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April 2013Vol. 14, No. 3Children's Bureau Centennial Wrap-Up

A message from Joe Bock, Acting Associate Commissioner, Children’s Bureau

The Children's Bureau is the oldest government agency in the world that actively serves children, youth, and families. Our centennial celebration has included a yearlong series of activities to reflect on our accomplishments, challenges, and visions for the future. The centennial has also provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate and expand our commitment to achieving the safety, permanency, and well-being of the nation's children and families. Our goals for the centennial year were to:

  • Share CB's history and increase visibility: Share our unique and important history with the public, while enhancing the Bureau's leadership position by increasing our visibility among key stakeholders and constituents—particularly across Federal and State systems and with Tribes, national organizations, and the public.
  • Collaborate in creating a common focus—Stakeholder engagement: Strengthen the Bureau's role in moving the child welfare field forward by collaborating more extensively with stakeholders to create a common focus.
  • Celebrate 100 years of achievement and progress: Acknowledge and applaud the important work being done across child welfare and in related fields.

To achieve these goals, and more, we produced several materials and organized a variety of events:

  • The Children's Bureau e-brochure was published in English and Spanish and provides readers with an overview of our history of collaboration, assistance programs to States and Tribes, public awareness campaigns, and leadership development initiatives.
  • The centennial webinar series included thought-provoking discussions on the Bureau's historical evolution and explored critical topics that shape the current child welfare field.
  • The centennial website is dedicated to all things centennial. Visitors can find the e-brochure, historical photos, webinar recordings, and much more.
  • A short video, The Children’s Bureau, 1912–2012: A Passionate Commitment. A Legacy of Leadership, about our 100 years of work protecting children and strengthening families was released in April 2012. The video is available in English and Spanish.
  • The centennial workgroup initiative, Voices to Vision, engaged experts and practitioners in child welfare on issues that are important to the field.
  • A commemorative e-book, The Children’s Bureau Legacy: Ensuring the Right to Childhood, will be available for order through the Government Printing Office later this year.
  • The second Children's Bureau Centennial Series, CB Decade-by-Decade, examined highlights from each decade of the Children's Bureau's first 100 years. The first Centennial Series addressed some of the social issues, practices, and policies that laid the groundwork for the creation of the Children's Bureau.

While we have had much to celebrate this past year, there is still much work to be done. As we look toward the future of child welfare, we will continue to meet our noble mission of supporting those in the field who serve America's children and families.