Best Child Welfare Information Gateway Podcasts (2024)

1
In-Home Restorative Justice 47:36

1+ y ago47:36

47:36

Restorative justice is an approach that focuses on collaboration between the offender and the community. It requires the offender to accept responsibility for their decisions and the impact of their offenses on the victim and the community. For juvenile offenders who are involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, restorative p…

1
What Does an Effective Support System Look Like? 57:07

1+ y ago57:07

57:07

Youth can face many challenges as they transition to living independently as adults. For youth in foster care, overcoming obstacles may require additional support and skills to be self-reliant. Caseworkers and child welfare professionals assist youth with securing employment, secondary education, housing, financial literacy, and other needs. Howeve…

1
Authentically and Respectfully Engaging Lived Experience in Storytelling 43:56

2y ago43:56

43:56

Lived experience means the representation and understanding of an individual’s human experiences, choices, and options and how those factors influence one’s perception of knowledge from one’s own life. Those with lived experience in child welfare have a unique, firsthand perspective on issues that can inform partnerships, policies, and solutions th…

1
Creating the Space for People With Lived Experience to Thrive 46:21

2y ago46:21

46:21

Lived experience is a representation and understanding of an individual’s human experiences, choices, and options and how those factors influence one’s perception of knowledge” from one’s own life. Those with lived experience in child welfare have a unique, firsthand perspective on issues that can inform partnerships, policies, and solutions that b…

1
Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 5 (New Mexico) 51:42

2y ago51:42

51:42

Kinship caregivers and families may be faced with needs, questions, and constraints that are different than those of resource foster care families. Child welfare agencies continue to address these unique needs through kinship navigator programs that help caregivers manage the foster care licensing process; connect families to available supports and…

1
Advances In Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 4 (Clark County NV) 48:44

2y ago48:44

48:44

Kinship caregivers and families may be faced with needs, questions, and constraints that are different than those of resource foster care families. Child welfare agencies continue to address these unique needs through kinship navigator programs that help caregivers manage the foster care licensing process; connect families to available supports and…

1
Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 3 (Port Gamble S'Klallam) 43:02

2y ago43:02

43:02

As jurisdictions place a higher emphasis on placing children and youth in relative or familiar settings, some are expanding and advancing the support provided to kinship caregivers. The podcast series, Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers, comprises episodes featuring the advances created and implemented by child welfare agencies and their par…

1
Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 2 (Washington) 48:36

2+ y ago48:36

48:36

This episode focuses on Washington State’s approach to providing kinship support services. The conversation describes how the State’s kinship support is operated by the State’s Aging and Long-Term Support Administration and provides some of its services through a one-time stipend to help new kinship families meet basic needs. This episode also spen…

1
Advances in Supporting Kinship Caregivers - Part 1 (Rhode Island) 40:38

2+ y ago40:38

40:38

This episode features a group of kinship-centered services and programs from Rhode Island. The State’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families created a separate team dedicated to family search and engagement that identifies and attempts to create relationships with family members or those with connections to children and youth. The department …

1
Building Parenting Skills to Address Trauma, Grief, and Mental Health 52:44

2+ y ago52:44

52:44

Becoming and thriving as a foster or adoptive parent can present many challenges. Child welfare agencies dedicate time and resources to train prospective foster and adoptive parents to manage the challenges and develop parenting skills to support children and youth within the child welfare system. These children and youth may have experienced traum…

1
Away From Home - Sharing the Impacts of Institutional Care 52:13

2+ y ago52:13

52:13

This episode focuses on Away From Home, a report developed by Think Of Us to understand the perspectives, attitudes, and experiences of young people with recent histories in institutional placements, and to understand their beliefs around reforming or ending institutional placements.The conversation in this episode dives into the findings and recom…

1
Threading Equity Throughout Child Welfare 1:01:51

2+ y ago1:01:51

1:01:51

This episode features a conversation with Aysha E. Schomburg, J.D., associate commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly one year after her appointment by the Biden administration, Commissioner Schomburg released a vision for the Children's Bureau, with its highest…

1
Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons into Practice Part 3 39:40

2+ y ago39:40

39:40

"Engaging Fathers – Putting Lessons Into Practice" is a three-part series to share strategies implemented from three of the five State or county agencies: Los Angeles County, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and Prowers County, Colorado. Part three focuses on the strategies developed within Prowers County.The Fathers and Continuous Learning in Ch…

1
Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons into Practice - Part 2 1:01:23

3y ago1:01:23

1:01:23

“Engaging Fathers – Putting Lessons Into Practice” is a three-part series to share strategies implemented from three of the five State or county agencies: Los Angeles County, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and Prowers County, Colorado. Part one focuses on the strategies developed within Hartford, Connecticut. The following individuals are featu…

1
Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons Into Practice Part 1 50:21

3y ago50:21

50:21

“Engaging Fathers – Putting Lessons Into Practice” is a three-part series to share strategies implemented from three of the five State or county agencies: Los Angeles County, California; Hartford, Connecticut; and Prowers County, Colorado. Part one focuses on the strategies developed within Hartford, Connecticut.Topics discussed include the followi…

1
Preventing Placement Disruptions 57:37

3y ago57:37

57:37

This episode features a conversation surrounding the California Family Urgent Response System (FURS)-a coordinated statewide, regional, and county-level system designed to provide collaborative and timely phone-based State-level response and a county-level in-home, in-person mobile response during situations of instability—to preserve the relations…

1
Engaging Indigenous Families 51:52

3y ago51:52

51:52

This episode shares insight from the National Native Children's Trauma Center for those caseworkers and agencies that are working or will work with indigenous communities to support children and families. Recognizing how Tribal communities approach child-rearing, community and family structures, justice, and law enforcement—and how those approaches…

1
Reimagining Child Welfare - Oregon's Vision for Transformation 54:46

3y ago54:46

54:46

Changing or shifting how child welfare systems operate has been a topic of discussion, research, and even legislation. The goals of these efforts are to reduce the trauma experienced by children and families involved with child welfare, apply a greater prevention lens to casework practice, and eliminate the inequities and disproportionality child w…

1
Aging Out - Healing, Preparing, and Supporting Youth in Foster Care Part 2 37:16

3y ago37:16

37:16

Aged Out: How We’re Failing Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care: Insights and Recommendations, a report developed by Think Of Us, aims to reframe the approach to transitioning youth to adulthood and independent living. The report details three themes regarding areas where the child welfare system is failing foster youth and that should be given …

1
Aging Out - Healing, Preparing, and Supporting Youth in Foster Care Part 1 37:01

3+ y ago37:01

37:01

Thousands of youth graduate from high school or reach the age of maturity while still in the foster care system. Many of these youth “age out” of the system with little or no connection to family or supportive adults and face the potential of poor life prospects. Foster care alumni face high rates of homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and l…

1
Foster Care Alumni - Making Lived Experience Matter Part 2 43:22

3+ y ago43:22

43:22

This episode is the second of a two-part series. “Foster Care Alumni – Making Lived Experience Matter, Part 2,” focuses on the healing journey alumni take and the importance of community and family support, along with guidance for future or current advocates and recommendations for improving the foster care system. “Foster Care Alumni – Making Live…

1
Reunification 1:03:44

3+ y ago1:03:44

1:03:44

This episode focuses on the current reality of reunification across our public child welfare system. Listeners will hear a conversation among child welfare professionals, members of the American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law, the Children’s Bureau, and an alumnus of foster care.Topics discussed include the following:• What th…

1
Foster Care Alumni - Making Lived Experience Matter Part 1 35:19

3+ y ago35:19

35:19

Developing or reviewing policies or programs through the lens of lived experience can help improve child welfare practice by recognizing trauma, providing more family-centered services, or increasing the likelihood of successful transition to adulthood. Successfully engaging foster care alumni requires more than asking youth to share their personal…

1
Thriving Families, Safer Children - A National Commitment to Well-Being Part 2 43:01

3+ y ago43:01

43:01

The drive to reshape child welfare in the United States into a system with a greater focus on prevention and equity can not—and must not—involve the child welfare system alone. Stronger community partnerships and leadership at all levels are crucial to promoting family and community well-being. The Children’s Bureau, Casey Family Programs, the Anni…

1
Thriving Families, Safer Children - A National Commitment to Well-Being Part 1 43:41

3+ y ago43:41

43:41

The drive to reshape child welfare in the United States into a system with greater focus on prevention and equity cannot—and must not—involve the child welfare system alone. Stronger community partnerships and leadership at all levels are crucial to promoting family and community well-being. The Children’s Bureau, Casey Family Programs, the Annie E…

1
What Did Child Welfare Learn From 2020 - Child Welfare as Public Health 45:36

3+ y ago45:36

45:36

This episode continues a series looking into the lessons the child welfare field learned during 2020. The coronavirus pandemic forced agencies to approach their work and interactions with children and families differently. Agencies adopted precautions to maintain the safety of their staff and clients and began to build information-sharing and teami…

1
What Did Child Welfare Learn from 2020 - upENDing Systemic Racism 44:05

4y ago44:05

44:05

During 2020, the racial disparities and inequities rampant across the Unites States were magnified. The year also amplified the call to review many of the nation's social systems, including those involved with health care, criminal justice, economics, and education. The child welfare system as it stands is also in need of serious introspection. "Wh…

1
What Did Child Welfare Learn from 2020 - Caseworker Care 42:19

4y ago42:19

42:19

This episode is part of a series that examines what the child welfare field learned during 2020 and identifies potential changes or shifts in how the field operates. Listeners will hear from Andrew Winters, a member of the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD), about interventions to build resiliency among caseworkers and su…

1
Connecting Cross Border Families 49:44

4y ago49:44

49:44

Approximately 1 in 4 children in the United States has a foreign-born parent. When child welfare cases involve international borders, caseworkers may find additional challenges in ensuring children have safe and permanent homes and family connections. These challenges include finding resources to identify family connections, understanding how child…

1
Prevention Training for Home Visitors 47:26

4y ago47:26

47:26

Child welfare agencies continue to seek effective, affordable, and time-saving professional development for caseworkers. This episode features the Institute for the Advancement of Family Support Professionals, a collaboration between State agencies, universities, and home visiting organizations that offers 66 e-learning modules supporting the Natio…

1
National Adoption Month 2020 - Engage Youth, Listen and Learn 52:26

4y ago52:26

52:26

In support of National Adoption Month 2020 and its "Engage Youth, Listen and Learn" theme, this episode shares two examples of jurisdictions increasing youth involvement with their own permanency plans.Listen to these examples of Ohio and Washington's Adoption Call to Action efforts to increase youth engagement and have more success with their ACTA…

1
Supporting Parenting and Expectant Teens in Foster Care 41:46

4+ y ago41:46

41:46

In the crush of child welfare, State and local agencies may struggle with providing appropriate and holistic services to older youth in care who are parents or expecting the arrival of a newborn. The challenges can range from accounting for the number of parenting and expecting teens to applying—and funding—services that support their needs as yout…

1
Creating a Family First Prevention Plan - Utah 40:59

4+ y ago40:59

40:59

This episode provides the historical background, strategies, and decision-making the Utah Department of Human Services applied in developing their Title IV-E prevention plan. The information shared may be helpful for jurisdictions developing prevention plans to implement FFPSA, which expands prevention services to help stabilize and strengthen fami…

1
Creating A Family First Prevention Plan - Washington DC 38:44

4+ y ago38:44

38:44

Washington D.C. was the first jurisdiction to submit a Family First Prevention plan to the Children's Bureau. This episode provides the historical background, strategies, and guidance CFSA applied in developing their prevention plan. The information shared may be helpful for jurisdictions developing prevention plans to implement the Federal Family …

1
Family First - Title IV-E Prevention Plan Implementation Updates - Part 1 43:24

4+ y ago43:24

43:24

The Children’s Bureau hosted a webinar to share the lessons and experiences of two jurisdictions whose Title IV-E Prevention Plans received approval from CB. In “Family First – Title IV-E Prevention Plan Implementation Updates – Part 1,” leaders from two jurisdictions—Washington, DC, and Utah—speak about their different approaches to implementing F…

1
Family First - Title IV-E Prevention Plan Implementation Updates - Part 2 35:46

4+ y ago35:46

35:46

This episode shares the second half of the webinar where CB shared tips to aid prevention plan developers as they shape their plans to align with Family First. Child welfare leaders from Washington, DC and Utah also answer questions submitted during the webinar by participants.The Children's Bureau provides tips that address prevention planning top…

1
A Guide To Implementing Family First 38:33

4+ y ago38:33

38:33

To help agencies implement Family First, The Children’s Defense Fund released Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act, a guide developed by a coalition of organizations to offer clear information about the provisions of the law and the congressional intent behind it.This episode shares insight on how states and jurisdictions should us…

1
Changing the Face of Foster Care 37:39

4+ y ago37:39

37:39

How can child welfare agencies, Federal partners, judicial and legal entities, and community organizations shift both the perception and application of foster care to one that supports families? Dr. Jerry Milner, Associate Commissioner of the Children's Bureau, explains his support for systemic change across child welfare systems: where foster care…

1
Prevention - Evaluating Prevention Programs 35:49

5y ago35:49

35:49

This episode explores a series of evaluation and assessment tools to review and monitor one prevention-focused program across an entire State. Listen to representatives from Kentucky's Community Collaborations for Children. Grantees detail how they ensure prevention is considered when funding grants, developing policy and delivering services tailor…

1
Prevention - Evaluating Statewide Prevention 27:13

5y ago27:13

27:13

What can States do to create a shared vision around prevention among all their regions and agencies, and how are all those diverse needs and efforts compared and measured across the State? Listen to representatives from California describe creating a single approach to evaluating the diverse prevention efforts across its 58 counties,…

1
Prevention - Collaborating Across an Entire State 48:23

5y ago48:23

48:23

This episode is part of a series focusing on Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP)grantees. These grantees are in a unique position of leadership as they assume responsibility for directing, leading, and evaluating the network of public-private partnerships and the continuum of preventive services for children and families in their states.…

1
Prevention - Implementing Evidence Based Programs 39:18

5y ago39:18

39:18

This episode is part of a series focusing on Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grantees. Listen as grantees share from a local community and a statewide perspective how EBPs were selected and tailored to meet the needs of the grantees’ specific constituency groups.By A service of the Children's Bureau, ACF/HHS

1
Virtual Reality - The Next Step in Caseworker Training 46:30

5y ago46:30

46:30

This episode discusses a virtual reality-based home visiting training currently being used by the university's B.S.W. students — Virtual Home Simulation (VHS) — which was developed by the University of Utah College of Social Work in partnership with the university's games and applications lab. While other online trainings exist, the developers of t…

1
Increasing the Impact of Community Organizations 43:58

5y ago43:58

43:58

This episode is intended for those working with or for organizations looking to make a difference. It shares the insights and experiences of Families Forward Virginia, a nonprofit, prevention-focused organization. Since 2017, Families Forward Virginia and its network of local affiliates have provided statewide leadership and support for a multitude…

1
Birth-Foster Mentoring Teams 39:12

5y ago39:12

39:12

'Birth-Foster Parent Mentoring Teams,' features a conversation with both birth and foster parent mentors and leaders, along with the 2018 California Social Worker of the Year. Together, the group describes the work toward changing the culture around foster care to support reunification by creating relationships and partnerships between birth and fo…

1
Five Steps To A Stronger Child Welfare Workforce 44:51

5+ y ago44:51

44:51

'Five Steps to a Stronger Child Welfare Workforce' explores the key components and requirements of a five-step process developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The process rose out of a 3-year effort to improve child protective services staff that was tested and evaluated through partnerships with Ohio’s Cuyahoga County Division of Children and …

1
Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Being Family Centered 35:52

5+ y ago35:52

35:52

This episode is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. Listeners will hear examples of Tribal courts partnering with families and enabling families to shape how they use Tribal child welfare and support services for rehabilitation and reunification. “Being Family Centered” shares stories from Tribal court …

1
Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Overcoming Challenges to Working with States 28:53

5+ y ago28:53

28:53

This episode, 'Overcoming Challenges to Working With States', is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode shares examples of Tribal court and Tribal child welfare agencies navigating legal and jurisdictional challenges from the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, told by Trib…

1
Tribal Courts and Child Welfare: Building Relationships with State Counterparts 28:35

5+ y ago28:35

28:35

This episode, 'Building Relationships With State Counterparts', is part of a series featuring the work of Tribal Court Improvement Program grantees. The episode features successful examples from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Saint Regis MohawkTribes, told by Tribal social service and court leadership.Some of the topics discussed include the followi…

1
Foster Care - A Path to Reunification - Part 2 - San Diego 46:41

5+ y ago46:41

46:41

'Foster Care: A Path to Reunification – Part 2' explores all the partnerships, training, and coordination within San Diego County’s Children’s Services.Listeners will learn about trauma-informed assessment tools, the collaboration with a county-based community college to support training, as well as listen to birth families and older youth as they …

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