parents and resource parents work together and support one another during child welfare system involvement. The parent knows the person who is caring for their child and feels supported while working towards reunification. The resource parent … Read More

Tips & Tools for Providing High-Quality Legal Representation to Children and Parents in Child Welfare Proceedings: Out-of-Court Advocacy

Out-of-court advocacy is critical in every child welfare legal proceeding. As an attorney for the child or parent, you must be a highly skilled litigator and be willing to use the court process to meet your client’s goals. You must … Read More

2021 Annie E. Casey KIDSCOUNT Data Book Released

SUMMARY The 32nd edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book describes how children across the United States were faring before — and during — the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s publication continues to deliver the Foundation’s annual state rankings and … Read More