When Mars Presswood was 15 years old, he and his younger sibling were placed together in foster care. Despite being moved from an urban setting to a small rural town and enduring many other changes and uncertainties over the next … Read More
Safety Permanency & Well-being
What Lessons Can We Learn from ICWA Courts?
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) courts are created to better support American Indian/Alaska Native families in child protection cases. More than simply a specialized docket, ICWA courts actively strive to improve collaboration between state and tribal partners and increase compliance … Read More
Restrictions for the Modern-Day Child: Act 456, No. 162,Implementing Social Media Restrictions for Minors Under 18 in Louisiana
I. INTRODUCTION Louisiana has historically been an outlier among the states for its adherence to the civil law tradition in private law. However, the recent Secure Online and Age Limitation Act places Louisiana in the footsteps of many common law … Read More
Supports and Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care – Louisiana
Youth’s Parental RightsCitation: DCFS Pol. Man. § 6-1230 In policy: It is the policy of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to provide for the needs of expectant parents in foster care and their baby, both prior to and after … Read More
Engaging Philanthropic Partners to Achieve Timely Permanency for Children and Youth Waiting to Be Adopted
Introduction Philanthropic organizations often are strongly connected to, and invested in, the communities where they provide funding. As such, these organizations can be important partners when seeking to improve outcomes for specific populations. Foundations and other philanthropic entities often have … Read More
Trauma-Informed Approach: Best Practices for Children’s Attorneys
LSBA Children’s Law Committee This guide provides Louisiana children’s attorneys, including those working in child welfare, delinquency, and mental health, with information on best practices and resources needed to develop a trauma-informed approach and effectively serve their clients. It is … Read More
Promoting Reunification as a Foster Parent
As a foster parent, your role goes beyond supporting the children in your care—it extends to supporting their families as a whole. Collaborative partnerships between foster caregivers and a child’s family can help promote timely reunification, improve family engagement, build … Read More
Staff and Provider Training: CFSR Systemic Factor Data Planning Worksheet
Introduction and Overview As part of the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), states assess the extent to which seven systemic factorsfunction effectively to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families receiving childwelfare services. These seven systemic … Read More
Simulation Training in Child Welfare
Overview Simulation training in child welfare refers to structured, experiential learning environments designed to replicate realistic casework situations in a safe, controlled setting. These simulations may take place in physical spaces, such as mock homes or classrooms, or in immersive … Read More
Identifying Suicide Risk in Foster Care: Screening Practices and Policy Implications Tracy W. Halasz; Alexandra Armstrong; Jeremy Jordan; Brigit VanGraafeiland
With suicide being the second leading cause of death in adolescents, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) in 2021 declared a mental health emergency for adolescents … Read More