Angelique G Day | University of Washington (original) (raw)

Websites by Angelique G Day

Funded by the United States Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & ... more Funded by the United States Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Children’s Bureau, beginning in October 2021, the Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency (QIC-EY) is charged with advancing child welfare programs and practice to ensure that they are authentically engaging and empowering children and youth in foster care throughout the U.S., especially in relation to permanency decisions. It is expected that the components and impact of the QIC-EY will bring about systemic changes in how children and youth are authentically engaged as reflected in intentional policy, practice, and culture shifts in the 6-8 pilot sites.

Voices for Adoption Website, 2021

Public News Service, 2015

Chronicle for Social Change, 2016

The CORE (Critical Ongoing Resource family Education) project is a state-of-the-art training pro... more The CORE (Critical Ongoing Resource family Education) project is a state-of-the-art training program that equips resource parents with skills necessary to meet the needs of older youth who have moderate to serious emotional and behavior health challenges. This training program guides families through a self-assessment process; provide classroom instruction to build their understanding of trauma; and support skill development through the creation of real-time training tools. Spaulding for Children worked with partnering agencies, including 3 states and 1 tribe and a national committee of experts to identify core competencies; develop the training curriculum; and pilot the implementation of the curriculum. The objective of the training to provide resource parents (Foster, Adoptive and Kinship) with the knowledge, skills and assets they need to effectively manage the behavioral challenges older youth exhibit, resulting in an increased likelihood families will welcome these children into their homes, maintain placement stability and commit to permanence, thus enhancing youth well-being.

This curriculum is open access and available free to all interested users.

The NRC-FAHE is a network of researchers and practitioners whose aim is to improve practice and i... more The NRC-FAHE is a network of researchers and practitioners whose aim is to improve practice and influence policy related to foster care / alumni and higher education by creating and advancing a clear research agenda and facilitating communication and collaboration among interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners to promote postsecondary access and retention of youth in care and foster care alumni. The NRC-FAHE promotes innovative ways to use research and best practices to inform and influence policy making and values practice-informed research and the voice of youth in care and foster care alumni in improving access and outcomes in higher education.

Foster and adoptive parents are in the front lines of care for vulnerable children, many of whom ... more Foster and adoptive parents are in the front lines of care for vulnerable children, many of whom have experienced complex trauma and all of whom have experienced some level of separation and loss. Foster and adoptive parents have the challenging, yet rewarding, task of welcoming these children into their families. Although parents start this journey with good intentions, parents are often not fully prepared for the challenges they might encounter, and which ultimately can impede their ability to provide stability and permanence. As such, it is essential that parents are provided with ample, comprehensive information at the start of this journey, enabling them to make informed decisions and to develop a new set of skills that are effective and aligned when caring for children who have experienced trauma and loss. These parents also need to have access to ongoing training and skill development so they can build their capacity and resilience as their needs and their children’s needs change over time.

The NTDC aims to accomplish the goal of preparing foster and adoptive parents for this journey through three program components: self-assessments, classroom-based training, and “right-time” training.

It has been over nine years since the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions A... more It has been over nine years since the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (P.L. 110-351) was signed into law. The law was enacted, in part, as a response to the number of children across the country who have lacked permanent homes and are overrepresented in school dropout statistics -issues that harm their prospects to transition successfully into adulthood.

The passage to adulthood is challenging for anyone, but for youth in foster care it can be especi... more The passage to adulthood is challenging for anyone, but for youth in foster care it can be especially lonesome, confusing , and uncertain. Despite facing significant challenges, youth currently or previously involved in the foster care system demonstrate extraordinary courage, determination, and resilience. It is important to provide these youth, and the supportive adults who work with them, the resources and assistance needed to achieve stability and independence.

Transition planning for higher education is critical to a seamless and successful shift from adolescence to adulthood.

Trauma-informed teaching involves many components that aid students, who have a history of trauma... more Trauma-informed teaching involves many components that aid students, who have a history of trauma, succeed academically. Our “throw-away" children are being exited out of classrooms via suspensions and/or expulsions, but the underlying issue is that educators are not trained to address the needs of students with history of trauma in their classrooms. Educators need information about how trauma impacts brain development, behavior, and learning.

There is a need for greater trauma-informed teaching practices in the school environment. Schools can benefit directly from these students' thoughts and perceptions of their learning environment as educators make decisions on what teaching strategies to implement in the classroom. Additionally, the challenges faced by court-involved youth are complex and widespread, as large portions of the youth population have had court contact, either as wards of the foster care or juvenile delinquency systems. The lived experiences of court involved youth impacts learning and school culture, and solicits youth voice in creating a trauma-informed intervention to improve student educational well-being.

Founded in 2012, TIPwaynestate has provided services to over 134 foster care alumni enrolled in c... more Founded in 2012, TIPwaynestate has provided services to over 134 foster care alumni enrolled in college from the South East Michigan area.

Founded in August 2012, Wayne State University School of Social Work houses one of the largest co... more Founded in August 2012, Wayne State University School of Social Work houses one of the largest college retention programs targeting youth in foster care in the nation.

Papers by Angelique G Day

Child Welfare, 2025

Th is research focuses on findings from 11 interviews with leading legal professionals were analy... more Th is research focuses on findings from 11 interviews with leading
legal professionals were analyzed for key themes. Nine themes
emerged regarding engaging youth for successful judicial proceedings: (1) early engagement/rapport building, (2) youth age/expertise, (3) accommodating online interactions, (4) participation in important decisions, (5) cross-cultural engagement, (6) thoughtful courtroom design, (7) addressing transportation challenges, (8) effective communication, and (9) post-hearing follow-through. The findings support prior research that emphasizes the importance of engagement.

Child and Adolescent Social Work, 2024

This study aimed to observe contraceptive access, including types of contraceptives and level of ... more This study aimed to observe contraceptive access, including types of contraceptives and level of use, among girls and young adults living in foster care following a state policy insurance change. This cohort study utilized linked, state administrative data to analyze child welfare and Medicaid claims data of 1641 female foster youth in Michigan. Oral tablets with a supply of 30 days before exhaustion was the most frequently prescribed contraceptive (77%), while injections, implants, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) that have longer periods of use before exhaustion were rarely prescribed. Longer-term use products were prescribed with decreased frequency in the Medicaid Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) period than in the Medicaid Fee for Service (FFS) period. Foster youth placed in residential care experienced greater access to contraceptive care than those placed in family-based settings (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.63, 95% CI = (0.56-0.72)) and those living independently (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.55, 95% CI = (0.48-0.64)). Those in the largest urban county had less access (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.81, 95% CI = (0.71-0.92)) to contraceptives than those from other counties in the State. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Journal of Public Child Welfare, 2024

This qualitative study utilized interviews with American Indian/ Alaskan Native young adults with... more This qualitative study utilized interviews with American Indian/ Alaskan Native young adults with lived expertise in foster care, Tribal child welfare workers and court professionals to gather training ideas to prepare the workforce for their role in supporting children and youth in achieving permanency (relational, cultural, and legal). Seven themes were identified: child engagement in court, service (in)sufficiency, definition of permanency, cultural connectedness, listening/respecting youth, benefits of authentic youth engagement, and recommendations for practice. This study expands the literature on youth involvement in permanency planning through a culturally aligned lens.

Families in Society, 2024

Editorial Prelude to Special Issue

Child and Family Social Work, 2024

Being a foster, relative or adoptive parent (herein referred to as 'resource parent') is a crucia... more Being a foster, relative or adoptive parent (herein referred to as 'resource parent') is a crucial but highly challenging role. Resource parent trainings are designed to build knowledge, skills, preparation and confidence in resource parents prior to beginning their support of children and youth. However, often resource parents go into these roles feeling unconfident and unprepared to fulfill their responsibilities. The National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC) is a new curriculum developed with support from the United States Children's Bureau. This study compares the perceived preparation, confidence and willingness to care for a variety of subgroups of children at baseline and 6 months after training of caregivers who participated in NTDC training curriculum versus training as usual to assess whether the NTDC curriculum led to improved caregiver preparation to foster or adopt. NTDC caregivers were found to have more positive differences than control group caregivers from baseline (pretraining) to follow-up on confidence to care for children considered challenging, confidence to care for children across multiple age ranges and perceived preparation to care for children aged 13 years and older. NTDC is a promising new resource that can help overcome some traditional resource parent training and preparation-related challenges.

Child Abuse & Neglect, 2024

Background: Resource parent trainings are an important factor in caregiver readiness and retentio... more Background: Resource parent trainings are an important factor in caregiver readiness and retention, which can improve placement stability and permanency achievement for children and youth, especially those who are marginalized. Objective: Resource parents need access to evidence-based training programs attentive to caring for children and youth from a variety of diverse backgrounds. This study evaluates placement, permanency, and stability outcomes of children whose resource parents were trained in one such program: the National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC). Participants and setting: Participants include adults who completed a resource parent training program (N = 3822) and children in their care (N = 2565) in the U.S. states of Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Missouri. Methods: This quasi-experimental study involved statistical testing of caregivers and children using AFCARS data. Propensity-score matching was used to control for differences in the child permanency analysis. Results: With a better understanding of the realities of fostering, NTDC participants were slightly less likely to foster after training (OR = 0.6; p < .001), self-selecting out before taking a child into the home. Those who did foster were more likely to foster a child who is a teen (OR = 1.4; p = .004), Asian/Asian American (OR = 3.8; p = .02), Black/African American (OR = 1.6; p < .001), or Hispanic/Latinx (OR = 1.7; p = .002). Children of NTDC caregivers entered legal adoptions (OR = 2.0; p = .003) and guardianships (OR = 2.9; p = .03) at higher rates than children of comparison caregivers, while rates of reunification (OR = 1.3; p = .11) were not statistically different. Conclusions: Evidence points to the effectiveness of NTDC in preparing resource parents to provide care for a diverse range of children by age, race, and ethnicity, and for those children to achieve permanency.

Clinical Social Work Journal, 2024

This study assessed the effectiveness of Washington State's kinship navigator to (1) increase ser... more This study assessed the effectiveness of Washington State's kinship navigator to (1) increase service utilization, (2) promote caregiver satisfaction and (3) increase caregiver wellbeing. Using propensity-score matching, kinship caregivers who received enhanced case management kinship navigator services were matched to a comparison group of kinship caregivers who received services as usual (information and referral only) in their communities. The matched sample showed strong baseline equivalence on caregiver age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Caregivers who received enhanced case management services experienced greater rates of well-being and greater service utilization in key service and benefit areas (i.e., support groups and child-only TANF). There was no effect observed related to caregiver satisfaction.

Voices for Adoption Website, 2021

Public News Service, 2015

Chronicle for Social Change, 2016

This curriculum is open access and available free to all interested users.

Transition planning for higher education is critical to a seamless and successful shift from adolescence to adulthood.

Child Welfare, 2025

Child and Adolescent Social Work, 2024

Journal of Public Child Welfare, 2024

Families in Society, 2024

Editorial Prelude to Special Issue

Child and Family Social Work, 2024

Child Abuse & Neglect, 2024

Clinical Social Work Journal, 2024

Research on Social Work Practice, 2024

Caregiving for children in foster, kinship, and adoptive placements (hereon referred to as resour... more Caregiving for children in foster, kinship, and adoptive placements (hereon referred to as resource parenting) is a challenging role that requires unique knowledge and skills, but there is limited evidence for currently available trainings. The National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC) was recently developed with support from the US Children's Bureau. Methods: Baseline and 6-month follow-up surveys from 540 resource parents receiving NTDC training and 409 receiving training-as-usual (propensity score matched; group assignment based on location) were compared on a variety of knowledge types and skills. Results: NTDC parents had larger growth in trauma-informed parenting, potential to promote positive child development, and key resource parent knowledge from baseline to post-training. NTDC parent growth in receptivity to working with biological parents approached but did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: NTDC offers promise as a new training resource for improving resource parent knowledge and skills.

Children and Youth Services Review, 2024

Although kinship care is a mainstay across many Latine cultures, few studies have examined the ex... more Although kinship care is a mainstay across many Latine cultures, few studies have examined the experiences of Latine kinship caregivers, a group of caregivers who may be subject to a unique combination of stressors including language barriers, immigration, and racism. Using a sample of 736 kinship caregivers (M age = 58.9, 89.8 % women) who participated in a statewide survey of kinship caregiver needs and navigator services in Washington State, this mixed method, exploratory study compares the challenges and unmet needs of Latine (n = 60) and non-Latine (n = 676) kinship caregivers and examines how kinship navigator programs address the unique needs of Latine kinship families. While bivariate analyses suggested Latine and non-Latine caregivers experience similar challenges and unmet needs, a series of linear and logistic regression models indicated that, compared to non-Latine caregivers, Latine caregivers (1) were more likely to report parent deportation as a circumstance leading to kinship care, (2) had lower annual incomes, (3) were more likely to report an unmet medical need for their child, and (4) had a greater number of children under age 18 living in their home, on average. A content analysis of two focus groups (total n = 7) consisting of Spanish-speaking, Latine kinship caregivers suggested that while navigator programs adeptly addressed their legal and mental health issues, these kinship families still experienced economic hardship and struggled to navigate immigration issues. Altogether, findings highlight the need for services that accurately reflect the unique challenges and needs experienced by Latine kinship families.

Families In Society, 2023

Kinship placement has been shown to be superior to foster care in increasing permanency and safet... more Kinship placement has been shown to be superior to foster care in increasing permanency and safety for children. Despite the many benefits of kinship placement, kinship caregivers receive less support than foster family, and this creates unique challenges. This study analyzes data from a state-wide kinship caregiver survey with 868 respondents. Caregivers reported their top three challenges and needs, which were stratified by caregiver-reported income, location of residence, and reasons for the child’s placement into kinship care. We found striking differences in reported challenges and needs based on income, region, and reason for placement. This further demonstrates the need for support for kinship families and can help develop targeted policies to alleviate challenges faced by kinship caregivers across the state.

Families in Society, 2023

Youth with foster care experience are far more likely to face mental health challenges than their... more Youth with foster care experience are far more likely to face mental health challenges than their peers in the general population. Non-talk alternative treatments such as art therapy, movement therapy, music therapy, and equine-assisted psychotherapy show promise for these youth.
However, as of now, there is no clear agreement between or guidance offered to states on whether alternative therapies are covered by Medicaid, which is the primary insurance for most youth with foster care experience. This paper offers policy recommendations on this issue in
order to achieve equitable access to mental health care for youth with foster care experience.

Families in Society, 2023

Permanency generally refers to long-lasting family connections and support for youth. Historicall... more Permanency generally refers to long-lasting family connections and support for youth. Historically, the U.S. child welfare system has focused primarily on legal permanency. Relational and cultural permanency has recently gained some attention while being largely left out of federal policy. This study provides a statistical analysis of permanency-related terms in posts from an online community of people with lived experience in foster care. The results indicate that people with lived experience discussed topics of legal, relational, and cultural permanency more frequently than people who have not spent time in foster care, with a focus on aging out, religion, holidays, friends, loneliness, and community. People with lived experience also discussed permanency-related topics in help-seeking ways. Implications include the need to broaden the understanding of permanency through recommendations for policy and practice.

Families in Society, 2023

Kinship caregiving, especially the phenomenon of grandparents providing sole care for their grand... more Kinship caregiving, especially the phenomenon of grandparents providing sole care for their grandchildren, occurs at a higher rate in American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities than in any other demographic group. In 2017, the State of Washington allocated resources to seven tribes to build and implement culturally relevant kinship navigation programs. Survey results (N = 70) of AI/AN kinship caregivers in the state indicate that caregiver needs, service access, and utilization look different in tribal communities as compared with research conducted in nontribal communities. Specifically, AI/AN caregivers are more likely to report challenges with obtaining housing, transportation, and working with their kinship children’s school than nontribal caregivers. Focus groups with tribal kinship navigators (N = 9) from five of these seven programs describe the greatest challenges they’ve experienced with program implementation including program eligibility, what kinship caregivers most often ask for assistance with, what system-level disparities that exist between tribal and nontribal kinship navigator programs and provide suggestions for program improvement.

Children and Youth Services Review, 2023

Trauma-informed parenting is increasingly essential for children in foster care. This study evalu... more Trauma-informed parenting is increasingly essential for children in foster care. This study evaluated survey responses from participants before and after an in-service, trauma-informed training that is accessible online in the United States. A total of 361 participants in-service foster and adoptive parents from areas throughout the United States completed three surveys across 1,282 training sessions that each covered one of 15 thematic areas. This within-group, cross-sectional study design assessed the caregiver competency, knowledge gain, and satisfaction (i.e., perceived usability, usefulness, amount) of participants. Results indicated that after the training, participants felt more competent in their caregiving abilities, experienced moderate gains in parenting knowledge, and were satisfied with the quality of the training. One implication of these findings is that an asynchronous, online setting can be a feasible and acceptable modality for expanding access and availability of in-service foster and adoptive parent training programs.

Families in Society, 2023

This piece, authored by the public policy subcommittee of the editorial board, Families in Societ... more This piece, authored by the public policy subcommittee of the editorial board, Families in Society, provides guidance to authors on how to write policy briefs for the journal that have practical utility for use by policymakers.

Journal of Trauma Studies in Education, 2023

Trauma-exposed female students experience distinct challenges that impact their academic well-bei... more Trauma-exposed female students experience distinct challenges that impact their academic well-being. This study qualitatively explores female students' school experiences from two high school settings one trauma-informed school and one comparison school that did not utilize a trauma-informed approach. This study examines how students describe emotional experiences in their academic environment and their suggestions for school improvement; as well as how their descriptions differ from comparison school students. Trauma-informed school participants experienced their education environment as emotionally supportive but were triggered by other students. They also suggest that teachers do a better job of recognizing their unique circumstances but describe stronger connections to school staff in comparison to the students at the non-trauma-informed school. Implications are addressed.

APSAC Advisor, 2022

The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act/Interethnic Adoption Provisions (MEPA-IEP) are policies based on c... more The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act/Interethnic Adoption Provisions (MEPA-IEP) are policies based on color-blind racial ideology that are designed to decrease time to permanency, prevent racially discriminatory placement decisions, and facilitate recruitment of diverse foster/adoptive parents. Since implementation, children of color continue to experience disproportionate entries into care and spend more time in care. Samerace adoptions have declined, and recruitment of prospective parents of color has not been prioritized in implementation efforts. A repeal of MEPA-IEP is needed to remove the color-blind features of the policy. Ideal replacement legislation would encourage workers to use race as a criterion to evaluate the ability of prospective parents to meet children's needs, provide incentives for states to recruit foster and adoptive parents of color, and mandate prospective parent and workforce training to facilitate cultural and relational permanency for children.

Child and Family Social Work, 2023

Early childbirth is common among young women ageing out of foster care and may impede their educa... more Early childbirth is common among young women ageing out of foster care and may impede their educational progress. However, few studies have explored access to postsecondary education among young mothers who have been in foster care. The present study used data from a large, national sample of young people in foster care (National Youth in Transition Database, NYTD) to examine the link between early childbirth and young women's access to postsecondary education between ages 19 and 21, controlling for an array of covariates. The study sample included 2,207 young women who had completed a high school diploma or GED by age 19 and who participated in three NYTD interviews at ages 17, 19 and 21. Childbirth between ages 19 and 21 was linked to decreased access to postsecondary education. However, no relationship was found between access to postsecondary education and childbirth by age 17 or childbirth between ages 17 and 19. Implications for policy, practice and research are discussed.

The Educational Forum, 2023

This study explores the intersections of race, gender, and trauma in students' school experiences... more This study explores the intersections of race, gender, and trauma in students' school experiences. We collected focus group data from 36 trauma-exposed Black girls and 10 trauma-exposed Black boys from two urban high schools. Data was analyzed using an intersectional framework and resulted in the following themes: (1) Don't touch the Students; (2) You Gettin' Suspended; (3) You Supposed to Be the Bigger person; and (4) If We Have a Uniform, they Should Have a Uniform. Implications are discussed.

FIJ Quarterly, 2022

Studies have shown that Kinship placement and guardianship has the lowest rate of reentry into th... more Studies have shown that Kinship placement and guardianship has the lowest rate of reentry into the foster care system. However, potential
Kinship caregivers are denied the opportunity to care for the children they love because of barriers to licensure and restricted use of KinGAP (Kinship Guardianship Assistance Programs). Federal child welfare and foster
care legislative reform is needed to provide children, their relatives, and fictive kin with easier ways of establishing guardianship as a form of permanency. Through the nationwide implementation of KinGAP, diligent recruitment of relatives as a part of case planning for permanent guardianship, the adoption of standardized licensing requirements, and
parity in funding and supports to kin guardians we can address the obstacles Kinship guardians face when trying to care for their family.

Handbook of Forensic Social Work, 2024

Perhaps no other system has more systematic & intentional integration of policy, law, and practic... more Perhaps no other system has more systematic & intentional integration of policy, law, and practice than public child welfare in the United States. This chapter defines child welfare as a public system (state, county, tribe or territory) with statutory oversight to protect & prevent child maltreatment and the affiliated court systems mandated to provide legal oversight and decision-making. While many significant public policies and laws shape public child welfare, we have elected to provide a critical overview of five important policies that describe the relationship between the public child welfare agency and the court in child welfare policy and practice implementation. A discussion of each policy and its primary goals, along with a critical review of each policy's strengths and unintended consequence, is provided. Finally, this chapter will offer future directions of child welfare policy. The five selected policies highlight essential shifts in public child welfare practice over time.

Compendium of policy & practice: Approaches to family and child support and stability, Volume 3 Part 1, 2023

This chapter introduces the racial, ethnic, and cultural dissimilarity between children in the fo... more This chapter introduces the racial, ethnic, and cultural dissimilarity between children in the foster care system and the resource parents who care for them. When resource parents are not trained to meet the racial, ethnic and cultural needs of the children in their care, it can impact children's well-being. To promote more effective foster parenting in culturally diverse family units, we present our findings about the demographic characteristics and the expressed training needs of resource parent trainers from a nationwide pre-service training. Overall, this chapter sheds light on the culturally relevant training needs of resource parents.

Child Neglect, Inequity, and Poverty: Contextual Issues and Implications, 2023

Neglect is the predominant form of child maltreatment reported to child welfare agencies and pove... more Neglect is the predominant form of child maltreatment reported to child welfare agencies and poverty among families of color. Thus, racial injustice in the differential way in which society allocates income and jobs predicts that children of color from families of low income would be most
affected by laws governing placement, permanency, and adoption
(i.e., MEPA-IEP); parents of color in the child welfare system are placed in especially precarious conditions as impoverishment and its correlates may drive adoption processes, implicating colorblind inattention to cultural continuity for their child in the adoption process.

To redress this institutionally sanctioned practice of relational
and cultural neglect, a repeal of MEPA-IEP is needed to remove the
colorblind features of the policy. A replacement policy is needed that:
(a) prioritizes cultural and relational continuity (including efforts
that allow children to maintain relationships with birth parents,
and when this is not possible, greater use of relative placements);
(b) encourages workers to use race as a criterion to evaluate the ability of prospective foster and adoptive parents, including kin, to meet
children’s needs; (c) provides incentives for states to recruit Black,
Indigenous, and other foster and adoptive parents of color; and
The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act (d) mandates prospective parent and workforce training to facilitate discussions on their roles in promoting cultural permanency, relational permanency, and legal permanency for children.

Wiley Press, 2022

The time is now to examine the nation's capacity to help guide students in gaining access to, pay... more The time is now to examine the nation's capacity to help guide students in gaining access to, paying for, and graduating from college. College promise programs have served as an excellent model. But because a uniform, national college promise model would not adequately serve the estimated 20 million students in postsecondary education, ETS and College Promise launched an effort to expand the work on college promise programs to identify ecosystems of support for specific student populations. In 2021, we invited scholars, practitioners, and student representatives to join a design team and co-create the college promise program for their student populations: first-generation students, youth in or aged out of foster care, students with disabilities, student parents, and students needing academic support. In multiple panel discussions, other colleagues reviewed the ecosystem designs, focusing on college promise programs in general, the design of the ecosystems of support, or the financing of the ecosystems. Several key themes emerged from the meeting: (a) Although the design teams focused on one aspect of a student's life, they stressed the importance of focusing on the intersectionality of their identities; (b) terminology and definitions are important not only for policy and practice reasons but for the messages they send to students about inclusion; (c) financing a college education is more than paying tuition and fees; (d) enhanced data collection will support research, policy, and practice; and (e) developing a college promise program requires a focus on both students and postsecondary institutions.

Social, Economic and Environmental Justice: Building Social Work Practice Skills, 2021

Educational schooling in the U.S. has had a troubling and complicated history, leading to the per... more Educational schooling in the U.S. has had a troubling and complicated history, leading to the perpetuation of systematic barriers for certain youth populations in our country. This has had a long-standing negative impact on the schooling experience of many young people in contemporary school settings. There are a number of disparities related to education, particularly connected to social class and being a youth of color as well as other factors such as being gender expansive, homeless, or system-involved, all of which can result in lower academic outcomes. Lack of educational achievement and attainment has significant consequences that extend into adulthood, in particular related to economic opportunities.

Safe, Supportive & Inclusive Learning Environments for Young People in Crisis and Trauma: Plaiting the Rope, 2020

Children and young people from diverse populations are statistically more at risk of exclusion, h... more Children and young people from diverse populations are statistically more at risk of exclusion, however education providers can make a difference to all children and young persons’ learning outcomes no matter what their personal circumstances. To achieve this, not only must educators form closer and more authentic relationships with these children and their communities, but the governments that fund learning environments must also be prepared to provide adequate resourcing and training opportunities.

Safe, Supportive, and Inclusive Learning Environments for Young People in Crisis and Trauma addresses both the general and specific issues that may prevent children and young people from diverse populations from being safe, supported, and included in learning environments. Some chapters focus on general factors that contribute to both inclusion and exclusion at early childhood and in formal school environments, while others present research-based best practice and practical advice to enable good education outcomes for indigenous, migrant, and LGBTQI children and those who experience mental health problems, drug misuse, and abuse. Lastly, the book includes information about how to negotiate and set up programmes that have been shown to be effective with communities that differ from the dominant culture.

This book provides practitioners in education, health, and social work with information and practical advice on how to retain all children and young people in early childhood, formal school education, and tertiary settings.

This chapter is published in Social Work Speaks (10th Ed). National Association of Social Workers... more This chapter is published in Social Work Speaks (10th Ed). National Association of Social Workers Policy Statements 2015-2017. Published by NASW Press (2017).

This chapter is published in Rural Child Welfare Practice: Stories from the Field, edited by Dr. ... more This chapter is published in Rural Child Welfare Practice: Stories from the Field, edited by Dr. Joanne Riebschleger and Barbara Pierce. Published by Oxford Press (2018).

The education and training voucher is the first federal program specifically created to address t... more The education and training voucher is the first federal program specifically created to address the post-secondary educational needs of current and former foster youth. The population of ETV eligible youth (those who have been in foster care on or after their 14th birthday and those who have not been adopted before their 16th birthday) is considerable. According to the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), In September 2011, more than 26,000 young people aged out of foster care (11% of the total foster care population). Despite the economic advantages of completing high school and obtaining a post-secondary education credential, foster care youth lag far behind the national trends. This is concerning because foster care youth with limited educational attainment are at very high risk for unemployment, homelessness, incarceration, and dependence on public assistance.

Wrote the Foreword in If Not for Dreams: Memoirs of a Foster Child, edited by Debrea Watson, PhD... more Wrote the Foreword in If Not for Dreams: Memoirs of a Foster Child, edited by Debrea Watson, PhD. Published by My Vision Works Publishing.

This chapter is published in American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Mental Health: Develo... more This chapter is published in American Indian and Alaska Native Children and Mental Health: Development, Context, Prevention, and Treatment (Child Psychology and Mental Health), edited by Spicer, S., Farrell, P., Sarche, M., & Fitzgerald, H. Published by Praeger & ABC CLIO, Inc.

This chapter is published in Facing the Future: The Indian Child Welfare Act at 30, edited by Fle... more This chapter is published in Facing the Future: The Indian Child Welfare Act at 30, edited by Fletcher, M., Sengel, W. & Fort, K. Published by MSU Press.

This book recaps the childhood experiences of 11 young people who have lived in the foster care s... more This book recaps the childhood experiences of 11 young people who have lived in the foster care system

Section on Child Maltreatment Insider, 2024

Greetings members of APA's Div. 37 Section on Child Maltreatment. I am pleased to provide a repor... more Greetings members of APA's Div. 37 Section on Child Maltreatment. I am pleased to provide a report of Section activities since last winter, to highlight upcoming section activities you won't want to miss. Our Policy feature this quarter is focused on both legislative and federal administrative policy guidance that is designed to enhance protections for youth over represented in the Child Welfare System.

Section on Child Maltreatment INSIDER, 2023

I am humbled to have begun serving the Section as president this year and beyond grateful for Kar... more I am humbled to have begun serving the Section as president this year and beyond grateful for Karen Carmody's continued support as past president. It was a pleasure to have recently represented the Section on Child Maltreatment at Division 37's executive board midwinter meeting in Atlanta in February. The midwinter meeting facilitated areas for Division and Section intersection and collaboration which will strengthen Division and Section efforts. The Section has continued its efforts to engage and recruit members, disseminate information via social media, connect with crossover members at relevant conventions, and highlight policy updates and current issues pertaining to child maltreatment in the Section's newsletters. Please follow the Section's LinkedIn page and Twitter account (@Div37ChildMaltx) where you will meet and engage with others working in child maltreatment prevention and treatment and learn about relevant news, jobs, and conference information. I am also happy to share with you a few highlights since our last newsletter.

Section on Child Maltreatment INSIDER, 2024

Greetings members of the American Psychological Association's Div. 37 Section on Child Maltreatme... more Greetings members of the American Psychological Association's Div. 37 Section on Child Maltreatment. I am pleased to provide a report of Section activities since last winter, to highlight upcoming section activities you won't want to miss, and to congratulate our Section award-winners. Policy updates are on page 7.

Children's Voice, 32 (1), 2023

This article lays out the extent of kinship caregiver use across the US, paying attention to both... more This article lays out the extent of kinship caregiver use across the US, paying attention to both formal and informal caregiver arrangements. Differences are described in resource availability between formal and informal caregivers. Kinship navigation is described as the most comprehensive service available to date that serves both population types. Washington State's kinship navigator program is described, including evaluation information being collected to establish it as an evidence based program.

Children's Voice, 2021

Service agency partnerships with universities allow for high fidelity implementation, evaluation,... more Service agency partnerships with universities allow for high fidelity implementation, evaluation, and impact of kinship navigator programs

APA Section on Child Maltreatment Insider, 2018

The Grand Voice Newsletter

I was interviewed on my dissertation research by Helen Milojevich, Graduate Student, American Psy... more I was interviewed on my dissertation research by Helen Milojevich, Graduate Student, American Psychological Association, Division 37, Section on Child Maltreatment

Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter (/division-37/publications/newsletters/maltreatment/inde... more Section on Child Maltreatment Newsletter (/division-37/publications/newsletters/maltreatment/index.aspx) | September 2017 (/division-37/publications/newsletters/maltreatment/2017/09/index.aspx)

Policy and Practice Brief, NASW Press

The Roundtable, A, publication of the National Resource Center on Adoption, Children's Bureau, Jun 2014

The Roundtable, A, publication of the National Resource Center on Adoption, Children's Bureau, Feb 2014

American Psychological Association Child Maltreatment Newsletter, 2011

MASA Leader, Michigan Association of School Administrators

MASA Leader, published by Michigan Association of School Administrators

Aging Section Connection, NASW

UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, 2024

Students with foster care involvement are particularly affected, often experiencing multiple trau... more Students with foster care involvement are particularly affected, often experiencing multiple traumatic events that can impact their behavior and learning. The MONARCH Room® (Multifaceted Approach Offering New Beginnings Aimed at Recovery, Change, and Hope) intervention uses trauma-informed strategies to improve school discipline by keeping students engaged in learning rather than subjecting them to suspensions. Through the work of the CA MTSS Research Consortium and in partnership with Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS), the MONARCH Room® research team implemented the program in 12 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) middle and high schools, provided training for school staff known as Champions, and collected data through surveys and focus groups to evaluate the initiative’s effectiveness and challenges.

This report details the findings of a survey of adults identifying as Native American or Indigeno... more This report details the findings of a survey of adults identifying as Native
American or Indigenous who had been in the child welfare system in Oklahoma as youth. The goal of the survey was to get perspectives from those with lived experience in the child welfare system, particularly around placement decisions and efforts to help youth stay engaged with their culture.

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services, 2023

The National Training and Development Curriculum was initially developed as an in-person training... more The National Training and Development Curriculum was initially developed as an in-person training and was adapted to fit into a virtual platform last spring and summer due to COVID. Most of the pilot sites are now conducting virtual training. An average of 214 facilitator responses were represented in the
fidelity monitoring process for each theme (range 172-265). This report provides a compilation of information collected from 3,642 fidelity
forms across the 17 curricular themes. Fidelity forms are used to determine the amount and extent to which curriculum information and activities are covered. This report describes each theme’s overall activity completion rates, the duration of time to complete the theme, and feedback from the facilitators on what worked well by theme. Facilitators also provided information about adjustments they made to training activities, and/or
recommendations they would like to see changed in preparation for future training classes. The information in this report was collected from August 2020 to September 2022.

CA MTSS Research Consortium UCLA Center for Transformational Schools, 2023

The Multi-Tiered System of Support has brought considerable attention to the academic needs of st... more The Multi-Tiered System of Support has brought considerable attention to the academic needs of students with foster care experience (FCE). To help identify effective strategies that address these needs, this brief details the findings of a case study of Sweetwater Union High School District (SUHSD), based in Chula Vista, California, and its practices, programs, and policies that promote the academic well-being of students with FCE. Conjointly, drawing from interviews with California high school graduates with FCE, we will also report students’ recommendations for schools serving such students, as well as best practices identified in focus groups conducted with educators and service providers.

The conceptualization and development of this resource occurred through a collaborative partnersh... more The conceptualization and development of this resource occurred through a collaborative partnership between Casey Family Programs, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, the Capacity Building Center for States/ICF, James Bell Associates, and the University of South Florida. Representatives from these organizations worked together to build research, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) capacity within state and local public child welfare agencies.

Quality Improvement Center for Youth Engagement, Children's Bureau, 2022

Interviews were conducted with eleven tribal child welfare agency workers (including program admi... more Interviews were conducted with eleven tribal child welfare agency workers (including program administrators, supervisors, and direct line staff), court professionals (including a tribal judge and a practicing attorney), and young adults with lived experience in foster care. Collectively, these participants represented the views of tribal child welfare experts in five different states (Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Washington). A framework analysis was conducted to understand how youth engagement policy and practices have been implemented in tribal child welfare settings from the perspective of these various stakeholder groups. Common forms of youth engagement that emerged showed that youth were most likely to be a part of permanency decisions about their care and in relational permanency efforts including family finding and supporting fictive kin relationships. Youth described that state and county workers struggled to engage youth in efforts to promote cultural permanency, as there appeared to be limited guidance regarding how to gather information about which aspects of their culture a youth found most important and meaningful. The tribal child welfare administrators and court professionals supported youth engagement in court by encouraging them to attend and accommodating youth attendance, eliciting information about what youth would like to tell the court, among other strategies.

National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC) includes thre... more National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents (NTDC) includes three components: self-assessment, classroom-based training, and Right-Time training. Right-Time training is an online as-needed training resource for caregivers who wish to reinforce their knowledge and skills after the classroom-based curriculum. This report evaluates the training effectiveness of the Right-Time training based on data collected from the Right-Time pre-, post-, and course assessments.

Right-Time training is a trauma-informed learning program that provides timely access to information about emergent areas of need for caregivers. Caregivers can access Right-Time training themes via a mobile application or website as needed. There are 15 Right-Time themes included in this report. Each Right-Time training includes learning segments such as a video, a “My Story” podcast, and discussion questions. The videos showcase two to three professionals’ perspectives on the theme along with real-life examples of an adoptive or foster parent. The podcast features either a former foster youth, adopted youth, or kinship youth who describe their perspectives on the theme of a specific Right-Time training. Finally, the discussion questions provide opportunities for parents who are fostering or adopting to think through, discuss, and process training content.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, 2020

In order to understand the experiences of kinship caregivers in Washington State, Part... more In order to understand the experiences of kinship caregivers in Washington State, Partners for Our Children(P4C) conducted a statewide survey with kinship caregivers. Eight hundred and sixty-eight kinship caregivers responded to the survey. Responses indicated that kinship caregivers in Washington state are primarily white, generally over the age of 55 and typically identify as grandparents. Kinship caregivers in Washington most frequently select finances, their child’s emotional health,and the child’s behavior as their greatest challenges. Kinship caregivers most frequently select financial support, recreational and social activities for the child in their care, and respite care as unmet needs.

This report provides an analysis of the differential responses provided by kinship caregivers who are over the age of 55, kinship caregivers who identify as non-White (referred to as POC caregivers for person of color), and kinship caregivers who reside in rural areas (as compared to younger, white,and non-rural residing kinship caregivers,respectively). The analysis revealed that kinship caregivers over the age of 55 more frequently select lower levels of income and are more likely to select physical health as their top challenge. POC caregivers were less likely to select their spouse or partner as their primary source of support and were less likely to select access to respite care services as their top challenge.POC caregivers selected their most frequent sources of support as public social services and other relatives. POC caregivers were more likely to select medical services as their top unmet need for their child. Kinship caregivers who reside in rural areas are more likely to select legal problems as a challenge than those who reside in non-rural areas. Kinship caregivers provide an important source of support for children.

This survey, conducted in partnership with the Adult Long-Term Services Administration (ALTSA) and the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), provides information on the characteristics of those who provide kinship care in Washington state, as well as their primary sources of support, top challenges,and ongoing unmet needs.

Washington State Department of Social & Health Services, 2020

Kinship caregivers provide care for relatives’ children and serve an essential role in child welf... more Kinship caregivers provide care for relatives’ children and serve an essential role in child welfare. This report describes the demographics, prevalence, legal framework, and unique challenges experienced in kinship care-giving and describes the findings from surveys completed by kinship caregivers in the State of Washington in 2002 and 2020.

National Council for Adoption, 2021

On behalf of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services, the Indigen... more On behalf of the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services, the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute (IWRI), School of Social Work, University of Washington, conducted an independent technical review of four tribal child welfare prevention service programs (Family Spirit, Talking Circle, Healing of the Canoe, and Positive Indian Parenting) following guidelines in the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook of Standards and Procedures (the Handbook), version 1.0. This document summarizes the process and findings, organized by Chapter. Each chapter represents one of the four programs that were evaluated.

This report provides a systematic review of what exists in the literature on four tribal child we... more This report provides a systematic review of what exists in the literature on four tribal child welfare prevention programs. These programs were identified by the WA Department of Child, Youth and Family Services as promising practices that have been implemented by tribal nations across the state.

National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents

U.S.D.H.H.S., Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau

Congressional Research Institute for Social Work & Policy, 2022

Studies have shown that Kinship placement and guardianship has the lowest rate of reentry into th... more Studies have shown that Kinship placement and guardianship has the lowest rate of reentry into the foster care system. However, potential Kinship caregivers are denied the opportunity to care for the children they love because of barriers to licensure and restricted use of KinGAP (Kinship
Guardianship Assistance Programs). Federal child welfare and foster care legislative reform is needed to provide children, their relatives, and fictive kin with easier ways of establishing guardianship as a form of permanency. Through nationwide implementation of KinGAP, diligent recruitment of relatives as a part of case planning for permanent guardianship, the adoption of standardized licensing requirements, and parity in funding and supports to kin guardians we can address the obstacles Kinship guardians face when trying to care for their family.

College Promise, 2022

College has long been seen as a gateway to economic advancement. Similar to other populations, th... more College has long been seen as a gateway to economic
advancement. Similar to other populations, the benefits of
college completion are clear for youth in or aged out of
foster care. In 2019, College Promise and ETS convened
scholars and leaders to discuss and write ecosystem design
papers about support systems for marginalized college
populations. Foster youth was one of the five populations
considered. This brief is a summary of the full paper on
foster youth in college.

College Promise, 2021

Most young people in foster care aspire to go to college, [1] but for many, obtaining a college d... more Most young people in foster care aspire to go to college, [1] but for many, obtaining a college degree remains an unattainable goal. Research shows that less than half enroll in a postsecondary education program by age 25, and only a fraction of those who enroll successfully obtain a credential. [2] Early parenthood, which is exceedingly common among youth in foster care, [3] may be a barrier to pursuing postsecondary education. In recent years, there has been significant momentum behind policy solutions that improve college access and success, like College Promise programs which make college tuition and fee-free and leverage wraparound student support. However, the challenges that early parenthood presents to young people in foster care with aspirations for postsecondary education have largely been absent from policy discussions. This omission is concerning because postsecondary education has become increasingly essential to economic security and upward mobility in the United States, both of which are critical for young parents in foster care. This brief draws attention to this issue by examining the disparity in access to postsecondary education between young parents in foster care and their non-parent peers using data collected from a large, national sample. It also offers recommendations for practitioners, policymakers, and educational advocates. As Promise programs continue gaining traction at the local and state level, it is essential that policy solutions be built with the unique needs of different student groups in mind in order to advance equitable educational attainment. These recommendations are designed to provide young parents in foster care with the services and supports they need to successfully enroll in and complete postsecondary education programs.

College Promise, 2021

This brief explores ways policy levers can be utilized to better support students from foster car... more This brief explores ways policy levers can be utilized to better support students from foster care who are attending college in the time of COVID-19 by examining three studies and applying lessons learned to federal policy development and implementation.

This policy brief provides an examination of the problem of pregnancy and early parenting among a... more This policy brief provides an examination of the problem of pregnancy and early parenting among a sample of female Michigan foster care, and the implications it has on their education well-being. Implications for policy and practice on how to bolster high school completion and college-going among this subpopulation of foster youth are offered.

This policy brief examines the education and training voucher (ETV), a federal program that provi... more This policy brief examines the education and training voucher (ETV), a federal program that provides post-secondary education funding to current and former foster care students. Research recommendations are provided to ensure the desired outcomes of the program are achieved.

This policy brief examines the similarities and differences of various state-funded tuition waiv... more This policy brief examines the similarities and differences of various state-funded tuition waiver programs across the United States to increase college access and retention rates of foster care youth. Recommendations for policy and practice reform are offered to maximize participation and success of these programs.

This brief discusses the possible effects of the Pell Grant lifetime limit on unaccompanied, home... more This brief discusses the possible effects of the Pell Grant lifetime limit on unaccompanied, homeless and former foster care youth attending post-secondary education, while also examining challenges that these populations currently face which contribute to the length of time till a degree is earned.

Studies have shown that education is an important factor when determining the success of youths a... more Studies have shown that education is an important factor when determining the success of youths as they prepare to exit the foster care system. This brief highlights the importance of the collaboration among child welfare agencies and educational systems in improving the educational outcomes for youth in foster care and the laws that support these partnerships.

The brief highlights the post-secondary outcomes of older youth in care, looking first at the per... more The brief highlights the post-secondary outcomes of older youth in care, looking first at the perceptions of currently enrolled high school and college aged foster youth with regard to status on where they are in their transition from high school to college and then describes persistence in post-secondary education for a sample of foster care alumni who are enrolled at a four year university.

CQ Researcher, 2024

The U.S. foster care system aims to offer a safe residential haven for children abused or neglect... more The U.S. foster care system aims to offer a safe residential haven for children abused or neglected in their homes or whose parents cannot care for them. It is a difficult charge, and when the system fails by removing children too soon or too late or placing them in abusive settings, it can cause lasting trauma. While foster care is meant to be temporary, federal law has oscillated between incentivizing rapid adoption and promoting family preservation and reunification or placement with relatives. Use of institutions and group homes has fallen into disfavor amid abuse scandals and a growing consensus that family settings yield better outcomes. Black and Native American children are overrepresented in the system, and scholars and stakeholders debate the causes of this racial disproportion, as well as when children should be removed from families, who should care for them and how to support youths who age out of the system without a permanent family.

The New York Review, 2023

National Public Radio, Talk Show 1A, 2023

USA Today, 2021

T he COVID-19 pandemic has left tens of thousands of children without a parent or primary caregiv... more T he COVID-19 pandemic has left tens of thousands of children without a parent or primary caregiver. Stepping into that void are grandparents, aunts, cousins-kinship caregivers-now facing their first new year as a new family unit. Public health researchers know traumatized children often fare better when they live with a relative instead of a foster parent they don't know.

Society for Research in Child Development, 2017

Western Michigan University College of Health and Human Services, 2017

Children's Bureau Express, 2020

For the past 3 and a half years, the Children's Bureau has made it a priority to meet with and li... more For the past 3 and a half years, the Children's Bureau has made it a priority to meet with and listen to parents and young people with lived expertise. Those efforts took Associate Commissioner Jerry Milner and Special Assistant to the Associate Commissioner David Kelly to 40 states, where they were honored to meet with hundreds of parents, young people, and those who advocate on their behalf. The listening has continued virtually during the pandemic and is ongoing. The wisdom shared by individuals with lived expertise has profoundly influenced and continues to influence the Children's Bureau's vision, priorities, policies, and funding opportunities. It is the wisdom we must all seek, listen to, and act upon to transform our system.

As a way to honor and share that wisdom, Jerry Milner and David Kelly reached out to a number of experts they have come to know for insight on the question: What does it mean to be "all in" for families?

Chronicle for Social Change, 2017