Early learning systems simply cannot function without the early care and education (ECE) workforce, which includes teachers, assistants, and home-based family child care providers. However, persistent challenges—such as high turnover, lower compensation compared to K-12 workers, and lack of access to professional development … Read More
Safety Permanency & Well-being
Engaging Black 2SLGBTQIA+Youth in Advocacy
Introduction Welcome to the Engaging Black 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Implementation Guide. Created between 2020-2023 by the QIC-2SLGBTQIA+ community, this guide is a resource for professionals who are new to, or struggling with, engaging Black 2SLGBTQIA+ youth in their work. There are … Read More
Child Maltreatment
Overview All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Territories have child abuse and neglect reporting laws that mandate certain professionals and institutions refer suspected maltreatment to a child protective services (CPS) agency. Each state has its own … Read More
Child-Specific Recruitment For Older Youth
Finding permanent homes for older youth in foster care can be challenging. These youth can face barriers to adoption, such as perceived behavioral issues or worries about attachment, and often transition to adulthood without permanent connections. This leaves them without the … Read More
Supporting America’s Children and Families Act
On January 4th, the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act was signed into law, reauthorizing and updating Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, a critical child welfare law that supports kinship families outside of child welfare as well. It includes … Read More
The Relationship Between Resilience and Child Health Behaviors In A National Dataset
Health behaviors are responsible for a substantial burden of poor health outcomes across the lifespan, including mental health disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. In children, unhealthy patterns of diet and physical activity are associated with higher rates of obesity, diabetes, … Read More
Advancing Health Care in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities
Addressing Health Equity for Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities The term “rural, Tribal, and geographically isolated” (RTGI) encompasses a diverse range of communities, including non-micropolitan areas, frontier regions, Tribal lands, islands, and US territories. These areas often face unique … Read More
Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Critical Appraisal
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common and can impact health across the life course. Thus, it is essential for professionals in child- and family-serving roles, including pediatric and adult primary care clinicians, to understand the health implications of childhood adversity … Read More
The State of the Social Service Workforce 2024 Report: The Social Service Workforce and Family Care for Children
In 2015, the Better Care Network (BCN) and the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Alliance’) collaborated on a working paper entitled, The Role of Social Service Workforce Development in Care Reform, which looked at the … Read More
Why the Holidays Can Be Hard and How to Make Them Better by Jamerika Haynes-Lewis
When I was in foster care, I received an annual letter from a local charity. It asked which gifts I wanted for Christmas. I always asked for barbies, clothes, and a diary. When asked what I wished for the most, … Read More