Author Archives: Susan Shaffette

Chosen Affirming Family Finding

This factsheet describes Chosen Affirming Family Finding, an intervention for working with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or other diverse identity and involved with the child welfare system to expand their family network, including chosen family. … Read More

Youth Acceptance Project

United States. Children’s Bureau. Family Builders (Organization) National Quality Improvement Center on Tailored Services, Placement Stability and Permanency for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Two-Spirit Children and Youth in Foster Care. University of Maryland, Baltimore. School of Social Work. … Read More

Challenges in Identifying and Supporting Human
Services Participants with Substance Use Disorder

Waters, Annette. Ghertner, Robin. Baston, Pamela. Meyers, Kathleen. United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Office of Human Services Policy. 2022 This report summarizes an environmental scan and series of key informant interviews … Read More

Risk of premature death in adulthood influenced by patterns of early childhood adversity

U.S. National Institutes of Health – August 23, 2022 (Press Release) Poverty, combined with other types of adversity in early childhood, is associated with greater chances of premature death in adulthood, compared to other adverse childhood experiences, according to a … Read More

cOURT

Current Events: What is the Indian Child Welfare Act at the center of a new Supreme Court case?

The Supreme Court this fall will hear oral arguments in a series of four consolidated cases challenging the constitutionality of a landmark law that aims to prevent the separation of Native American children from their families and tribes in welfare … Read More

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Reinforcing a Strong Foundation: Equitable Supports for Basic Needs of Grandfamilies

There are 2.6 million children in the United States growing up in grandfamilies, meaning they are raised by relatives or family friends without their parents in the home. While grandfamilies are of all geographic locations, socio-economic levels, and races/ethnicities, Black, … Read More

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Racial Equity Toolkits Featuring Grandfamilies

Three distinct toolkits available: American Indian & Alaska Native Grandfamilies: Helping Children Thrive Through Connection to Family and Cultural Identity Both inside and outside the foster care system, American Indian and Alaska Native children are more likely to live in … Read More

Academic Success for Students in Foster Care Begins with Strong Partnerships Between Child Welfare and Education Systems

July 6, 2022 | Aysha E. Schomburg, Associate Commissioner | Children’s Bureau and Ruth Ryder, Deputy Assistant Secretary | Office of Elementary and Secondary Ed The 2021-2022 school year has come to a close. As students begin their summer break, … Read More

Disrupting Stigma: How Understanding, Empathy, and Connection Can Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use and Mental Disorders

Stigma specifically related to child abuse, neglect, and prenatal substance exposure affects the attitudes of healthcare and treatment professionals; child welfare and court professionals; social service agencies and workers; as well as family, friends, and most notably, the person with … Read More

Child Protection: Dependency Courts

Annotation This Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) In Focus fact sheet outlines programs, training, and funding to ensure that dependency court personnel have the skills to address the complex needs of children and their families who come … Read More