Author Archives: Susan Shaffette

Louisiana’s Families in Need of Services
Laws Providing the Right Services to
Children and Families

By Curtis Nelson, Jr. Everyone monitoring news outlets have heard comments that more needs to be done to prevent children from engaging in criminal activity, which, due to their minor status, is referred to as delinquency activity. Concerns about public … Read More

Children in Today’s Courtroom

By Franchesca L. Hamilton-Acker, Kellie J. Johnson and Josephine C. Vanderhorst There are multiple layers to the child welfare system. One of these layers is peeled backwhen there is a need to remove a child from his/her parents or caretakers … Read More

Court Appointed Special Advocates: Becoming the “Chance” for Louisiana’s Youth

By Judge (Ret.) Kathleen Stewart Richey Lawyers understand the anxiety associated with going to court. Imagine being 7 years old, removed from your home by a child welfare worker and going to court alone! You are taken to a building … Read More

My Community Cares: Strengthening Families and Supporting Communities

By Michelle R. Gros What do Louisiana judges and attorneys, pots of gumbo, popsicles in parks, medical mobile units, egg hunts, care baskets, block parties, drive-through services and resources, supporting families, foster care and community conversations have in common? My … Read More

ABCs of ACEs

Interviewed by Kellie J. Johnson Caitlin LaVine and H. Clay Walker V are Louisiana educators on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). LaVine is the trauma and resilience strategy lead with the Louisiana Department of Health’s Bureau of Family Health. Walker is … Read More

Using ACEs and TBRI to Implement a Trauma-Informed Courtroom

By Mark Harris, Josephine C. Vanderhorst and Kellie J. Johnson Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are defined in Louisiana law (R.S. 17:437.2) as “all types of abuse, neglect and other types of traumatic childhood experiences linked to lifelong health and social … Read More

Overview: LSBA Children’s Law Committee Continuing Advocacy for Louisiana’s Future

By Curtis Nelson, Jr., Kellie J. Johnson and Mariarenee Contreras The Children’s Law Committee was created in 2008 as an ad hoc committee at the request of the state Legislative Task Force on Legal Representation in Child Protection Cases. Since … Read More

Understanding Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Resource Guide for Professionals Referring to Treatment

SUD treatment is dependent on the needs of the individual. The type, length, andintensity of treatment is determined by the severity of the SUD, types of substancesused, support systems available, prior life experiences, and behavioral, physical,gender, cultural, cognitive, and/or social … Read More

DISPROPORTIONALITIES AND DISPARITIES IN CHILD WELFARE A Supplement to Understanding Substance Use Disorders, Treatment, and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals

This tool is a companion resource to the online tutorial Understanding Substance Use Disorders,Treatment, and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals. The National Center onSubstance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) offers free online tutorials to: 1) help professionalsincrease … Read More

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Sharing and Accessing Administrative Data: Promising Practices and Lessons Learned from the Child Maltreatment Incidence Data Linkages Project

OPRE Report; 2022-107. Varley, Beth. Wuslin, Claire Smither. Mathematica. United States. Administration for Children and Families. Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. 2022 Accurate and ongoing surveillance of the incidence of child maltreatment and related risk and protective factors can … Read More