This report presents findings from an in-depth qualitative exploration of adults’ perceptions of the threats facing children. Surveys were conducted with geographically, ethnically, and age-diverse group of parents, step-parents, grandparents, step-grandparents, grown siblings, aunts, uncles and other adults (n=100) on a wide range of topics including: top perceived threats to the welfare, wellness and well-being of today’s children, barriers currently in their path can interfere with the future of young people, physical and emotional issues, including health, obesity, bullying, and teen…
This paper discusses the need for targeted public investment in children’s mental and behavioral health and opportunities presented by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) for promoting children’s cognitive, affective, and behavioral health. The following points are made: emphases within the ACA for prevention and coordination of care enable more family focus, or the two-generation framework, however, important gaps remain that threaten the reach of evidence-based, family-focused health care and ultimately, healthy development; there are untapped opportunities to deliver…
The Responsible Fatherhood, Healthy Marriage and Family Strengthening Grants for Incarcerated and Reentering Fathers and Their Partners (MFS-IP) initiative was established in 2006 by the federal Office of Family Assistance (OFA), and required grantees serve fathers who were either incarcerated or recently released, as well as their spouses or committed partners. The grantees were required to deliver services to support healthy marriage and were also permitted to provide activities designed to improve parenting and support economic stability. From 2006 to 2011, the 12 MFS-IP sites delivered a…
In 2012, the Tennessee Department of Health included the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) module in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a telephone survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to analyze how ACEs affect the State’s general population. This report summarizes the findings from the analysis that indicate ACEs are widespread, common, and prevalent in Tennessee. Overall, 52% of the statewide population had at least one ACE, while 21% had three or more ACEs. Emotional abuse and parental separation or divorce rank as the most common…
The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University Silver School of Social Work recently partnered with the National Council for Behavioral Health to facilitate a yearlong Learning Community (LC), a promising methodology for helping organizations adopt and sustain practices and principles of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC). A total of 32 behavioral health organizations were enrolled in the LC, 92% of which reported having implemented trauma-informed care in at least six of the National Council’s seven TIC domains by the end of the LC, and 100% of which reported improving…
This tip card was developed for the June 2015 #DynamicDads Fatherhood Buzz effort. It contains a list of activities that dads can start or continue as well as statistics on father involvement.
The Parents and Children Together (PACT) evaluation, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research for the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is examining a set of Responsible Fatherhood (RF) and Healthy Marriage (HM) grantees funded by ACF’s Office of Family Assistance (OFA). One part of the evaluation—the qualitative study—focuses on the views and experiences of fathers who voluntarily enroll and participate in RF programs. This report describes themes and findings from the first round of in-depth interviews conducted as part of the…
This tip card was developed for the June 2015 #DynamicDads Fatherhood Buzz effort. It contains a list of activities that dads can start or continue as well as statistics on father involvement.
This fact sheet highlights effective strategies HMRF programs can implement to 1) retain staff and 2) be able to maintain services during times of staff transition. Examples and tips for implementing these strategies are included.
This Transition Tool is a follow up to the fact sheet, Achieving Program Stability through a Focus on Staffing, and provide practical strategies and tools for grantees to use such as a checklists, conversation guides, etc in effort to effectively manage and maintain staff commitment to the program as the grant program is ending.
