Written by Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg I was happy to hear that the spotlight theme for this issue is “Creating a More Equitable Child Welfare System.” However, when I think critically about

Sweet Dream, A Message From Aysha E. Schomburg

Written by Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg
I was happy to hear that the spotlight theme for this issue is “Creating a More Equitable Child Welfare System.” However, when I think critically about that theme, I would probably remove the word “more.” Let’s just create an equitable system. On another level, we could exchange the term “child welfare” for “family support” and just create an equitable family support system. It may feel like I’m going down a rabbit hole, but what if we replaced the word “system” with the word “society&#34;? Let’s just create an equitable family support society. That would mean we should decide to be a society that literally puts the needs of its families first. We would each have a responsibility to ensure that families in our communities are supported. Corporations and entities with financial capital would graciously accept the responsibility to help provide families with concrete supports. Every person, entity, or agency would be required to ask, before taking any sort of action, “What does this family need?”
Is that utopian? Am I dreaming?
About 2 years ago, in my message titled <a href="https://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/article/2021/september/equity-is-a-right/963844031b92c150517620efe54bcba3" rel="nofollow">&#34;Equity Is a Right,&#34;</a> I wrote about dreams—the American dream, my ancestors’ dreams, and, frankly, the deferred dream of an equitable society. Dreams are an important tool, especially with regard to achieving equity, because I’m afraid we’ll lose sight of it if we don’t dream about it. Frederick Douglass once said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” I think that’s true; I also think that if there are no dreams, there is no progress.
I want to dream, but I can’t be asleep at the wheel. So, I have to dream in a conscious state. I have to dream while awake. We all need to be awake. We have to dream with our eyes wide open about an equitable family support society. You might ask “Who’s we?” If so, I’d point you to the Kwanzaa principle of ujima—“collective work and responsibility” and “to build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.” This is the answer: we are we.
I am proud to say that we—the Federal Government—have worked tirelessly and steadfastly to realize the dream of an equitable family support society. We aren’t where we were 2 years ago. We are supporting families in new and lifechanging ways by promulgating new regulations and policies regarding child support for children impacted by foster care, supporting kin caregivers, legal representation, reimagining Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Child Care and Development Fund, and even access to diapers. We are thinking about disaster equity and equitable recovery. We are changing the way we think about federal funding opportunities, and we are letting communities design and decide how to allocate federal funds.
It is true that we are riding uphill (a steep one!), but we are still on the bike, headed to the summit where the dream of an equitable family support society is very real.

October 2023

A scoping literature review from Prevent Child Abuse America aims to understand how primary prevention family support programs—particularly evidence-based home visiting programs and family resource centers—actively

Family Support Programs: Promoting Race Equity and Preventing Child Maltreatment

A scoping literature review from Prevent Child Abuse America aims to understand how primary prevention family support programs—particularly evidence-based home visiting programs and family resource centers—actively promote racial equity efforts within their communities. The report <a href="https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/pca-america-race-equity-literature-review/" rel="nofollow">Understanding How Family Support Programs Promote Race Equity and Prevent Child Maltreatment: A Scoping Literature Review</a> details the results of the review. The report authors found that the available research shows how family support services promote equitable outcomes, support service access and engagement, and identify factors that increase service engagement. The authors suggest that this knowledge will help in building racial equity-focused primary prevention infrastructure in communities.
The research found, for example, that when home visiting programs broadly incorporated features like coping skills, empowerment, and targeting institutional disparities in health care, they showed promise in reducing racial disparities. When looking at infusing equity into home visiting programs, the research suggests considering community dynamics and complexities—including any multilevel structural barriers to engagement—or considering providing additional resources. Research also suggested that understanding the cultural variations in beliefs and home visitors sharing demographic characteristics with the families both aid in increasing engagement.
Following an evaluation of the literature review&#39;s methodology and results, the report includes recommendations to aid in advancing racial equity within family support programs focused on primary prevention:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Continuing research</li><li>Enhancing equitable community engagement</li><li>Continuing promotion of systems-level primary prevention</li><li>Enhancing initiatives to increase a diverse family support program workforce</li><li>Building a compendium of evidence-based best practices to further understand how family support programs use an equity lens in service delivery and advance equity in access to services and the workforce</li></ul>
Read the full report, <a href="https://preventchildabuse.org/resources/pca-america-race-equity-literature-review/" rel="nofollow">Understanding How Family Support Programs Promote Race Equity and Prevent Child Maltreatment: A Scoping Literature Review</a>, to learn more about the literature review&#39;s results and recommendations.

A webinar, "Racial Equity in Targeted Recruitment and Support: Strategies for Reaching and Engaging Families of Color," from AdoptUSKids explores the question, "How does our pool of families relate to

Webinar Provides Strategies for Reaching and Engaging Families of Color

A webinar, <a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/racial-equity-in-targeted-recruitment-and-support-strategies-for-reaching-and-engaging-families-of-color/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Racial Equity in Targeted Recruitment and Support: Strategies for Reaching and Engaging Families of Color,&#34;</a> from AdoptUSKids explores the question, &#34;How does our pool of families relate to racial equity?&#34; It suggests that part of addressing racial equity is recruiting and supporting families that reflect the diversity of children waiting to be adopted and using data to identify disproportionality and disparity. Part of recruiting to address this need is using unique, culturally responsive strategies and authentically engaging communities of color to build relationship equity.
Tips for recruitment include the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Include diverse members of the community in recruitment efforts</li><li>Assess your agency&#39;s cultural competence</li><li>Take time to build relationships in communities of color</li><li>Emphasize and tailor efforts for the intended audience</li><li>Enlist support from diverse churches</li><li>Reach out to the types of people your agency has successfully recruited before</li></ul>
The webinar also provides a closer look at what directed recruitment practices look like, as well as an introduction to data and survey collection. Data and survey collection—and being able to use data effectively—are key tools in recruiting for racial equity.
Additional strategies for recruiting, supporting, developing, and training families are also discussed. Watch the <a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/racial-equity-in-targeted-recruitment-and-support-strategies-for-reaching-and-engaging-families-of-color/" rel="nofollow">90-minute webinar</a> to hear the conversation and access additional resources.

The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) released the brief Key Considerations for Applying an Equity Lens to Collaborative Practice. The brief is a response to the Administration

Applying an Equity Lens to Collaborative Practice

The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) released the brief <a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/files/equity-lens-brief.pdf" rel="nofollow">Key Considerations for Applying an Equity Lens to Collaborative Practice</a>. The brief is a response to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) information memorandum <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/policy-guidance/equity-action-prioritizing-and-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-underserved" rel="nofollow">Equity in Action: Prioritizing and Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities</a>, which makes clear ACF&#39;s commitment to elevating the importance of equity at all levels and lists actionable steps programs can follow to prioritize equity.
The brief focuses on the memorandum&#39;s first recommendation, which calls on human services providers to review existing policies to assess how they affect disproportionality and disparities and revise those policies to create systems-level change. The brief provides key considerations for systems-level policy efforts and practice strategies and innovations. 
This brief is also a companion piece that builds on the Center for Children and Family Futures (CCFF) resource <a href="https://www.cffutures.org/ta-tool/cffcomprehensiveframework-pdf/" rel="nofollow">Comprehensive Framework to Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders and Child Welfare Involvement</a>. This framework is a set of strategies for communities to improve equitable outcomes, and the resource provides an introduction to five systems-level policy efforts and practice strategies.
The NCSACW brief includes several questions to consider alongside the key considerations from the CCFF framework, which teams can use when evaluating their policies and practices through a lens of equity. These questions can help guide conversations that are centered on equitable access and reducing disproportionality and disparity. Resources to help support each consideration are also included.
Read the <a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/files/equity-lens-brief.pdf" rel="nofollow">full NCSACW brief</a> and access the additional resources.

A recent brief from the Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare (FCL) project explains how participants in a Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) used a guiding framework to strengthen the

A Change Framework for Engaging Fathers and Paternal Relatives and Promoting Racial Justice

A recent brief from the Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare (FCL) project explains how participants in a Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) used a guiding framework to strengthen the engagement of fathers and paternal relatives with children involved in the child welfare system.
A BSC is a continuous learning methodology used to test and spread the implementation of promising practices to help organizations improve in specific areas. In the brief, <a href="https://www.mathematica.org/publications/using-a-change-framework-to-design-systems-that-effectively-engage-fathers-and-paternal-relatives" rel="nofollow">Using a Change Framework to Design Systems That Effectively Engage Fathers and Paternal Relatives and Promote Racial Justice</a>, the authors begin by describing the key components of BSCs, such as the Collaborative Change Framework. For the FCL project, this framework included multiple domains that together represented a child welfare agency with successful and sustained father and paternal relative engagement.
The brief also details the connection the BSC improvement teams came to realize existed between their efforts to engage fathers and paternal relatives in the child welfare system and their work to promote racial justice for men of color in the child welfare system. This connection led to the creation of a racial justice workgroup, which helped the BSC incorporate antiracist practices into child welfare and increase father engagement. The brief links to video examples from BSC improvement teams that include discussions about the engagement strategies that were tested within each domain of the framework.  
The FCL project was conducted by Mathematica and the University of Denver with funding from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation in partnership with the Children’s Bureau. To learn more about the BSC, access the brief and other FCL resources on the Mathematica <a href="https://www.mathematica.org/projects/fathers-and-continuous-learning-in-child-welfare" rel="nofollow">website</a>.

Written by the Children's Bureau Division of State Systems staff Purchasing or building software solutions to support child welfare practice can be a daunting task. These complex systems can be expensive

Implementing Child Welfare IT Systems Using "Low Code" Solutions

Written by the Children&#39;s Bureau Division of State Systems staff
Purchasing or building software solutions to support child welfare practice can be a daunting task. These complex systems can be expensive and must meet the needs of a diverse group of users throughout the title IV-E agency. Many software companies offer a type of software called “low code” or “no code” with the purported benefits of reduced costs and quicker implementation. The Children&#39;s Bureau’s Division of State Systems recently published a <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/ccwis-technical-bulletin-10" rel="nofollow">technical bulletin</a> that provides title IV-E agencies that develop child welfare information systems with details about low code solutions and outlines what title IV-E agency leaders and decision-makers should understand about these solutions. Ideally, both program and technical staff will review and use the information as it is critical to assist the agency in making informed decisions. An agency may use this technical bulletin at any point, but it is most beneficial during planning when assessing needs, technical options, and selection criteria.

The Children's Bureau website hosts information on child welfare programs, funding, monitoring, training and technical assistance, laws, statistics, research, federal reporting, and much more. Recent additions

The Children&#39;s Bureau website hosts information on child welfare programs, funding, monitoring, training and technical assistance, laws, statistics, research, federal reporting, and much more. 
Recent additions or updates to the site include the following: 
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/statewide-approach-improving-father-engagement-child-welfare-lessons-connecticut" rel="nofollow">A Statewide Approach to Improving Father Engagement in Child Welfare: Lessons From the Connecticut Department of Children and Families</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/training-technical-assistance/acf-and-dol-webinar-child-labor-exploitation" rel="nofollow">ACF and DOL Webinar on Child Labor Exploitation</a> [Webinar recording]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/national-reported-summary-2015-2022" rel="nofollow">Annual Adoption Savings Calculation and Accounting Report</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/cfsr4-pip-development-guidance" rel="nofollow">CFSR Round 4 Program Improvement Plan Development Guidance</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/ccwis-technical-bulletin-10" rel="nofollow">Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) Technical Bulletin #10: Low Code Solutions</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/law-regulation/compilation-related-sections-security-act" rel="nofollow">Compilation of Titles IV-B, IV-E and Related Sections of the Social Security Act</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/home-visiting-evidence-effectiveness-review" rel="nofollow">Early Childhood Home Visiting Models: Reviewing Evidence of Effectiveness</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/father-engagement-child-welfare-lessons-fatherhood-programs?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;govdelivery" rel="nofollow">Father Engagement in Child Welfare: Lessons for Fatherhood Programs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/adoption-savings-data-2022" rel="nofollow">Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 Adoption Savings Data</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/funding-support-lgbtq-families" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Federal Funding to Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit, Plus (LGBTQIA2S&#43;) Children, Youth, Young Adults, and Families</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ana/report/fy-2020-outcome-evaluations-ana-projects-report-congress" rel="nofollow">FY 2020 Outcome Evaluations of ANA Projects Report to Congress</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/report/integrating-harm-reduction-strategies-services-and-supports-young-adults-experiencing" rel="nofollow">Integrating Harm Reduction Strategies Into Services and Supports for Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/strategies-promoting-racial-equity-fatherhood-programs" rel="nofollow">Strategies for Promoting Racial Equity in Fatherhood Programs</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/strengthening-two-generation-initiatives-support-child-development-and-improve-family" rel="nofollow">Strengthening Two-Generation Initiatives That Support Child Development and Improve Family Economic Security: Insights From the Next Steps for Rigorous Research on Two-Generation Approaches Project</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/two-generation-mutual-reinforcement-measurement-tool" rel="nofollow">The Two-Generation Mutual Reinforcement Measurement Tool: Development and Pilot Study Findings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/programs-expenditure-caseload-data-2022" rel="nofollow">Title IV-E Programs Expenditure and Caseload Data 2022</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/report/tribal-consultation-report-nprm-improving-childcare-ccdf-2023" rel="nofollow">Tribal Consultation Report Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/using-rapid-cycle-learning-build-momentum-change-two-generation-service-delivery?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;govdelivery" rel="nofollow">Using Rapid Cycle Learning to Build Momentum for Change in Two-Generation Service Delivery</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/policy-guidance/national-minority-mental-health-awareness-month-2023" rel="nofollow">ACF-DCL-23-09: Advancing Mental Health Supports for Youth of Color Experiencing Homelessness and Other Youth Populations Critically in Need of Services and Supports</a> [Dear Colleague Letter]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/policy-guidance/thank-you" rel="nofollow">ACF-DCL-23-10: Thank You to Tribal Program Leadership and Grantees</a> [Dear Colleague Letter]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/policy-guidance/human-services-workforce-recruitment-and-retention-implications" rel="nofollow">ACF-DCL-23-11: Human Services Workforce Recruitment and Retention Implications</a> [Dear Colleague Letter]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/outreach-material/children-and-youth-advancements-under-assistant-secretary-contreras-leadership?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;govdelivery" rel="nofollow">Children and Youth Advancements Under Assistant Secretary Contreras’ Leadership</a> [Dear Colleague Letter]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/reminders-social-security-representative-payee-program?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;dcl081723" rel="nofollow">Reminders to State and Tribal Title IV-E Agencies About the Social Security Representative Payee Program and the Title IV-E Federal Foster Care Program</a> [Dear Colleague Letter]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/childrens-bureau-letter-about-equity-disaster-plans?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;dcl081523" rel="nofollow">Using Your Disaster Plan to Advance Equity in Disaster Response</a> [Dear Colleague Letter]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/press/2023/ana-invests-26-million-boost-vitality-native-languages" rel="nofollow">Administration for Native Americans Invests $2.6 Million to Boost Vitality of Native Languages</a> [Press release]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/press/2023/media/hhs-announces-new-digital-service-division-acf-support-biden-harris" rel="nofollow">HHS Announces New Digital Service Division at ACF to Support Biden-Harris Administration’s Commitment to Customer Experience and Service Delivery</a> [Press release]</li><li><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/13/2023-19775/submission-for-omb-review-strengthening-child-welfare-systems-to-achieve-expected-child-and-family?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;govdelivery" rel="nofollow">Submission for OMB Review: Strengthening Child Welfare Systems to Achieve Expected Child and Family Outcomes Evaluation (New Collection)</a> [Press release]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2023/08/media/acf-continues-commitment-support-youth-and-families-dealing-substance-use" rel="nofollow">“ACF Continues Commitment to Support Youth and Families Dealing With Substance Use”</a> [The Family Room blog]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2023/08/economic-mobility-horizon-child-welfare-social-workers-puerto-rico" rel="nofollow">“Economic Mobility Is on the Horizon for Child Welfare Social Workers in Puerto Rico”</a> [The Family Room blog]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2023/08/media/improving-access-acf-programs-and-services?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;govdelivery" rel="nofollow">“Improving Access to ACF Programs and Services”</a> [The Family Room blog]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/blog/2023/09/introducing-welfare-and-family-self-sufficiency-learning-agenda" rel="nofollow">&#34;Introducing the Welfare and Family Self-Sufficiency Learning Agenda&#34;</a> [The Family Room blog]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2023/08/media/proud-acfs-actions-lgbtqi-families-and-youth" rel="nofollow">“Proud of ACF’s Actions for LGBTQI&#43; Families and Youth”</a> [The Family Room blog]</li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Children&#39;s Bureau website </a>often to see what&#39;s new.

Emergencies and natural disasters disproportionately impact people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The Children's Bureau recently published a letter urging child welfare agencies to become leaders

Using Your Disaster Plan to Advance Equity in Disaster Response

Emergencies and natural disasters disproportionately impact people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. The Children&#39;s Bureau recently published <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/childrens-bureau-letter-about-equity-disaster-plans" rel="nofollow">a letter</a> urging child welfare agencies to become leaders in planning for disaster equity. This means providing easily accessible and culturally responsive community-specific services and resources for disaster survivors that are tailored to mitigate disparities and support resilience.
To help agencies do so, the Children&#39;s Bureau shares information and resources to support title IV-B and title IV-E agencies in embedding equity in their response to emergencies and natural disasters. The letter suggests several equitable practices that agencies can embed into their planning and coordination:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Community engagement and collaboration</li><li>Racial equity impact assessments</li><li>Lived experience</li><li>Culturally responsive disaster preparedness training</li><li>Language and accessibility considerations</li><li>Equitable distribution of resources</li><li>Information and data sharing</li><li>Consideration of staff needs</li></ul>
The letter, <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/childrens-bureau-letter-about-equity-disaster-plans" rel="nofollow">&#34;Using Your Disaster Plan to Advance Equity in Disaster Response,&#34;</a> provides additional information and resources related to the importance of embedding race equity into planning efforts and working collaboratively with communities and partners. It also points to the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ohsepr/about/disaster-equity-plan-statement" rel="nofollow">Disaster Equity Plan Statement</a>.

The September issue of the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) newsletter highlights the findings from eight multi-year projects conducted to address workforce challenges and

QIC-WD Announces Key Findings From Eight Child Welfare Workforce Interventions

The September issue of the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) <a href="https://mailchi.mp/qic-wd/september-2023-qic-wd-newsletter" rel="nofollow">newsletter</a> highlights the findings from eight multi-year <a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/project-overview" rel="nofollow">projects</a> conducted to address workforce challenges and improve worker performance, well-being, and retention. QIC-WD project team members worked closely with local staff from public child welfare programs in eight locations across the United States to design, implement, and study jurisdiction-specific interventions based on organizational needs. A list of project sites and their intervention focus follows:
 
 
 
 
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/onboarding-program" rel="nofollow">Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Family Safety Program - Onboarding Program</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/frontline-job-redesign" rel="nofollow">Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services - Frontline Job Redesign</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/organizational-change-process" rel="nofollow">Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services - Organizational Change Process</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/addressing-work-related-traumatic-stress" rel="nofollow">Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - Addressing Work-Related Traumatic Stress</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/supportive-supervision-and-resiliency" rel="nofollow">Ohio Department of Job and Family Services - Supportive Supervision and Resiliency</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/competency-based-personnel-selection" rel="nofollow">Oklahoma Department of Human Services - Competency-Based Personnel Selection</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/case-supportive-technology" rel="nofollow">Virginia Department of Social Services - Case-Supportive Technology</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/workforce-interventions/telework" rel="nofollow">Washington Department of Children, Youth &amp; Families - Telework</a></li></ul>
Each project page linked above includes:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Short project highlight video(s)</li><li>A hyperlinked list of site-specific resources, which include key findings, guidance documents, logic models, implementation tools, and summaries of the intervention, evaluation, implementation, and theory of change</li><li>A 2-page site profile summary, which provides an overview of each site’s workforce, its challenges retaining child welfare workers, and the intervention selected to strengthen the workforce</li><li>Project updates with links to site-specific QIC-WD blog posts</li></ul>
To learn more about the QIC-WD and each project, visit the <a href="http://www.qic-wd.org/" rel="nofollow">QIC-WD website</a>.

A new, interactive online training for serving LGBTQ+ youth and families in child welfare settings is available on the National SOGIE Center’s website. The training was developed by the SOGIE Center and

Free Online Training on Serving LGBTQ+ Youth and Families in Child Welfare

A new, interactive <a href="https://sogiecenter.org/offerings/training/" rel="nofollow">online training</a> for serving LGBTQ&#43; youth and families in child welfare settings is available on the National SOGIE Center’s website. The training was developed by the SOGIE Center and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation and covers foundational knowledge about serving LGBTQ&#43; families, creating affirming environments, best practices, and proper terminology.
The new training is modeled after the HRC’s All Children, All Families training, a promising, evidence-based training that was evaluated through the National Quality Improvement Center on LGBTQ2S Children and Youth in Foster Care grant.
The training is free when users enroll through the SOGIE Center’s <a href="https://innovations.myabsorb.com/#/online-courses/f63b69ba-1a92-4724-9dbb-9668ff71eb55" rel="nofollow">learning management system</a>.

The Children's Bureau funds several technical assistance centers to provide professionals with tools to better serve children, youth, and families. The following are some of the latest resources from these

Updates From the Children's Bureau's Training and Technical Assistance Partners

The Children&#39;s Bureau funds several technical assistance centers to provide professionals with tools to better serve children, youth, and families. The following are some of the latest resources from these partners.
Child Welfare Information Gateway
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USACFCWIG/bulletins/36acc95" rel="nofollow">August E-lert!</a></li><li><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USACFCWIG/bulletins/3703a6d?reqfrom&#61;share" rel="nofollow">September E-lert!</a></li><li><a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/expecting-parenting-youth/" rel="nofollow">Expecting and Parenting in Care: Tips for Youth</a></li><li><a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/support-expecting-parenting/" rel="nofollow">Improving Services for Expectant and Parenting Youth in Care</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/child-welfare-information-gateway/?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;linkedinlaunch061523" rel="nofollow">Information Gateway is now on LinkedIn!</a></li><li><a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/nam/" rel="nofollow">National Adoption Month 2023 Website Is Here!</a></li><li><a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/participacion-jovenes/" rel="nofollow">Priorizar la voz de los jóvenes: la importancia de la participación auténtica de los jóvenes en la planificación de casos</a> (Prioritizing Youth Voice: The Importance of Authentic Youth Engagement in Case Planning) [Spanish Bulletin for Professionals]</li><li>Spanish resources are now available in the <a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/sgm/" rel="nofollow">State Guides and Manuals Search</a></li><li><a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/transition-to-adulthood-outreach-toolkit.pdf" rel="nofollow">Transition to Adulthood &amp; Independent Living Outreach Toolkit</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/" rel="nofollow">Information Gateway website</a> for more.
 
Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>Center for Courts</li><li>Center for States</li></ul>
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li style="list-style: none;">
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/sfdp-responsiveness-to-community" rel="nofollow">Agency Responsiveness to the Community: Systemic Factor Data Planning Worksheet</a></li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/cfsr-measures-crosswalk" rel="nofollow">CFSR Measures Crosswalk</a></li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/guide-on-reflecting-on-racial-equity-and-prevention" rel="nofollow">Reflecting on Racial Equity and Prevention-Focused Systems Discussion Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/reflecting-on-racial-equity-and-ffpsa-guide" rel="nofollow">Reflecting on Racial Equity and the Family First Prevention Services Act Discussion Guide</a></li><li><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USACFCBCS-365b5b6?wgt_ref&#61;USACFCBCS_WIDGET_1" rel="nofollow">Spotlight on Collaborating to Strengthen and Enhance Tribal-State Relationships</a></li><li><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/USACFCBCS-36cb8de?wgt_ref&#61;USACFCBCS_WIDGET_1" rel="nofollow">Spotlight on Cultivating a Diverse Child Welfare Workforce</a></li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/sfdp-training" rel="nofollow">Staff and Provider Training: Systemic Factor Data Planning Worksheet</a></li></ul>
</li></ul>
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>Center for Tribes Tribal Information Exchange
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="circle"><li><a href="https://tribalinformationexchange.org/index.php/2023/09/19/incorporating-cultural-values-and-traditions-into-policy-procedure-and-practice-webinar/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Incorporating Cultural Values and Traditions into Policy, Procedure, and Practice&#34;</a> [Webinar recording] </li><li><a href="https://tribalinformationexchange.org/index.php/2023/06/29/trauma-informed-supervision-in-tribal-child-welfare-adaptive-leadership-reflective-practice-part-2-of-2/" rel="nofollow">“Part 2: Adaptive Leadership &amp; Reflective Practice”</a> (from the Trauma-Informed Supervision in Tribal Child Welfare series) [Webinar recording]</li><li><a href="https://tribalinformationexchange.org/index.php/understandingandovercomingbias/" rel="nofollow">“Understanding and Overcoming Bias”</a> [E-learning]</li></ul>
</li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/" rel="nofollow">Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative website</a> for more.
 
Children&#39;s Bureau Learning and Coordination Center (CBLCC)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/topic-areas/trauma-and-healing/redressing-the-wrongs-of-history/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Redressing the Wrongs of History&#34;</a> [Digital dialogue]</li><li><a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/topic-areas/resilience-and-well-being/building-community-capacity-to-support-perinatal-mental-health/" rel="nofollow">“Building Community Capacity to Support Perinatal Mental Health”</a> [Digital dialogue]</li><li><a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/shareable-media/social-media-resources-child-welfare-workforce-development/" rel="nofollow">Social Media Resources for Child Welfare Workforce Development</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/" rel="nofollow">CBLCC website</a> for more.
 
FRIENDS National Resource Center
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://friendsnrc.org/resources/july-2023-cbcap-peer-learning-call-communicating-to-strengthen-families-dos-and-donts-of-effective-campaign-planning-for-preventing-early-adversity/" rel="nofollow">“Communicating to Strengthen Families: Do’s and Don’ts of Effective Campaign Planning for Preventing Early Adversity”</a> [Webinar recording]</li><li><a href="https://friendsnrc.org/resources/special-populations-session-1-father-engagement/" rel="nofollow">Special Populations Discussion Series, “Session 1: Father Engagement”</a> [Webinar recording]</li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://friendsnrc.org/" rel="nofollow">FRIENDS National Resource Center website</a> for more.
 
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/topics/pregnancy/pregnant-parenting-with-sud-series/ncsacw-resources-professionals-pregnant-parenting-sud/" rel="nofollow">NCSACW Resources for Professionals Working With Pregnant and Parenting People Affected by Substance Use Disorders and Involved With Child Welfare</a></li><li><a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/topics/pregnancy/pregnant-parenting-with-sud-series/preparing-for-your-baby-tipsheet/" rel="nofollow">Preparing for Your Baby: Information for Pregnant and Parenting People With Substance Use Disorders</a></li><li><a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/topics/pregnancy/pregnant-parenting-with-sud-series/resources-professionals-pregnant-parenting-sud/" rel="nofollow">Resources for Professionals Working With Pregnant and Parenting People Affected by Substance Use Disorders</a></li><li><a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/training/videos-and-webinars/screening-for-substance-use-in-child-welfare-using-the-UNCOPE/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Screening for Substance Use in Child Welfare Using the UNCOPE&#34;</a> [Webinar recording]</li><li><a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/topics/pregnancy/pregnant-parenting-with-sud-series/healthcare-cps-pregnant-parenting-sud/" rel="nofollow">Working With Child Protective Services to Support Pregnant and Parenting People, Their Infants, and Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders: A Factsheet for Health Care Providers</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/" rel="nofollow">NCSACW website</a> for more.
 
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Celebrate-Your-Workforce-This-September.html?soid&#61;1103622714543&amp;aid&#61;9Y_SH03NTRM" rel="nofollow">August 2023 National eUpdate, “What’s Trending”</a> [Newsletter]</li><li><a href="https://ncwwi.org/workforce-development-month/" rel="nofollow">Child Welfare Workforce Development Month</a> [Webpage]</li><li><a href="https://ncwwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Measuring-Child-Welfare-Workers-Physiological-Stress.pdf" rel="nofollow">Measuring Child Welfare Workers Physiological Stress</a></li><li><a href="https://ncwwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/NCWWI-1-pager-The-Center-for-Regional-and-Tribal-Welfare-Studies-1.pdf" rel="nofollow">The Center for Regional and Tribal Child Welfare Studies: Systems Change Through a Relational Anishinaabe Worldview</a></li><li><a href="https://ncwwi.org/document/what-makes-a-good-learning-culture-ncwwi-1-page-summary/" rel="nofollow">What Makes a Good Learning Culture?</a></li><li><a href="https://ncwwi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Why-Coaching-Infographic_NCWWI.pdf" rel="nofollow">Why Coaching Is Worth Your Investment</a> [Infographic]</li><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/864037030" rel="nofollow">2023 Child Welfare Worker Recognition Event</a> [Video]</li><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/864231373" rel="nofollow">Closing: Thank You Video</a></li><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/864221603" rel="nofollow">Opening: 2023 Child Welfare Workforce Thank You Messages</a> [Video]</li><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/ncwwi" rel="nofollow">Work With Purpose (15 second video)</a></li><li><a href="https://vimeo.com/ncwwi" rel="nofollow">Work With Purpose (30 second video)</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://ncwwi.org/" rel="nofollow">NCWWI website</a> for more.
 
National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/datasets/dataset-details.cfm?ID&#61;262" rel="nofollow">Florida Study of Professionals for Safe Families (FSPSF)</a> [Dataset]</li><li><a href="https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/about/updata/ndacan-updata-vol-62-summer-2023-06-23.pdf" rel="nofollow">Summer 2023 issue of The NDACAN Updata</a> [Newsletter]</li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm" rel="nofollow">NDACAN website</a> for more.
 
Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency (QIC-EY)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://qic-ey.org/products/lessons-learned/lessons-learned-3/" rel="nofollow">QIC-EY Lessons Learned #3</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://qic-ey.org/" rel="nofollow">QIC-EY website</a> for more.
 
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 (QIC-LGBTQ2S) at the National Center for Youth With Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity &amp; Expression (SOGIE Center)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://sogiecenter.org/2023/09/15/national-recognition-for-affirm-youth/" rel="nofollow">&#34;National Recognition for AFFIRM YOUTH&#34;</a> [Blog post]</li><li><a href="https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Special-Back-to-School-Issue--.html?soid&#61;1139663498716&amp;aid&#61;nvFkMUe48RQ" rel="nofollow">August issue of the National SOGIE Center&#39;s monthly newsletter</a></li><li><a href="https://sogiecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Federal-Funding-for-Gender-Affirming-Materials-Tool.pdf" rel="nofollow">Tool for Child Welfare Staff: Federal Funding for Gender Affirming Materials for Transgender &amp; Nonbinary Youth in Foster Care</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a title="QIC-LGBTQ2S on the SOGIE Center website" href="https://sogiecenter.org/programs/" rel="nofollow">QIC-LGBTQ2S on the SOGIE Center website</a> for more.
 
Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD)
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a title="Louisiana Department of Children &amp; Family Services Feature QIC-WD Newsletter" href="http://eepurl.com/iyd64g" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Louisiana Department of Children &amp; Family Services Feature QIC-WD Newsletter</a></li><li><a title="Oklahoma Department of Human Services Feature QIC-WD Newsletter" href="http://eepurl.com/ivZ4cM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Oklahoma Department of Human Services Feature QIC-WD Newsletter</a></li><li><a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USACFCWIG/bulletins/36fb7be" rel="nofollow">QIC-WD Announces Key Findings From Eight Child Welfare Workforce Interventions</a></li><li><a title="September 2023 - QIC-WD Newsletter" href="http://eepurl.com/izbwkg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">September 2023 - QIC-WD Newsletter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/umbrella-summary/job-crafting" rel="nofollow">Umbrella Summary: Job Crafting</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/umbrella-summary/job-design" rel="nofollow">Umbrella Summary: Job Design</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/umbrella-summary/meaningful-work" rel="nofollow">Umbrella Summary: Meaningful Work</a></li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/umbrella-summary/personality-tests" rel="nofollow">Umbrella Summary: Personality Tests</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/" rel="nofollow">QIC-WD website</a> for more.
 
AdoptUSKids
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/bridges-across-borders/" rel="nofollow">“Bridges Across Borders”</a> [Article]</li><li><a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/bringing-joy-humor-and-hope-to-the-support-group-experience/" rel="nofollow">“Bringing Joy, Humor, and Hope to the Support Group Experience”</a> [Webinar recording]</li><li><a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/class-is-in-session-a-discussion-guide-to-help-families-navigate-schools/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Class Is in Session: A Discussion Guide to Help Families Navigate Schools&#34;</a> [Blog post]</li><li><a href="https://blog.adoptuskids.org/foster-and-adoptive-mom-of-15-years-teens-are-great/" rel="nofollow">“Foster and Adoptive Mom of 15 Years: ‘Teens Are Great!’”</a> [Article]</li><li><a href="https://blog.adoptuskids.org/good-grief-finding-strength-in-facing-grief-and-loss-as-an-adoptive-parent/" rel="nofollow">“Good Grief: Finding Strength in Facing Grief and Loss as an Adoptive Parent”</a> [Blog post]</li><li><a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/how-can-we-reduce-congregate-care-placements-lessons-from-south-carolina/" rel="nofollow">“How Can We Reduce Congregate Care Placements? Lessons From South Carolina”</a> [Article]</li><li><a href="https://blog.adoptuskids.org/not-your-style-think-again-trauma-responsive-parenting-really-works/" rel="nofollow">“Not Your Style? Think Again. Trauma-Responsive Parenting Really Works”</a> [Blog post]</li><li><a href="https://blog.adoptuskids.org/parents-adopt-6-siblings-from-foster-care-the-love-is-forever/" rel="nofollow">“Parents Adopt 6 Siblings From Foster Care: ‘The Love Is Forever’”</a> [Blog post]</li><li><a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/thank-you-for-being-a-child-welfare-worker/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Thank You for Being a Child Welfare Worker!&#34;</a></li><li><a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/the-importance-of-race-and-culture-in-adoption-permanency-decisions/" rel="nofollow">“The Importance of Race and Culture in Adoption Permanency Decisions”</a> [Webinar recording]</li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://adoptuskids.org/" rel="nofollow">AdoptUSKids website</a> for more.
 
James Bell Associates
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/resource/continuous-quality-improvement-change-packages/" rel="nofollow">Continuous Quality Improvement Change Packages</a></li><li><a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/resource/infant-and-early-childhood-mental-health-consultation-in-home-visiting/" rel="nofollow">Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation in Home Visiting</a></li><li><a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/resource/peer-health-exchange-profile/" rel="nofollow">Peer Health Exchange Profile</a></li><li><a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/resource/program-manuals-for-child-welfare-interventions-an-overview-of-the-development-process/" rel="nofollow">Program Manuals for Child Welfare Interventions: An Overview of the Development Process</a></li></ul>
Visit the <a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/" rel="nofollow">James Bell Associates website</a> for more.

A webinar from AdoptUSKids focuses on "Recruiting Foster and Adoptive Families of Color: Stories and Strategies From Leaders of Color in Child Welfare." The presenters discuss the racial disproportionality

Strategies for Recruiting Foster and Adoptive Families of Color

A webinar from AdoptUSKids focuses on <a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/recruiting-foster-and-adoptive-families-of-color-stories-and-strategies-from-leaders-of-color-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Recruiting Foster and Adoptive Families of Color: Stories and Strategies From Leaders of Color in Child Welfare.&#34;</a> The presenters discuss the racial disproportionality rates, the impact of institutional and structural racism, and why families of color need unique supports. They also offer recruitment strategies they have used in their own practice.
The webinar touches on the importance of having a pool of families that reflects the diversity of the children in care and using data to inform recruitment and support priorities.
Suggestions for adapting recruitment strategies to fit child welfare professionals&#39; local community, needs, and practices include the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Examining and adapting images and other meaningful elements in your foster parent recruitment materials</li><li>Reviewing your data on children in foster care and identifying trends and characteristics of children</li><li>Reviewing your licensing and approval standards and making revisions as needed to align with your community&#39;s practices, values, and context</li></ul>
Watch the free 90-minute <a href="https://professionals.adoptuskids.org/recruiting-foster-and-adoptive-families-of-color-stories-and-strategies-from-leaders-of-color-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">webinar</a> for more information on connecting diligent recruitment to supporting racial equity in child welfare and stories from child welfare leaders with lived experience.

Funding for child welfare agencies comes from a variety of funding streams and sources, many of which have different purposes and eligibility requirements. To help child welfare administrators, policymakers,

Child Trends Survey Details Agency Expenditures for State Fiscal Year 2020 

Funding for child welfare agencies comes from a variety of funding streams and sources, many of which have different purposes and eligibility requirements. To help child welfare administrators, policymakers, advocates, and researchers find information about states’ financing and funding-related challenges, Child Trends conducted the 12th edition of its national survey of child welfare agency expenditures.
A full report of survey results and findings, an executive summary, and a state-level data table of survey results are all available on Child Trend&#39;s <a href="https://www.childtrends.org/publications/child-welfare-financing-survey-sfy2020" rel="nofollow">Child Welfare Financing Survey SFY2020</a> webpage. The survey was completed in 2021 and 2022 and captures data from state fiscal year 2020 (from July 2019 to June 2020 for most states). The survey had similar questions to previous surveys, with the addition of new topics, including how states use third-party income sources to offset costs, the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act.
The following are some of the key findings from survey results:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>In state fiscal year 2020, state and local child welfare agencies spent $31.4 billion using a combination of federal, state, local, and other funds.</li><li>After accounting for inflation, expenditures have been steady over the past decade, increasing by just 1 percent.</li><li>Most child welfare agency funding comes from state and local (as opposed to federal) sources.</li><li>Almost half of child welfare agency expenditures are spent on out-of-home placements.</li><li>Child welfare agencies continue to spend a relatively small proportion of funding on prevention.</li></ul>
The Child Trends page for the survey also provides state profiles, funding by source (including title IV-E, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Medicaid), past financing surveys, and related research.

Systemic racism across various systems, including child welfare, has historically perpetuated inequities experienced by marginalized groups. A May 2023 article in the Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent

Dismantling Systemic and Structural Racism to Improve the Mental Health and Well-Being of Children and Youth

Systemic racism across various systems, including child welfare, has historically perpetuated inequities experienced by marginalized groups. A May 2023 article in the Journal of Clinical Child &amp; Adolescent Psychology explores these inequities specifically related to the mental health needs of marginalized and minoritized youth.
In the article, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15374416.2023.2202253" rel="nofollow">&#34;Dismantling Structural Racism in Child and Adolescent Psychology: A Call to Action to Transform Healthcare, Education, Child Welfare, and the Psychology Workforce to Effectively Promote BIPOC Youth Health and Development,&#34;</a> the writers contend that youth-serving mental health systems, programs, and processes need to be reimagined to focus on inclusivity, intersectionality, antiracism, and social justice. To achieve this change, the authors recommend improvement across four areas:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>The experience of mental health problems and corresponding access to quality care</li><li>The pathway from school to mental health care </li><li>The child welfare and carceral systems</li><li>The psychology workforce</li></ul>
The article is divided into two parts: “The Challenge,” a section that explores the effects of systemic and structural racism on child and youth mental health, and “Future Direction,” a call to action with steps to address structural racism in child and youth psychology. The future direction section features guidance on the ways that various audiences and providers can change to ultimately promote the health and well-being of children and youth. Guidance is provided for the following audiences:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>Professionals in health-care systems</li><li>Professionals in the education system</li><li>Professionals in the child welfare and carceral systems</li><li>Educators and training programs</li></ul>
The authors address the magnitude of change required to improve child and youth health and well-being. To start making progress toward that change, they recommend following the concrete and actionable steps outlined in the article.

Written by the Capacity Building Center for States Children and young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or gender expansive, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and

Creating an Affirming Culture and Climate for LGBTQIA2S+ Children, Young People, and Families in Child Welfare

Written by the Capacity Building Center for States
Children and young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or gender expansive, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirit (<a href="https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/LGBTQIA2S" rel="nofollow">LGBTQIA2S&#43;</a>) are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system, where they may encounter challenges ranging from discrimination and unequal access to appropriate services to homelessness and more (National Association of Social Workers, n.d.; Trevor Project, 2021; U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2022). Research consistently shows that these <a href="https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/files/working-with-adolescents.pdf" rel="nofollow">young people</a> experience higher rates of mental health concerns, substance use, homelessness, and suicidality compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers (National Alliance on Mental Health, n.d.). This is even more true for those LGBTQIA2S&#43; children and young people with additional marginalized identities such as non-White race, non-European ethnicity, or immigrant status. For example, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) LGBTQIA2S&#43; young people were 2.5 times more likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year (33 percent) compared to non-American Indian/Alaska Native LGBTQIA2S&#43; young people (14 percent) (Zongrone, et al., 2020).
The struggles and challenges faced by LGBTQIA2S&#43; children and young people in child welfare demand our urgent attention. By acknowledging the disparities they face and working to address them, we can take meaningful steps toward creating a child welfare system that is truly inclusive, supportive, and respectful of the diverse identities within its care.
Establish Unambiguous Policies Prohibiting Discriminatory Actions Against LGBTQIA2S&#43; People
Despite the existence of federal laws that address the safety and well-being of children and young people in foster care, including those with LGBTQIA2S&#43; identities, anti-LGBTQIA2S&#43; legislation continues to be introduced. For example, in 2023 so far, 80 anti-transgender bills have been passed by legislatures in 22 states, and more are pending.
<a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/im2201.pdf" rel="nofollow">ACF Information Memorandum 22-01</a> states that public child welfare agencies must address the needs of children and young people in their care, including needs related to sexual orientation and gender identity expression (SOGIE). To that end, child welfare agencies must establish clear, unambiguous policies that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on SOGIE. These policies should also outline the steps to be taken if such discrimination occurs. Additional policy-related actions agencies can take include the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Creating or amending a foster care bill of rights that specifies rights related to LGBTQIA2S&#43; identity</li><li>Hiring a dedicated staff member responsible for policy, best practices, and guidance for serving LGBTQIA2S&#43; children, young people, and families engaged with the agency</li><li>Collecting data related to SOGIE to understand whether the agency is properly serving LGBTQIA2S&#43; children and young people</li><li>Establishing consistent practice around asking for and using correct pronouns and chosen names in all conversations and documentation</li></ul>
Institute Regular Cultural Competency Training
Many child welfare professionals lack the training and cultural competency to understand the unique needs of LGBTQIA2S&#43; young people, which can hinder the provision of appropriate services and care. All child welfare professionals and their partners should attend trainings that enhance their understanding of issues unique to SOGIE and LGBTQIA2S&#43; young people (including Latinx and Black LGBTQIA2S&#43; young people) and offer practical strategies they can apply in their work. Such issues may include access to affirming care, the importance of using correct pronouns and chosen names, and creating inclusive environments. Tribal and jurisdictional agencies should also take steps to educate staff about <a href="https://www.ihs.gov/lgbt/health/twospirit/" rel="nofollow">Two-Spirit</a> and other AI/AN nondominant SOGIE identities to better serve LGBTQIA2S&#43; AI/AN children and young people in care.
Child welfare agencies should partner with LGBTQIA2S&#43; organizations to develop training materials, resources, and support networks. These collaborations can offer expertise and insights that contribute to a more informed and empathetic approach toward LGBTQIA2S&#43; children, young people, and families.
Make Your Agency a Safe Space for LGBTQIA2S&#43; Children, Young People, and Families
Creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA2S&#43; children, young people, and families within the child welfare system is essential, and it is important that the agency be one of them. Some actions the agency can take include hanging “All Are Welcome” signs and rainbow flags in social services buildings, updating all forms with inclusive language, and adding SOGIE-related language to posted nondiscrimination policies and promotional and information materials. In addition, offering support groups, counseling services, and resources that affirm LGBTQIA2S&#43; identities can play a pivotal role in fostering a sense of belonging and reducing the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA2S&#43; children and young people.
As you consider the information, data, and resources below, take time to think about the ways you and your agency are currently creating safe spaces for LGBTQIA2S&#43; individuals and the actions you can take to affirm and support LGBTQIA2S&#43; children, young people, and families.
Resources
The following Center for States resources can help agencies create an affirming culture and climate for LGBTQIA2S&#43; young people and families.
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/topics/foster-care-permanency/family-focused-system" rel="nofollow">Becoming a Family-Focused System</a> (resource series)</li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/topics/cqi/change-implementation/teaming" rel="nofollow">Change and Implementation in Practice: Teaming</a> (resource collection)</li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/affirming-video" rel="nofollow">Creating LGBTQ Affirming Agencies</a> (video and discussion guide)</li><li><a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/toolkit-agencies-lgbtq-children-youth-families" rel="nofollow">Toolkit to Support Child Welfare Agencies in Serving LGBTQ Children, Youth, and Families</a> (resource collection)</li></ul>
Additional resources include:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/outreach-material/collecting-data-sogie" rel="nofollow">Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression</a> (podcast series) (Administration for Children and Families)</li><li><a href="https://hrc-prod-requests.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Guidance-for-the-Placement-of-Transgender-Youth.pdf" rel="nofollow">Guidance for the Placement of Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Expansive Youth in Congregate Care</a> (publication) (Human Rights Campaign)</li><li><a href="https://www.glsen.org/research/latinx-lgbtq-students" rel="nofollow">Erasure and Resilience: The Experiences of LGBTQ Students of Color: Latinx LGBTQ Students in U.S. Schools</a> (publication) (GLSEN)</li><li><a href="https://cssp.org/resource/implementing-system-wide-policy-and-practice-improvements-to-support-lgbtq-youth/" rel="nofollow">Implementing System Wide Policy and Practice Improvements to Support LGBTQ&#43; Youth and Families With Child Welfare System Involvement</a> (publication) (Center for the Study of Social Policy and the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work)</li><li><a href="https://www.healthynativeyouth.org/resource/indigenizing-love-a-toolkit-for-native-youth-to-build-inclusion-order/" rel="nofollow">Indigenizing Love: A Toolkit for Native Youth to Build Inclusion</a> (publication) (Western States Center)</li><li><a href="https://www.sogiecenter.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The National Center for Young People With Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, &amp; Expression</a> (organization)</li><li><a href="https://itgetsbetter.org/blog/organizations-serving-black-lgbtq-community/" rel="nofollow">Organizations Serving the Black LGBTQ&#43; Community</a> (online resource list) (It Gets Better Project)</li><li><a href="https://www.qic-wd.org/umbrella-summary/psychological-safety" rel="nofollow">Umbrella Summary: Psychological Safety</a> (Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development)</li></ul>
 
References
National Alliance on Mental Health. (n.d.). LGBTQ&#43;. <a href="https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/LGBTQ" rel="nofollow">https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/LGBTQ</a>
National Association of Social Workers. (n.d.). LGBTQIA2S&#43;. <a href="https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/LGBTQIA2S" rel="nofollow">https://www.socialworkers.org/Practice/LGBTQIA2S</a>  
Trevor Project. (2021). National survey on LGBTQ youth mental health 2021. <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2021/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2021/</a>
U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2022). Report to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives: Foster care: Further assistance from HHS would be helpful in supporting youth&#39;s LGBTQ&#43; identities and religious beliefs (GAO-22-104688). <a href="https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104688.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104688.pdf</a>
Zongrone, A. D., Truong, N. L., &amp; Kosciw, J. G. (2020). Erasure and resilience: The experiences of LGBTQ students of color: Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native LGBTQ youth in U.S. schools. Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network. <a href="https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/Erasure-and-Resilience-Native-2020.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/Erasure-and-Resilience-Native-2020.pdf</a>

The podcast series Parenting Done Differently: Parenting With Disabilities explores parenting among those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Psychologist, author, and researcher Marjorie Aunos

Podcast Explores Parenting Among People With Disabilities 

The podcast series <a href="https://cascw.umn.edu/portfolio-items/introduction-to-parenting-done-differently-parents-with-disabilities/" rel="nofollow">Parenting Done Differently: Parenting With Disabilities</a> explores parenting among those with physical and intellectual disabilities. Psychologist, author, and researcher Marjorie Aunos hosts the podcast as a parent who also lives with disabilities.
The podcast has released 26 episodes, each featuring a special guest whom Aunos interviews. Guests range from researchers to fellow parents and have included Tammy Bachrach, a researcher and adult child of parents with intellectual disabilities; Marja Hodes, a clinical psychologist from the Netherlands; and Dr. Tommie Forslund, a psychologist and postdoctoral fellow at Stockholm University.
All episodes are available on the <a href="https://cascw.umn.edu/" rel="nofollow">Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare website</a>. Additional resources, including books, videos, articles, and websites, accompany many of the episodes.

Family caregivers provide the overwhelming majority of long-term care in the United States and require resources to maintain their mental, physical, and financial health while providing support for others.

Federal Agencies Outline Actions to Support Family Caregivers 

Family caregivers provide the overwhelming majority of long-term care in the United States and require resources to maintain their mental, physical, and financial health while providing support for others. To help provide family caregivers with the resources they need, two advisory councils (the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage [RAISE] Act Family Caregiving Advisory Council and the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren) developed the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
As part of that strategy, the advisory councils released a list of federal actions that are aligned with and support the strategy’s five goals:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>Achieving greater awareness of and outreach to family caregivers</li><li>Advancing partnerships and engagement with family caregivers</li><li>Strengthening services and supports for family caregivers</li><li>Improving financial and workplace security for family caregivers</li><li>More data, research, and evidence-based practices to support family caregivers</li></ul>
The report contains 345 actions that 15 agencies within the federal government can take within 3 years. The actions were developed as part of a 6-month process, during which agencies shared existing programs that already do or potentially could address caregiving issues and then explored ways that those programs could be leveraged to more explicitly support family caregiving without additional legal authorities or funding.
The following are seven key examples of federal actions that are highlighted in the report:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>The Administration on Community Living will continue to lead the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Advisory Council and support the implementation of the strategy.</li><li>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will annually update and publish data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System’s Caregiver module.</li><li>The Department of Veterans Affairs Caregivers’ Support Program will develop a survey tool to conduct a needs assessment for providers and practitioners.</li><li>The Department of Health and Human Services&#39; Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation will assess the future risk of disability on a population level and how that affects the needs for support, family caregiving, and paid long-term services and supports.</li><li>The Indian Health Service will add structured fields in its electronic health record to identify patients’ kin and grandparent caregivers.</li><li>The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau will fund educational opportunities for low-paid and otherwise marginalized women workers, including employed family caregivers.</li><li>The National Institute on Aging will initiate a public/private partnership to integrate data on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and caregiving.</li></ul>
Explore the rest of the actions in the full report, <a href="https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/RAISE_SGRG/NatlStrategyFamCaregivers_FedActions.pdf" rel="nofollow">2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers: Federal Actions</a>.

An updated publication from Generations United highlights the experiences of children in relative care. Through research and direct input from grandparent caregivers and youth with lived experience, Fact

Children Thrive in Grandfamilies Factsheet

An updated publication from Generations United highlights the experiences of children in relative care. Through research and direct input from grandparent caregivers and youth with lived experience, <a href="https://www.gu.org/resources/children-thrive-in-grandfamilies/" rel="nofollow">Fact Sheet: Children Thrive in Grandfamilies</a> explains that children and youth who cannot remain in their parents’ care experience better outcomes when placed with grandfamilies than children placed with nonrelatives. The factsheet also emphasizes the difficulty many families experience trying to find and receive the help and support they need.
For more information, access this resource on the Generations United <a href="https://www.gu.org/resources/children-thrive-in-grandfamilies/" rel="nofollow">website</a>.

A guide from EmbraceRace provides caregivers and other caring adults with tips for discussing structural racism with children. In Addressing Structural Racism With Children, author Dr. Kimberly Narain,

Guide for Addressing Structural Racism With Children

A guide from EmbraceRace provides caregivers and other caring adults with tips for discussing structural racism with children. In <a href="https://www.embracerace.org/resources/addressing-structural-racism-with-children" rel="nofollow">Addressing Structural Racism With Children</a>, author Dr. Kimberly Narain, a physician and researcher focused on improving the health outcomes of underserved populations, offers and details the following suggestions:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Educate yourself about structural racism.</li><li>Get past your own fear of discussing structural racism with children.</li><li>Look for media that supports your efforts to educate children about structural racism.</li><li>Heighten awareness of the historical and contemporary contradictions in American life.</li><li>Help children be agents of change.</li></ul>
The 2-page action guide also links to the related <a href="https://www.embracerace.org/resources/breaking-down-structural-and-systemic-racism-for-our-children" rel="nofollow">webinar</a>, &#34;Breaking Down &#39;Structural&#39; and &#39;Systemic&#39; Racism for Our Children.&#34; The webinar features a conversation with EmbraceRace, Dr. Narain, and Michael Lawrence-Riddell, an award-winning educator and founder of Self-Evident Education, a nonprofit organization that creates multimedia curriculum materials focused on the history of race in America.
Access the guide in English and Spanish on the EmbraceRace <a href="https://www.embracerace.org/resources/addressing-structural-racism-with-children" rel="nofollow">website</a>.

“Understanding Structural and Institutional Racism” is a free, self-paced online course designed to help child welfare professionals and other health and human service providers deepen their understanding

Free Training Focuses on Structural and Institutional Racism

<a href="https://thenetwork.bu.edu/offering/understanding-structural-institutional-racism/" rel="nofollow">“Understanding Structural and Institutional Racism”</a> is a free, self-paced online course designed to help child welfare professionals and other health and human service providers deepen their understanding of the interconnected social systems and ideologies that form the foundation of racial inequality in our society. The training is organized into three sections that discuss core concepts like political economy, racial capitalism, White supremacy, and structural and institutional racism; how White supremacist ideology influences society; and the role the child welfare workforce can play in antiracist activism.
The training is available on the Boston University School of Social Work <a href="https://thenetwork.bu.edu/offering/understanding-structural-institutional-racism/" rel="nofollow">website</a>. To access the course, users must first register and create a free account.

Through the collection of data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE), child welfare and related systems can better serve, support, and elevate youth and families involved in the

Podcast Addresses SOGIE Data Collection in Child Welfare

Through the collection of data on sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE), child welfare and related systems can better serve, support, and elevate youth and families involved in the child welfare system who identify as LGBTQIA2S&#43; (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, Two-Spirit, or other gender or sexual identity). The podcast series <a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/resource/podcast-collecting-data-on-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-expression-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression in Child Welfare</a>, designed for child welfare professionals, researchers, and other public and private child- and family-serving systems, focuses on the collection of SOGIE data for this specific subset of the population.
The episodes in this four-part series address what SOGIE data are and why they are important; lessons learned on safely and effectively collecting SOGIE data from young people; and understanding SOGIE data use and collection at the county, community, and state system levels:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>“Understanding the Importance of SOGIE Data: Collecting Data on SOGIE in Child Welfare, Episode 1”</li><li>“Implementing Organizational Change: Collecting Data on SOGIE in Child Welfare, Episode 2”</li><li>“Storytelling With SOGIE Data: Collecting Data on SOGIE in Child Welfare, Episode 3”</li><li>“Moving Beyond Data Collection: Collecting Data on SOGIE in Child Welfare, Episode 4”</li></ul>
This series, produced in collaboration with the National SOGIE Center on behalf of the Children’s Bureau, is available on the James Bell Associates <a href="https://www.jbassoc.com/resource/podcast-collecting-data-on-sexual-orientation-gender-identity-and-expression-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">website</a> and <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-226789075-857721198/sets/collecting-data-on-sexual" rel="nofollow">SoundCloud</a>.

Upcoming conferences and events on child welfare and adoption include the following: October 2023 International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare The Kempe Center Virtual, October

Upcoming conferences and events on child welfare and adoption include the following: 
October
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://web.cvent.com/event/be05eaa3-d278-4c28-88d7-713f1b9fe95e/websitePage:ad184207-d7a3-4448-837e-f74dfa457683" rel="nofollow">2023 International Virtual Conference: A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare</a> The Kempe Center Virtual, October 2–5</li></ul>
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://community.cwla.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id&#61;1763939" rel="nofollow">Fostering School Success: How Caregivers and Social Workers Can Support the Educational Needs of Children</a> Child Welfare League of America Virtual, October 3–4 </li><li><a href="https://web.cvent.com/event/c8f9a7e3-7b70-48c9-a872-64588cdd2986/summary" rel="nofollow">Supporting Crossover Youth Involved With Child Welfare and Juvenile Court Systems</a> Child Maltreatment Solutions Network at Penn State University Park, PA, October 5 </li><li><a href="https://www.social-current.org/event/spark23/" rel="nofollow">SPARK 2023 Conference</a> Social Current Bethesda, MD, October 16–17 </li><li><a href="https://www.nsdtaconference.com/" rel="nofollow">NSDTA Annual Education Conference</a> National Staff Development and Training Association (NSDTA), an affi­nity peer group of the American Public Human Services Association Pittsburgh, PA, October 22–25 </li><li><a href="https://conference.familieslearning.org/" rel="nofollow">2023 Families Learning Conference</a> National Center for Families Learning; Nebraska Department of Education; Nebraska Children and Families Foundation; Buffett Early Childhood Fund; Heising-Simons Foundation Omaha, NE, October 23–25  </li><li><a href="https://www.preventchildabuseillinois.org/pca-conference" rel="nofollow">29th Annual Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Statewide Conference</a> Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Naperville, IL, October 26–27</li></ul>
November
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.nativeamericanfathers.org/2023filnationalconference" rel="nofollow">19th Annual Fatherhood Is Leadership National Conference</a> Native American Fatherhood &amp; Families Association Mesa, AZ, November 7–9</li></ul>

October 2023Vol. 24, No. 8Implementing Child Welfare IT Systems Using "Low Code" Solutions