Other
Presents an overview of State laws that provide for the development and implementation of an alternative permanency plan concurrently with efforts to reunify the child with his or her family. Compared to more traditional sequential planning for permanency, in which one permanency plan is ruled out before an alternative is developed, concurrent planning may provide earlier permanency for a child. Full-text excerpts of laws for all States and U.S. territories are included.
Report, Other
This paper discusses three key policy areas regarding incarcerated mothers and fathers in Oregon: prison nurseries and community-based residential parenting programs; foster care laws; and parenting programs for incarcerated fathers. After reviewing background and best practices associated with policy implementation in each area, the paper explores ways in which policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates might address each policy area in Oregon, and suggests the formation of a legislative task force to address these issues. It emphasizes the need for increased policy attention to be focused on…
This paper calls on the United States government to lead and mobilize around a sensible and strategic global agenda for young children. It begins by explaining investing in young children globally is a primary means of achieving sustainable human, social, and economic development, all of which are vital to ensuring international peace and security. Information is then provided on: child fatalities; the success of evidence-based, results-oriented, coordinated, and effectively monitored international development assistance; U.S. funding of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) initiatives…
Other
Intended for social workers in Australia, this brief reviews the legal obligations of social workers to report suspected child abuse. Information is presented on the legal and ethical obligations of social workers to report suspected child abuse, general ethical guidelines when responding to the needs of vulnerable children and/or families, mandatory reporting of domestic and family violence in the Northern Territory, and legislative changes in Victoria that have added “Failure to Disclose” as an offense against adults who fail to disclose child sexual abuse to the policy and “Failure to…
This report identifies and discusses evidence about the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect. It explores the economic costs of child abuse and neglect and outlines broad policy implications, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom. Specifically, the report outlines evidence from the United Kingdom and other countries about the association between family poverty and child abuse and neglect; evidence from the United Kingdom and other countries about the impact of childhood abuse or neglect on poverty in adulthood; evidence about the costs of child abuse and neglect;…
This report summarizes the final findings of an evaluation of five community-based initiatives in Washington State that were intended to prevent child maltreatment and exposure to toxic stress, mitigate their effects, and improve a wide array of child and youth development outcomes. The evaluation was conducted in two phases. During the first phase (2013–2014), the evaluation team assessed the contexts in which the sites were operating, the strategies the sites used to increase their collective community capacity to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and the impact of their…
This executive summary highlights the findings of a study that evaluated five community-based initiatives in Washington State intended to prevent child maltreatment and exposure to toxic stress, mitigate their effects, and improve a wide array of child and youth development outcomes. The evaluation was conducted in two phases. During the first phase (2013–2014), the evaluation team assessed the contexts in which the sites were operating, the strategies the sites used to increase their collective community capacity to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and the impact of their…
This report describes the activities and outcomes of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, a council designed to reduce recidivism among former prisoners and improve outcomes related to employment, education, housing, health, and child welfare. Comprised of more than 20 federal agencies, the Reentry Council coordinates and leverages existing federal resources, dispels myths and clarifies policies, elevates programs and policies that work, and reduces the policy barriers to successful reentry. The following accomplishments of the Reentry Council in its first five years are described:…
This report begins by explaining that since October 2015, the Re-Invest in Supportive Environments (RISE) for Youth Campaign Coalition has strived to reduce the number of youth in Virginia involved in the juvenile justice system, and increase the number of evidence- informed community-based programs and placements. It then lists the principles driving the program and cites statistics on the number of youth incarcerated in Virginia, the recidivism of formerly incarcerated youth, the overrepresentation of African American youth, and the lack of mathematics and English proficiency among…
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in the United States. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than six million men in the United States have depression in a given year and studies indicate that at least 10 percent of fathers are depressed both before and after their children are born. This brief provides an overview of previous research about men and depression, identifies factors associated with fathers’ risk of depression during the first year of their child’s life, and offers tips on how fatherhood programs can help fathers identify and…
