Written by Spaulding for Children, a Children's Bureau grantee When a child enters the child welfare system, kin can provide a great source of comfort for both children and their parents. Family connections

Empowering Kin Caregivers Through the National Training and Development Curriculum

Written by Spaulding for Children, a Children&#39;s Bureau grantee 
When a child enters the child welfare system, kin can provide a great source of comfort for both children and their parents. Family connections contribute significantly to the development and identity of children, helping them grow and thrive. Research confirms that living with relatives is better for children, reducing the trauma related to separation from parents and preserving cultural identity and community connections. Kin caregivers also provide higher levels of permanency, and children experience less foster care reentry when living with kin. 
Despite existing relationships with children, kin caregivers need training to help navigate the child welfare system; learn how to care for a child who has experienced trauma, grief, and loss; and handle family dynamics in light of their new role with the child. The National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC) has content that helps kin through these experiences and provides ongoing skill development.
One classroom-based theme, <a href="https://spauldingyolandabrownmccutchen.sharefile.com/share/view/sa926319cc57044fa93613c0ed4ea3c63/fo4c6ce5-3264-4168-a746-296443a7ad19" rel="nofollow">&#34;Kinship Parenting,&#34;</a> addresses complexities such as divided loyalties; redefining roles and relationships; setting boundaries with parents and other relatives; and emotions like anger, resentment, guilt, or embarrassment that caregivers can feel. The content also shares strategies for managing family dynamics and conflicts, identifying triggers, and effectively managing stress.
<a href="https://spauldingyolandabrownmccutchen.sharefile.com/share/view/sdd9f47d169714ee7aaf4c54fed329769/fo082775-c814-440b-aa87-072d4cfd7144" rel="nofollow">&#34;Building Parental Resilience for Kinship Caregivers&#34;</a> focuses on the importance of self-care and practical ideas for how to do it. This theme describes parental resilience, why resilience is important, and how caring for children who have experienced trauma, separation, or loss can affect a caregiver’s own well-being. It also covers behaviors that foster a protective environment for parents and children.
Take a moment to view all of the <a href="https://ntdcportal.org/general-curriculum-materials/classroom/#top" rel="nofollow">classroom-based training materials</a> included in the curriculum. NTDC is a comprehensive no-cost curriculum funded through a 5-year cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau. The curriculum is available to all states, tribes, and territories as they prepare and equip foster, adoptive, and kinship families. 
For more information about NTDC and implementing this curriculum in your training for kinship families, visit the <a href="https://ntdcportal.org" rel="nofollow">NTDC website</a> or contact Sue Cohick at <a href="mailto:scohick&#64;spaulding.org" rel="nofollow">scohick&#64;spaulding.org</a>.

September 2024

The Children's Bureau released a tip sheet for state child welfare agencies and kinship navigator programs focusing on supporting adult sibling caregivers. These caregivers take on the responsibility of

Tip Sheet for Supporting Adult Sibling Caregivers

The Children&#39;s Bureau released a <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/31536" rel="nofollow">tip sheet</a> for state child welfare agencies and kinship navigator programs focusing on supporting adult sibling caregivers. These caregivers take on the responsibility of raising their younger siblings, either through the foster care system or informal kinship care arrangements. This guide serves as a foundational tool for states to develop their own comprehensive support guides tailored to the unique needs of adult sibling caregivers. 
<a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/31536" rel="nofollow">Resources for Adult Sibling Caregivers</a> provides a structured approach to exploring various categories of support necessary for these caregivers. It covers employment support, access to health care, educational support, and emotional and mental health resources. By addressing these fundamental areas, the guide helps state agencies equip sibling caregivers to provide the best possible care for their younger siblings.
The tip sheet includes questions to help state agencies delve into each support category. The questions are designed to uncover specific needs and challenges faced by sibling caregivers, enabling agencies to develop focused and effective support strategies, including the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>What housing supports are available in your state?</li><li>What child care options and subsidies are available for families in your state?</li><li>What campus support programs are available for young people in or formerly in foster care?</li><li>What local mental health and well-being services are available for children, young people, and families in your state?</li></ul>
The guide encourages a customized approach, acknowledging the diverse needs across different states, tribes, and jurisdictions. States are urged to use the provided questions and categories as a starting point to create personalized guides that address the specific needs of their caregiver populations so the support provided is relevant and practical in various contexts.
State child welfare agencies and kinship navigator programs can use this tip sheet to promote best practices and consistent support for adult sibling caregivers. It offers a structured yet flexible framework to support adult sibling caregivers. By providing focused assistance and encouraging a tailored approach, this guide helps sibling caregivers offer the best possible care for their younger siblings.

Child Trends recently released results from a comprehensive survey of kinship care policies conducted in 2022 for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The survey's findings highlight increasing efforts by states,

Series of Reports Analyzes a State-by-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies

Child Trends recently released results from a comprehensive survey of kinship care policies conducted in 2022 for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The survey&#39;s findings highlight increasing efforts by states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to promote kinship care and support kin caregivers of children and youth involved with the child welfare system. A five-part series of briefs, which is being released throughout 2024, delves into the details of the survey findings, offering valuable insights and analysis on kinship care policies across the United States.
The executive summary, <a href="https://www.aecf.org/resources/family-ties" rel="nofollow">Family Ties: Analysis From a State-by-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies,</a> provides an overview of the current landscape of kinship care policies. It explains the importance of kinship care, showcases various approaches states take to encourage and support kinship care, and addresses areas needing improvement. The report highlights survey findings and offers high-level recommendations for policy enhancements to better support kin caregivers.
The first brief in the series, <a href="https://www.aecf.org/resources/unlocking-foster-care-licensing-for-more-kinship-caregivers" rel="nofollow">Unlocking Foster Care Licensing for More Kinship Caregivers,</a> delves into the challenges and opportunities created by current policies related to licensing kin caregivers as foster parents. This brief emphasizes the importance of making foster care licensing more accessible to kin caregivers, outlining strategies to remove barriers and streamline the process. The goal is to help more kin caregivers become licensed, access additional resources, and increase the potential pool of those who can provide support for children needing out-of-home caregivers.
The second brief, <a href="https://www.aecf.org/resources/family-ties/supporting-unlicensed-kinship-caregivers" rel="nofollow">Supporting Unlicensed Kinship Caregivers,</a> focuses on the needs and challenges faced by kin caregivers who are not formally licensed as foster parents. This brief discusses the various forms of support that can be extended to unlicensed kin caregivers, including financial assistance, access to services, and legal support. It highlights these caregivers&#39; critical role in the child welfare system and underscores the need for policies that provide them with adequate support.
The survey and briefs emphasize the importance of kinship care for children in the child welfare system. Kinship care maintains family connections and provides stability for better outcomes. However, there are variations in state support for kin caregivers, highlighting the need for consistent policies. The Annie E. Casey Foundation&#39;s briefs offer recommendations for policymakers and agencies, such as simplifying licensing for kin caregivers and increasing awareness of its benefits. These resources provide valuable guidance for improving support for kin caregivers nationwide. Visit the <a href="https://www.aecf.org/series/family-ties" rel="nofollow">Family Ties series page</a> to access these resources.

The Bipartisan Policy Center posted a recording of its webinar "Bipartisan Policy Discussion on Kinship Placements to Avoid Foster Care," which addresses the prioritization of kinship placements when children

Bipartisan Policy Discussion on Kinship Placements to Avoid Foster Care

The Bipartisan Policy Center posted a recording of its webinar <a href="https://bipartisanpolicy.org/event/bipartisan-policy-discussion-on-kinship-placements-to-avoid-foster-care/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Bipartisan Policy Discussion on Kinship Placements to Avoid Foster Care,&#34;</a> which addresses the prioritization of kinship placements when children need to be separated from their parents and placed in foster care. This hour-long webinar features an expert panel discussing appropriate policies and practices for situations where relatives or other kin care for children and prevent state custody. 
The webinar explores the broad and bipartisan support for kinship placements, reflecting a shared belief that placing children with relatives can provide stability and continuity during a difficult time. The discussion delves into various perspectives on the best approaches to kinship placements, highlighting differing opinions on appropriate policies and practices.
The expert panel brings together those with lived experience, policymakers, child welfare professionals, and legal experts, providing a well-rounded discussion that considers kinship care&#39;s practical, legal, and emotional aspects. The panel examines some recently enacted and proposed state legislation, key considerations when relying on kin to avoid foster care, and how some states are currently working to support informal and formal kinship families.
Key issues addressed in the webinar include the criteria for determining when kinship placements are appropriate, the support systems necessary for kin caregivers, and the legal and bureaucratic hurdles that can complicate the process. The panelists also discuss the challenges and barriers that families face and how policies can be changed to better benefit the families they directly affect, whether or not kinship care is considered formal or informal.
This resource is valuable for state agencies, kinship navigator programs, and policymakers looking to understand and implement effective kinship care strategies. By offering diverse perspectives and indepth analysis, the webinar helps child welfare partners navigate the complexities of kinship placements and work toward solutions that prioritize the best interests of children.

Written by Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston Children and youth belong with their families in their communities. A kin-first culture is one that believes in families, fights against family separation,

Kinship Wins! A Message From Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston

Written by Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston
Children and youth belong with their families in their communities. A kin-first culture is one that believes in families, fights against family separation, and works toward a more equitable child and family well-being system. When family separation cannot be prevented, placing children and youth with kin should be prioritized over nonrelative foster care to help maintain family bonds and protect cultural identity and community connections.
While the safety and well-being of children is paramount, there can be no safety without healing and children need their families to heal. When provided with the opportunity, families can work together, support each other, and overcome challenges so that children can thrive. The Children’s Bureau has engaged in robust actions that prioritize family relationships and reflects the ongoing commitment to the development of a kin-first culture across the continuum of child welfare services.  From new rules that address traditional barriers to foster licensing for kinship families, to clarifying kinship licensing regulations, to increasing access to resources through Kinship Navigator programming, the Bureau continues to emphasize partnerships that wrap services and supports around kinship caregivers who are critical partners in our efforts to support children and families.
 Take a look at some of the Children’s Bureau’s recent kinship “wins:” 
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>A new <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/09/28/2023-21081/separate-licensing-or-approval-standards-for-relative-or-kinship-foster-family-homes" rel="nofollow">final rule</a> that allows title IV-E agencies to adopt separate licensing or approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes. Prior to this regulation, many kinship caregivers were disqualified because they may not have may income and other standards established for licensing or approving foster family homes. In addition, the new rule ensures equal payment for licensed or approved nonrelated and relative/kin caregivers. This is especially helpful for low-income prospective caregivers. Several states and tribes have already <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/about/current-priorities-issues" rel="nofollow">approved plans</a> to access the new regulations to improve kinship licensing opportunities. </li><li>Another <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/10/2024-09663/foster-care-legal-representation" rel="nofollow">final rule</a> expands access to legal representation for children, their parents, and their kin caregivers by allowing state and tribal child welfare agencies to use federal funds to provide legal services.  </li><li>New additions to the <a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDMsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vaW5kZXguanNwP2lkRmxhZz0wIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDgwOC45ODc3OTc0MSJ9.Dr9hdIMwwABQSSJBvrlI99U9o2ZfdlDpedIYnv16vlg/s/2902403046/br/247134340350-l" rel="nofollow">Child Welfare Policy Manual</a> support tribes and states in drawing on federal funds to finance background check operations to facilitate quicker licensing for kin and others who provide foster care. </li><li>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hosted <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2024/05/national-convening-kinship-care-forging-future-kin-first-approach-child-welfare" rel="nofollow">a national convening on kinship care</a> to highlight innovative strategies to bolster kinship care. Six states and three tribes have adopted the kinship licensing rules in the first 6 months, and three more are pending approvals to do so.   </li><li>The Administration on Children, Youth, and Families and the Administration for Community Living recently released a <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/DCL_Supporting_Kinship_Caregivers.pdf" rel="nofollow">joint letter</a> on their collaboration and coordinated efforts around their shared goal of supporting grandfamilies and kinship families, both to prevent unnecessary involvement in the child welfare system and to maintain connection to kin when child welfare intervention is necessary. </li><li>As of May 2024, four states and 13 tribes are approved to operate kinship navigator programs. The Family First Prevention Services Act allows title IV-E agencies the option to receive funding for evidence-based kinship navigator programs, which help relative and kin caregivers learn about and access programs and services to meet their own needs and the needs of the children they are raising.</li></ul>
I am immensely proud of the collaborative work underway on behalf of kinship caregivers. The final rule allowing separate licensing standards for relative or kinship foster family homes promotes equity and kin-first culture, helping children and youth maintain family connections and cultural traditions and minimize the trauma of separation. During Kinship Care Month, we reaffirm our commitment to an equitable child and family well-being system.

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. The following

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.
The following list includes recent additions or updates to the Children’s Bureau site and a selection of recent items from the Administration for Children and Families:
Children’s Bureau:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/child-and-family-services-reviews-update-volume-18-issue-3-june-2024" rel="nofollow">Child and Family Services Reviews Update</a></li><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/index.jsp" rel="nofollow">Child Welfare Policy Manual</a> Updates:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID&#61;177" rel="nofollow">2.3, question 5</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9MzYiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwODA4Ljk4Nzc5NzQxIn0.yY7Z2HOTe7wH3Yga1tlCn27u6Nju6jIYxz7NU0eAank/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">8.1B, question 33</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDYsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9MzYiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwODA4Ljk4Nzc5NzQxIn0.yY7Z2HOTe7wH3Yga1tlCn27u6Nju6jIYxz7NU0eAank/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">8.1B, question 34</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9MjYiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwODA4Ljk4Nzc5NzQxIn0.J8tbyaznNNBe4nUNSM4-zfZ4aQU9UvKRQwfOofRS1jk/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" rel="nofollow">8.3A.8c, question 22</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9MzgiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwODA4Ljk4Nzc5NzQxIn0.fOMDtENSNqixqsKecv5agl-1dsi2UF2VQS5SlYYhkeY/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" rel="nofollow">8.3A.11, question 8</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDcsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9OTAiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjQwODA4Ljk4Nzc5NzQxIn0.fyjc2VbewtNGcZlMlQ0rUV0T3_VVmCgpqGP-bZp_UCQ/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" rel="nofollow">8.3C, question 11</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDgsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9MTQ0IiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDgwOC45ODc3OTc0MSJ9.1lhtDhQ7oV9Y7bUvYhBeDtMbpk77e0Qg-on25dqVEEw/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" rel="nofollow">8.4, question 4</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDksInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9OCIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDA4MDguOTg3Nzk3NDEifQ.g4bVHO3xUU3wHVC0ZxSomIWcj4K1P43l2OzBMDNn2p4/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" rel="nofollow">8.4A, question 27</a></li><li><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMTAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFjZi5oaHMuZ292L2N3cG0vcHVibGljX2h0bWwvcHJvZ3JhbXMvY2IvbGF3c19wb2xpY2llcy9sYXdzL2N3cG0vcG9saWN5X2RzcC5qc3A_Y2l0SUQ9MzcwIiwiYnVsbGV0aW5faWQiOiIyMDI0MDgwOC45ODc3OTc0MSJ9.NAxL-A2NjrqgSpfR4pSqcUM14MsgwDOlclSBzIXsQ78/s/2979813196/br/247134319813-l" rel="nofollow">8.5, question 9</a></li><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID&#61;630" rel="nofollow">8.6, question 1</a></li><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID&#61;630" rel="nofollow">8.6, question 2</a></li><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID&#61;631" rel="nofollow">8.6A, question 3</a></li><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID&#61;631" rel="nofollow">8.6A, question 4</a></li><li><a href="https://acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/public_html/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID&#61;641" rel="nofollow">8.6C.1, question 4</a></li></ul>
</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/dear-colleague-letter-supporting-kinship-caregivers?utm_medium&#61;email&amp;utm_source&#61;kinshipdcl080124" rel="nofollow">Dear Colleague Letter on Supporting Kinship Caregivers</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/grant-funding/kinship-navigator-program" rel="nofollow">The Kinship Navigator Program</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/grant-funding/monthly-caseworker-visit-formula-grants-and-standards-caseworker-visits" rel="nofollow">Monthly Caseworker Visit Formula Grants and Standards for Caseworker Visits</a></li><li>National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) Frequently Asked Questions:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/reporting-systems/nytd/faq/section1" rel="nofollow">1. Reporting Requirements and Reporting Populations</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/reporting-systems/nytd/faq/section2" rel="nofollow">2. Data Elements</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/youth-outcomes-survey/nytd/faq/section3" rel="nofollow">3. Youth Outcome Survey</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/system-requirements/nytd/faq/section4" rel="nofollow">4. System Requirements (SACWIS)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/compliance-standards/nytd/faq" rel="nofollow">5. Compliance Standards and Penalties for Noncompliance</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/sampling/nytd/faq/section6" rel="nofollow">6. Sampling</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/implementation-costs-funding/nytd/faq/section7" rel="nofollow">7. Implementation Costs and Funding</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/faq/research-data-technology/miscellaneous/nytd/faq/section8" rel="nofollow">8. Miscellaneous</a></li></ul>
</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/overview-foster-care-legal-representation" rel="nofollow">Overview of the Foster Care Legal Representation Notice of Proposed Rule Making Final Rule</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/tips-administering-nytd-survey" rel="nofollow">Tips for Administering the NYTD Survey</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/tips-building-social-media-presence" rel="nofollow">Tips for Building a Social Media Presence</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/tips-hiring-young-people-lived-experience" rel="nofollow">Tips for Hiring and Building Rapport With Young People With Lived Experience</a></li><li>Title IV-E Foster Eligibility Reviews:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle; list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/illinois-primary-title-iv-e-foster-care-eligibility-review-2024" rel="nofollow">Illinois Primary Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review (2024)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/louisiana-primary-title-iv-e-foster-care-eligibility-review-2024" rel="nofollow">Louisiana Primary Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review (2024)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/maryland-primary-title-iv-e-foster-care-eligibility-review-2024" rel="nofollow">Maryland Primary Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review (2024)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/new-jersey-primary-title-iv-e-foster-care-eligibility-review-2024" rel="nofollow">New Jersey Primary Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review (2024)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/north-dakota-primary-title-iv-e-foster-care-eligibility-review-2024" rel="nofollow">North Dakota Primary Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review (2024)</a></li></ul>
</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/updates-afcars-tbs-penalty-process-office-hours" rel="nofollow">Updates on AFCARS Technical Bulletins and the Penalty Process Office Hours</a></li></ul>
Administration for Children and Families:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/press/2024/acf-announces-awards-tribal-home-visiting" rel="nofollow">ACF Announces $3 Million in New Awards for Tribal Home Visiting Program</a> [Press release]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/evaluation-national-human-trafficking-hotline-evaluation-findings-and-summary" rel="nofollow">Evaluation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline: Contactor Follow-up Survey Brief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/evaluation-national-human-trafficking-hotline-evaluation-findings-and-summary" rel="nofollow">Evaluation of the National Human Trafficking Hotline: Evaluation Findings and Considerations for Future Practice</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/press/2024/hhs-announces-winners-children-and-youth-challenge" rel="nofollow">HHS Announces Winners of Inaugural Children and Youth Resilience Challenge</a> [Press release]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2024/07/leave-no-child-behind-fight-against-human-trafficking" rel="nofollow">&#34;Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking&#34;</a> [The Family Room Blog]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/providing-employment-coaching-families-receiving-tanf-benefits-lessons-learned" rel="nofollow">Providing Employment Coaching to Families Receiving TANF Benefits: Lessons Learned</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/media/press/2024/puerto-rico-becomes-first-territory-nation-family-first-prevention-plan-approved" rel="nofollow">Puerto Rico Becomes the First Territory in the Nation With a Family First Prevention Plan Approved by the Children&#39;s Bureau</a> [Press release]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/snapshot-states-child-welfare-data-systems-record" rel="nofollow">A Snapshot of States&#39; Child Welfare Data Systems of Record</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/state-child-welfare-data-linkages-descriptive-study-technical-report-study-background" rel="nofollow">State Child Welfare Data Linkages Descriptive Study Technical Report: Study Background and Design</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/tools-and-strategies-examining-relationship-between-child-care-subsidy-policies-and" rel="nofollow">Tools and Strategies for Examining the Relationship Between Child Care Subsidy Policies and Trends in Child, Family, and Provider Outcomes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/blog/2024/06/people-people-people-co-creating-evidence-use-american-indian/alaska-native" rel="nofollow">&#34;With the People, By the People, for the People: Co-Creating Evidence Use With American Indian/Alaska Native Communities&#34;</a> [OPRE Insights Blog]</li><li><a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2024/06/world-refugee-day-2024" rel="nofollow">&#34;World Refugee Day 2024: Why Refugees Make the U.S. a Better Place to Live&#34;</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. 
*Visit <a href="https://grants.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">grants.gov</a> for the latest information.

Written by Children's Bureau Division of State Systems staff Kinship care—where children and youth live with kin (that is, relatives such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, or extended family) or

Leveraging Technology to Strengthen Kinship Care

Written by Children&#39;s Bureau Division of State Systems staff
Kinship care—where children and youth live with kin (that is, relatives such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, or extended family) or nonrelative kin (such as a person or persons with close ties to the child or family)—has become an important focus in meeting the needs of those involved with the child welfare system. Federal law now acknowledges the unique role that kin can play in providing a stable and nurturing environment for vulnerable children.
While kinship care is preferred to maintain family connections and cultural traditions, identifying and supporting kin caregivers can be challenging. Fortunately, technology can help streamline the use of kinship care and increase success rates in the following areas.
Identifying and Locating Potential Relatives
Issue: Agency workers may not readily be able to identify potential caregivers from a child&#39;s case record or have access to updated contact information. Historically, child welfare staff have resorted to a labor-intensive process called &#34;case mining&#34; to obtain these data. Case mining, also referred to as &#34;case-record mining&#34; or &#34;data mining,&#34; involves manually sifting through structured and unstructured data that are maintained in paper and electronic files, which can span multiple years of a child&#39;s life and many child welfare activities.
Solution: Technology and automation can greatly support the case-mining process by analyzing vast amounts of data across multiple databases and then cross-referencing the information.
Other tools, such as natural language processing software, can extract and organize relevant data from unstructured narrative fields and transform the data into meaningful analysis and insights. The result is improved access to case information, an expanded pool of potential caregivers, and a workforce empowered to make better-informed decisions.
Accessing and organizing valuable information is only part of the solution—understanding family connections is equally important. Embedding tools in information systems that are designed to help child welfare professionals track and visualize family connections, such as <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/genogram-family-relationship-diagram" rel="nofollow">genograms</a>, can help both gather information about potential caregivers and understand relationship dynamics that aid in identifying suitable care situations.
Finally, information about a child or youth&#39;s family may exist in systems that are external to the child welfare system. This is one of the reasons why regulations for the Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System (CCWIS) include mandated and optional data exchanges [1355.52(e)1-2] that can help identify and locate kin and nonrelative kin. These data exchanges include the Office of Child Support Services&#39; (title IV-D) Parent Locator Services, Medicaid, and other eligibility programs. CCWIS <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/training-technical-assistance/ccwis-technical-bulletin-8" rel="nofollow">technical bulletin 8</a>, the <a href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src&#61;https%3A%2F%2Fwww.acf.hhs.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2Fcb%2Fccwis_data_exchanges_self_assessment_tool_0.docx&amp;wdOrigin&#61;BROWSELINK" rel="nofollow">data exchanges self-assessment tool</a>, and <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/im-12-06" rel="nofollow">IM 12-06</a> provide additional guidance on CCWIS data exchanges.
The Children’s Bureau acknowledges that disproportionality and disparity for children and youth of color is a concern in child welfare (Administration for Children and Families, 2022). Data indicate that Black and African American, American Indian and Alaskan Native, and other children of color are disproportionally represented (Children&#39;s Bureau, 2024). It is critical that agencies consider equity when automating case-mining tools and building data exchanges in information systems. As such, agencies should engage a diverse group of individuals with lived experience throughout all stages of implementing case-mining processes.
Streamlining Licensing and Support
Issue: Kin caregivers face administrative hurdles when becoming foster families.
Solution: CCWIS offers an opportunity for innovative approaches by title IV-E agencies to explore options that will best meet their needs. One approach could be external-facing portals for families, young people, and resource caregivers. These programs can use technology to make it easier for kin to step forward by streamlining administrative tasks, guiding caregivers through the licensing process, providing essential information on legal and other requirements, and connecting kin to support and services (Casey Family Programs, 2023). Using portals and collaborative platforms not only improves the process for kin caregivers but also increases efficiency for child welfare professionals who often must coordinate this strenuous licensing process for multiple families at a time.
Conclusion
As we celebrate National Kinship Care Month and National Child Welfare Workforce Development Month, let us recognize the important role that technology plays in strengthening kinship care and supporting the effective and efficient delivery of services, thereby easing the burden on the workforce. By leveraging technology, we can ensure that more children maintain crucial connections and, if necessary, find permanent homes within their extended families. We can also increase the quality of care and value of services provided to families, youth, and caregivers.
<div> References
<div id="ftn1">
Administration for Children and Families. (2022). Equity in action: Prioritizing and advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities (ACF-IM-IOAS-22-01). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/policy-guidance/equity-action-prioritizing-and-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-underserved" rel="nofollow">https://www.acf.hhs.gov/policy-guidance/equity-action-prioritizing-and-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-underserved</a>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
Casey Family Programs. (2023, August 30). What are kinship navigator programs? <a href="https://www.casey.org/what-are-kinship-navigators/" rel="nofollow">https://www.casey.org/what-are-kinship-navigators/</a>
Children&#39;s Bureau. (2024). Addressing disproportionality, disparity, and equity throughout child welfare. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/equity" rel="nofollow">https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/focus-areas/equity</a>
</div>
</div>

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) published a report introducing the first child welfare workforce study conducted as part of the third cohort of the National Survey of Child and

Report Presents Snapshot of the Child Welfare Workforce From 2021 to 2022

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) published a <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/snapshot-child-welfare-workforce-2021-2022-nscaw-iii-workforce-study-design-data" rel="nofollow">report</a> introducing the first child welfare workforce study conducted as part of the third cohort of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW III). This report is the first in a series that will analyze the data and includes descriptive findings on agency characteristics and demographic characteristics of caseworkers, supervisors, and agency directors. Key findings about the child welfare worker demographics include the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>Most agency directors (77.3 percent), supervisors (80.9 percent), and caseworkers (83 percent) who participated are female.</li><li>More caseworkers (20.5 percent) identified as Black or African American than supervisors (14.0 percent) and agency directors (14.3 percent).</li><li>Nearly one-fifth of caseworkers (18 percent), 11.7 percent of supervisors, and 13.5 percent of agency directors are Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino.</li></ul>
Overall, the study sought to increase understanding of several critical areas within the child welfare system:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Workforce characteristics and competencies</li><li>Recruitment, hiring, and onboarding</li><li>Training and professional development</li><li>Organizational factors</li></ul>
By examining these areas, the study provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the child welfare workforce and identifies critical areas for improvement. Data from the study will be archived on the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect website for secondary analysis. 
The timing of the NSCAW III study allowed for the inclusion of research questions about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on child welfare policies and practices. This addition provides valuable insights into how the pandemic has affected the workforce and what changes may be necessary moving forward.
For more information and to access the full report, visit the <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre/report/snapshot-child-welfare-workforce-2021-2022-nscaw-iii-workforce-study-design-data" rel="nofollow">OPRE website</a>.

A recent factsheet from the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Trafficking in Persons highlights the importance of creating trauma-informed workplaces. Building a Healthy, Productive Workforce

Trauma-Informed Workplaces Help Nurture a Healthy and Productive Workforce

A recent factsheet from the Administration for Children and Families&#39; Office of Trafficking in Persons highlights the importance of creating trauma-informed workplaces. <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/fact-sheet/building-healthy-productive-workforce" rel="nofollow">Building a Healthy, Productive Workforce</a> underscores the need for work environments where employees feel safe and supported, recognizing that many individuals bring past trauma experiences into their professional lives. 
According to the factsheet, nearly 83 percent of people in the United States have experienced some form of trauma. This widespread prevalence means that trauma can significantly affect workplace dynamics. Employees&#39; responses to trauma may manifest in various ways, including poor performance, absenteeism, and burnout. Creating a trauma-informed workplace is essential for staff well-being and the organization&#39;s overall productivity.
The resource provides practical tips and strategies to support staff at all levels in fostering a trauma-informed work environment. Some of the key recommendations include the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li>Acknowledge trauma: Recognize the effects of trauma and understand potential recovery strategies.</li><li>Promote psychological safety: Help staff feel safe, respected, and treated with care.</li><li>Integrate trauma-informed principles: Embed these principles into organizational policies and practices.</li><li>Support mental wellness: Implement policies to resist retraumatization and support mental health.</li></ul>
The factsheet also includes tips for trauma-informed supervision and strategies for integrating trauma-informed principles into existing policies. By incorporating these strategies, organizations can create a healthier, more productive workforce. A trauma-informed workplace benefits employees and enhances overall organizational effectiveness.
Access the full <a href="https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/fact-sheet/building-healthy-productive-workforce" rel="nofollow">factsheet</a> on the Office of Trafficking in Persons website.

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

Written by the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support The placement of children and youth with kin caregivers is known to provide many benefits such as increased placement stability, placement

Postpermanency Supports for Kin Caregivers

Written by the National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support
The placement of children and youth with kin caregivers is known to provide many benefits such as increased placement stability, placement with siblings, and fewer behavioral and mental health complications. Adopting a kin-first philosophy allows states to minimize trauma for children and youth and support families.  
The National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support gathered kinship care resources that provide information on adoption and guardianship, recommendations to child welfare professionals on how to support kin caregivers, and information on how child welfare professionals can help kin collaborate effectively with the child welfare system.
Review the following resources in the Center’s <a href="https://postadoptioncenter.org/resource-library/" rel="nofollow">resource library</a> to learn more about supporting and working with kinship families.
<a href="https://postadoptioncenter.org/resource-library/family-dynamics-in-kinship-families-implications-for-services-and-programs/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Family Dynamics in Kinship Families: Implications for Services and Programs&#34;</a> is a video that provides a framework describing the unique family dynamics of kinship families. Child welfare professionals can use this framework when engaging families and developing kinship programs and services.
In the video <a href="https://postadoptioncenter.org/resource-library/shared-co-parenting-in-kinship-families/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Shared/Co-Parenting in Kinship Families,&#34;</a> world-renowned kinship care expert Dr. Joseph Crumbley discusses five main points related to shared parenting and coparenting in kinship families. Child welfare professionals will hear about the prerequisites to address when involving birth parents and relatives together in parenting; some approaches for gaining buy-in from kin caregivers and birth parents; guidelines to consider in making coparenting work in kinship care; how to manage challenges that caregivers, relative caregivers, and birth parents might experience due to preexisting history; and criteria to consider when assessing if a family is ready for coparenting.
For more information, visit the <a href="https://postadoptioncenter.org/" rel="nofollow">National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support website</a> or contact DaJari Patterson at <a href="mailto:postadoptioncenter&#64;spaulding.org" rel="nofollow">postadoptioncenter&#64;spaulding.org</a>.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and families are part of a historically marginalized population that has faced disproportionate outcomes and experiences in child welfare. Addressing

Curriculum Guidance for Working With American Indian and Alaska Native Families

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and families are part of a historically marginalized population that has faced disproportionate outcomes and experiences in child welfare. Addressing these disparities requires child welfare professionals to recognize the cultural values and histories that shape AI/AN communities and integrate this knowledge into their practice. In recognition of this need, the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute offers an <a href="https://ncwwi.org/document/integrated-curriculum-guide-for-social-work-practice-with-american-indians-and-alaska-natives-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">Integrated Curriculum Guide for Social Work Practice With American Indians and Alaska Natives in Child Welfare</a>.
The guide is designed to help university social work programs either implement or improve guidance for working with AI/AN families. It provides tools to help social work students learn about and understand the following topics:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Tribal sovereignty and federal policy that affects social work practice with AI/AN children and families</li><li>Tribal self-determination and its impact on social services delivery</li><li>Practice-based historical and present challenges, strengths, and resilience</li></ul>
In increasing knowledge of those topics, the guide aims to contribute to the following systemwide goals:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Help professionals be respectful and attentive to AI/AN foundational core values, cultural pathways, families, and communities</li><li>Decolonize western practices and incorporate different ways of practice that involve shared decision-making, collaborative learning approaches, and strong tribal and community engagement</li><li>Employ historical and contemporary Indigenous practices that have contributed to the resilience of AI/AN populations</li></ul>
The guide provides a framework for working with AI/AN families based on the Council of Social Work Education’s Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards. The curriculum is organized by nine competencies from the standards:
<ol style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior</li><li>Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice</li><li>Engage anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice</li><li>Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice</li><li>Engage in policy practice</li><li>Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities</li><li>Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities</li><li>Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities</li><li>Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities</li></ol>
Explore the guide on the <a href="https://ncwwi.org/document/integrated-curriculum-guide-for-social-work-practice-with-american-indians-and-alaska-natives-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">National Child Welfare Workforce Institute website</a>.

Written by the Center for Workforce Equity and Leadership In honor of National Child Welfare Workforce Development Month, the Center for Workforce Equity and Leadership (CWEL) launched the "Change Is Igniting"

Center for Workforce Equity and Leadership Launches "Change Is Igniting" Campaign for Workforce Development Month

Written by the Center for Workforce Equity and Leadership
In honor of National Child Welfare Workforce Development Month, the Center for Workforce Equity and Leadership (CWEL) launched the &#34;Change Is Igniting&#34; campaign that provides resources on supporting child welfare professionals. These resources are informed by the insights of individuals who have experienced the child welfare system and are now using their expertise as professionals to spark change.
National Child Welfare Workforce Development Month, observed every September, recognizes child welfare professionals&#39; vital role in the workforce. It also calls for child welfare leaders to prioritize finding meaningful ways to acknowledge and support child welfare professionals&#39; efforts. 
As part of the campaign, the <a href="https://www.cwel.org/" rel="nofollow">CWEL website</a> features content, including blog and social media posts, that highlight the need for authentic connection and development in the workforce. Additionally, during the month, CWEL will celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of child welfare professionals for Child Welfare Workforce Appreciation Week.
Visit the <a href="http://www.cwel.org/" rel="nofollow"> CWEL website</a> to learn how you can invest in, develop, and best support child welfare professionals who work to better the lives of children and families year-round.

Young people who transition to independent living after out-of-home care can experience challenges and hardships compared with peers who did not experience out-of-home care. A recent systemic review explores

How Young People Transition From Care and Develop Independent Living Skills

Young people who transition to independent living after out-of-home care can experience challenges and hardships compared with peers who did not experience out-of-home care. A recent systemic review explores the intersection of independent living skills (ILS) and outcomes among youth who transition from out-of-home care.
The review examines studies that address eight domains of ILS:  
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Financial management</li><li>Knowledge of accessing available supports</li><li>Managing housing</li><li>Education planning</li><li>Job seeking</li><li>Health risk management</li><li>Domestic and self-help task</li><li>Managing relationships</li></ul>
There were 27 studies published between 1994 and 2022 that met eligibility criteria. The review authors aimed to examine the studies to understand the development of ILS among young people who transition from out-of-home care and identify ways to improve outcomes.
The review’s authors highlight that understanding outcomes among youth who transition from care requires understanding that young people develop ILS over time and throughout their lives. In addition, the authors stress that the various domains of ILS are interconnected and must be understood holistically as factors that help and hinder one another. They conclude that more research is needed for a comprehensive approach to understanding the domains to better inform policy, program, and practice improvements.
For more information, read the full article, <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id&#61;10.1371/journal.pone.0304965" rel="nofollow">&#34;Understanding How Young People Transitioning From Out-of-Home Care Acquire and Develop Independent Living Skills and Knowledge: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies.&#34;</a>

Child welfare agencies are increasingly recognizing the benefits of kinship care and prioritizing the placement of children with family and kin. However, there is limited research exploring how children

Journal Special Issue Focuses on Kinship Care 

Child welfare agencies are increasingly recognizing the benefits of kinship care and prioritizing the placement of children with family and kin. However, there is limited research exploring how children end up in kinship care, what support and resources are available for kin caregivers and children, the physical and mental well-being of children and caregivers in kinship care, and the impact of culture on kinship care.
Recognizing this gap, Societies, a monthly open-access journal published by MDPI, dedicated a special issue to the topic of kinship care. The issue includes 10 articles dedicated to kinship care research, including the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/3/36" rel="nofollow">&#34;Parenting Experiences of Informal Kinship Caregivers: Similarities and Differences Between Grandparents and Other Relatives&#34;</a> explores the experiences of informal kin caregivers—caregivers whose kinship arrangements occur without the involvement of a child welfare agency or court. The study analyzes survey responses from 114 grandparents and 32 other informal kin caregivers. Findings indicate that many families experienced financial difficulties and child behavioral and mental health challenges; however, many families also exhibited strengths and resilience.</li><li><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/13/12/249" rel="nofollow">&#34;Strength and Resilience for Kinship Caregivers Raising Children: A Scoping Review&#34;</a> provides information about 25 studies that examined resilience factors related to kin caregivers. Findings indicate that resilience is associated with five aspects: caregiver characteristics, motivation, stress coping, caregiver’s family, and support.  </li><li><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/14/6/79" rel="nofollow">&#34;&#39;Wasn’t in Our Game Plan&#39;: Reflections of Older Grandparents Navigating Child Welfare Systems&#34;</a> explores indepth reflections from 19 older grandparents raising adolescent grandchildren. One finding is that the onset of kinship care stemmed from child maltreatment linked to adolescent pregnancies and parental substance use.</li></ul>
Explore the remaining articles in the special issue and additional information on the <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/journal/societies/special_issues/kinship_care#info" rel="nofollow">MDPI website</a>.

It can be hard to focus on the positive elements of child welfare when the system is inherently related to child maltreatment. However, there are also many positives that come with a system designed to

Newsletter Highlights the "Good Stuff" in Child Welfare

It can be hard to focus on the positive elements of child welfare when the system is inherently related to child maltreatment. However, there are also many positives that come with a system designed to promote child well-being, safety, and permanency while strengthening families.
The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research at the University of Pennsylvania offers a monthly newsletter focused on those positives. The Good Stuff in Child Welfare highlights programs, services, collaborations, and other encouraging and heartening child welfare stories from across the country.
Each newsletter offers short summaries of approximately four to six feel-good child welfare stories, with links to read the full articles. Recent newsletters featured the following stories:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>An Atlanta nonprofit helps youth who experienced foster care move into college</li><li>A California nonprofit that empowers youth in foster care welcomes two new youth ambassadors</li><li>An intergenerational community in Missouri will house foster families, seniors, and older youth transitioning from care</li><li>A tutoring program offers academic and emotional support to youth in foster care</li></ul>
Past editions of the newsletter are available on the Field Center’s <a href="https://fieldcenteratpenn.org/field-center-newsletters/" rel="nofollow">newsletters webpage</a>. You can sign up to receive the newsletter by email by scrolling to the bottom of the Field Center’s website and clicking <a href="https://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v&#61;001MsaghC2nU2Me_LeC_qgLET9g2lcTHWm9f4sfEZFMohrMV2p0w14o0QK5UT5jGGzaDHaUgh_RKqgDZvYSE3FBeSCRsNUa-cLY" rel="nofollow">&#34;Newsletter Sign Up.&#34;</a> You can also sign up by opening one of the past editions and selecting &#34;Join Our Email List&#34; at the top of the page.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has an online child welfare legislation database that includes all enacted legislation from 2012 to the present. NCSL updates the database weekly. Users

Legislation Database Provides Child Welfare Legislation from 2012 to Present 

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has an online <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/human-services/child-welfare-legislation-database" rel="nofollow">child welfare legislation database</a> that includes all enacted legislation from 2012 to the present. NCSL updates the database weekly.  
Users can search by state and topic area, which include the following:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Adoption</li><li>Child Fatality/Near Fatality</li><li>Child Protection</li><li>Child Sex Trafficking/Exploitation</li><li>Courts and Legal Representation</li><li>Disproportionality</li><li>Education</li><li>Foster Care</li><li>Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008</li><li>Funding of Child Welfare Services</li><li>Health and Mental/Behavioral Health</li><li>Infant Abandonment/Safe Surrender</li><li>Kinship Care</li><li>Oversight/Administration/Interagency Collaboration</li><li>Prevention, Treatment of Abuse, and Training</li><li>Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect</li><li>Services for Older Youth</li><li>Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention</li><li>Siblings</li><li>TPR (Termination of Parental Rights)</li><li>Tribes</li><li>Workforce</li></ul>
Pieces of legislation matching search criteria are listed including bill number, year, status, date of last action, author, topics, summary, and history. Results may be filtered by keyword, status, bill number, year, and author.
Explore the database, including user guidance, on the <a href="https://www.ncsl.org/" rel="nofollow">NCSL website</a>.

The Capacity Building Center for States released an overview publication and assessment tool focused on fostering psychological safety within child welfare teams. These resources explore strategies for

Resources for Fostering and Assessing Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams

The Capacity Building Center for States released <a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/topics/cqi/change-implementation/teaming/psych-safety" rel="nofollow">an overview publication and assessment tool</a> focused on fostering psychological safety within child welfare teams. These resources explore strategies for assessing and building an environment where team members feel safe expressing ideas, concerns, and mistakes without fear of negative consequences.
The overview publication, <a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/fostering-psychological-safety-on-child-welfare-teams-overview" rel="nofollow">Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams</a>, outlines the importance of psychological safety in child welfare settings. It highlights concepts related to psychological safety on child welfare teams, real-life examples from states, and reflection activities teams can complete. The publication provides practical strategies for leaders and team members to create and maintain a psychologically safe environment, emphasizing the role of open communication, trust building, and supportive leadership. It also includes tips and questions team leaders and team members can ask themselves to better understand how they can contribute to creating a psychologically safe team.
<a href="https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/states/resources/assessment-tool-fostering-psychological-safety-on-child-welfare-teams" rel="nofollow">Assessment Tool for Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams</a> offers a structured approach to evaluating a team&#39;s current psychological safety. This tool includes a series of questions and prompts designed to help teams identify strengths and areas for improvement. The assessment tool encourages ongoing reflection and dialogue, fostering a continuous commitment to enhancing psychological safety.
By using these resources, child welfare teams can develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics that contribute to psychological safety and implement focused strategies to strengthen their work environment. This focus on psychological safety is crucial for the well-being of team members and the effectiveness of their work with the populations they support.

A protective factors framework is often promoted as a strategy for supporting child and family well-being and reducing the risk of child maltreatment. That same framework can be used as a self-care strategy

Applying Protective Factors to Social Worker Self-Care

A protective factors framework is often promoted as a strategy for supporting child and family well-being and reducing the risk of child maltreatment. That same framework can be used as a self-care strategy to promote the health and well-being of child welfare workers who support children and families.
<a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/protective-factors-approaches-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">Protective factors</a> are conditions and attributes, such as social connections or concrete support, that promote individual and family health and well-being. A recent brief from the Center for the Study of Social Policy explores how those protective factors can be applied to child welfare workers and their families. <a href="https://cssp.org/resource/taking-care-of-yourself-self-care-for-child-welfare-workers/" rel="nofollow">Taking Care of Yourself: Putting Protective Factors Into Play for Yourself</a> covers five protective factors:
<ol style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>Personal resilience</li><li>Social connections</li><li>Knowledge of parenting and child development</li><li>Concrete support in times of need</li><li>Social and emotional competence of children</li></ol>
Within each category, the brief provides tips for incorporating the protective factors into your daily routine. These include strategies for taking care of yourself, building and maintaining positive relationships with others, and accessing resources and supports in your community. For parents, it also includes working on assumptions and understanding of parenting and child development.
The brief provides a series of questions to help social workers reflect on how the protective factors are present in their lives. In cases where the protective factors are not already prevalent, it provides strategies for incorporating them.
The brief is available on the <a href="https://cssp.org/" rel="nofollow">Center for the Study of Social Policy website</a>.

Reliable and affordable child care is hard to find and secure, a reality that can be even more cumbersome for kin caregivers who may not have been prepared to care for their young loved ones. In response

New Resource Helps Kin Caregivers Find and Pay for Child Care

Reliable and affordable child care is hard to find and secure, a reality that can be even more cumbersome for kin caregivers who may not have been prepared to care for their young loved ones. In response to this challenge, the Grandfamilies &amp; Kinship Support Network recently developed a 2-page tipsheet to help kin caregivers and the child- and family-serving professionals who support them learn about and navigate the child care system.
Information about public and private options, eligibility requirements, financial assistance, and links to pertinent organizations and resources are organized into two easy-to-follow sections—Finding Child Care and Paying for Child Care.
To learn more, access <a href="https://www.gksnetwork.org/resources/finding-and-paying-for-child-care/" rel="nofollow">Finding and Paying for Child Care</a> on the Grandfamilies &amp; Kinship Support Network&#39;s website.

This past May, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched the Healthy Children Podcast, a new resource for parents and families. In it, host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a mother, primary care pediatrician,

American Academy of Pediatrics Introduces New Podcast for Parents

This past May, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) launched the Healthy Children Podcast, a new resource for parents and families. In it, host Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, a mother, primary care pediatrician, and director of the pediatric telemedicine program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, talks with experts about how to help children be happy, healthy, and thrive in today&#39;s world.
To date, episodes span a manageable 20 to 30 minutes in length and address topics such as breastfeeding, creating healthy and realistic eating habits, the mental and developmental benefits of participating in sports, navigating social media, safe sleep, and more.
To learn more about the Healthy Children Podcast, visit the AAP&#39;s <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/healthy-children-podcast/Pages/podcast.aspx" rel="nofollow">website</a> and listen to Dr. Bracho-Sanchez&#39;s welcome and introduction in the <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/healthy-children-podcast/Pages/ep-001-welcome-to-healthy-children-an-AAP-podcast-for-parents.aspx" rel="nofollow">first episode</a>.

Upcoming conferences and events on child welfare and adoption include the following: September "How to Explain to Children Their Adoption Story at Different Ages" National Council for Adoption Virtual,

Upcoming conferences and events on child welfare and adoption include the following:
September 
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://adoptioncouncil.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_E3N2ioPHS1uAQ5DHOuCDwQ#/registration" rel="nofollow">&#34;How to Explain to Children Their Adoption Story at Different Ages&#34;</a> National Council for Adoption Virtual, September 3 </li><li><a href="https://diligentrecruitment.org/events/kinship-webinar-sep2024/" rel="nofollow">&#34;Kinship as a Diligent Recruitment Strategy: Lessons Learned From Tribes&#34;</a> National Center for Diligent Recruitment Virtual, September 10 </li><li><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inaugural-prevention-convention-registration-891150594417?aff&#61;ebdsoporgprofile" rel="nofollow">2024 Prevention Convention</a> The Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida Kissimmee, FL, September 12 </li><li><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1NPdiWDiTvqmk5KNF44mQA#/registration" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">&#34;Transformational Leadership: Creating Pathways for Child and Youth Engagement&#34;</a>  QIC-EY  Virtual, September 18  </li></ul>
October
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMpce2sqjMuGNXdxuOa98y5tWeouNxTLLwQ#/registration" rel="nofollow">&#34;Post-Permanency Instability: Using Data to Identify Foster Care Reentries&#34;</a> National Center for Enhanced Post-Adoption Support Virtual, October 16</li></ul>
November
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;" type="disc"><li><a href="https://www.cffutures.org/ftc-practice-academy/sustained-recovery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">&#34;Sustained Recovery: Don&#39;t Make Aftercare an Afterthought&#34;</a>  Children and Family Futures  Virtual, November 12  </li><li><a href="https://www.childwelfare.gov/stay-connected/events/2024-families-learning-conference/" rel="nofollow">2024 Families Learning Conference</a> National Center for Families Learning Louisville, KY, November 18–20</li></ul>

The Children's Bureau Learning and Coordination Center (CBLCC) developed a series of learning modules to help individuals and organizations engage in deep reflection and conversations centered on how racism

Learning Series Focuses on Race Equity in Child Welfare

The Children&#39;s Bureau Learning and Coordination Center (CBLCC) developed a series of <a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/shareable-media/modules/race-equity-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">learning modules</a> to help individuals and organizations engage in deep reflection and conversations centered on how racism and racial inequity exist in child welfare and what can be done to inspire and inform policy and practice change. The series, originally created for the <a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/shareable-media/modules/2024-race-equity-challenge/" rel="nofollow">Children&#39;s Bureau&#39;s 2024 Race Equity Challenge</a>, includes the following interactive learning modules:
<ul style="list-style-position: inside;"><li>The Road to Equity</li><li>Building on Protective Factors: Family Networks</li><li>Understanding Disproportionality in Child Welfare</li><li>Culture and Child Welfare</li><li>Shared Trauma, Collective Resilience, and Healing</li></ul>
Each module includes a short 10- to 20-minute video and a dedicated section in the companion <a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/wp-content/uploads/Reflection-Journal.pdf" rel="nofollow">reflection journal</a>, which provides reflection and exploration questions/prompts and a hyperlinked list of supplemental resources. Additionally, larger groups may find it helpful to use the <a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/wp-content/uploads/Exploration-Guide-for-Group-Facilitators.pdf" rel="nofollow">Exploration Guide for Group Facilitators</a> as they pursue this collective learning opportunity and engage in meaningful conversations focused on advancing racial equity in child welfare.
Visit the CBLCC <a href="https://cblcc.acf.hhs.gov/shareable-media/modules/race-equity-in-child-welfare/" rel="nofollow">website</a> for more information.
Related item: Read more about the journey to race equity in child welfare in the article <a href="https://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/article/2024/march/finding-our-way-a-message-from-the-associate-commissioner/3ff5ac261bc0ce1042d56577624bcb6b" rel="nofollow">&#34;Finding Our Way, A Message From the Associate Commissioner&#34;</a> in the March 2024 issue of CBX.

September 2024Vol. 25, No. 7Journal Special Issue Focuses on Kinship Care