Author Archives: Susan Shaffette

Child Maltreatment 2018

This report presents national data about child abuse and neglect known to child protective services agencies in the United States during federal fiscal year 2018. CLICK HERE

Brain Frames: How Attorneys Can Engage Youth in Case Planning and Court Hearings

The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “Brain Frames” resources draw on adolescent brain research to guide child welfare practitioners who interact with youth in foster care. Below are some of the Brain Frames tips for the legal community to keep youth … Read More

Quick Reference Guide: Federal Laws Supporting Youth in Foster Care Transitioning to Adulthood

The following federal laws specifically support the needs of older youth in foster care, and those transitioning to adulthood. Attorneys and advocates should understand how to use them, in addition to the many child welfare laws that support the safety, … Read More

How Adolescent Brain Science Supports Youth Engagement in Court Hearings and Case Planning

Federal and state laws increasingly support meaningfully engaging youth in foster care in their case planning and court hearings. This shift over the last decade is largely because of advocacy by youth with lived experience in foster care. Our understanding … Read More

Tool for Engaging the Legal Community in Implementing Family First

The Family First Prevention Services Act became law in February 2018 (Pub. L. 115-123, enacted as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018). Family First is a landmark child welfare law that establishes significant changes in how the child … Read More

Secondary Traumatic Stress: Understanding the Impact of Trauma Work on Professionals

Describes how the sociocultural context and the experience of migration may impact the experience of STS and outlines specific strategies to strengthen protective factors to prevent, identify, and address STS in the workplace. Through case examples, participants will learn who … Read More

Understanding Refugee Trauma: For Child Welfare

Provides information about refugee trauma for those working in or with the child welfare system. This fact sheet gives definitions to describe those who migrate to the US; potentially traumatic events that could occur before, during, or after migration; involvement … Read More

NCTSN Impact Newsletter: Winter 2019

Profiles Irene Clements, an extraordinary foster parent and family advocate, and reports on Rhode Island Family Service, which maintains its “Go Team” ride-along partnership with the police department. You’ll hear about the 13 sites that used SAMHSA supplemental grants in … Read More

NCTSN Bench Card for Juvenile Court Judges: Newcomer Immigrant Youth in Juvenile Justice Court Proceedings – A Trauma-Informed Approach

Provides judges with information they need to know about newcomer immigrant youth and trauma. This bench card offers useful questions and guidelines to help make decisions based on the specific needs of newcomer immigrant youth.
Published in 2019 … Read More

Reasonable Efforts as Prevention

by Jerry Milner and David Kelly  –  November 6, 2006 Far too often the wrong examples drive child welfare policy and practice in the United States. We see it time and time again in jurisdictions where there is a child fatality; … Read More