The Imprint Weekly

On this month’s headlines edition of the podcast, we discuss an upcoming appeal in Michigan around the constitutionality of some terminations of parental rights, as well as a trial starting in Oregon and a new lawsuit filed against Louisiana. We also cover the very steep decline in foster care entries in Texas since the passage of a law that sharpened the definition of neglect in the state, a music studio helping incarcerated youth, and a fourth path to permanency begins in Kansas. Reading Room Free online discussion: Culturally-Competent Care https://bit.ly/3JKgj0i McCormack’s Dissent https://bit.ly/3THF8fC To see oral arguments in the case In Re Bates, Minors https://www.courts.michigan.gov/court-livestream/ Louisiana the Latest State to Be Sued over Foster Care Issues https://bit.ly/4bpKXYx Federal Rule: Designated Placement Requirements for LGBTQI+ Children https://bit.ly/3JOazCF Family Poverty is Not Child Neglect Act is Reintroduced https://bit.ly/3y1CKeK Head of Children’s Bureau Departing Biden Administration https://bit.ly/49ZYOUd Buffalo Recording Studio Offers Young Rappers in State Custody a Place to Express Freely https://bit.ly/3JKhpJv US Senate Investigation Finds ‘Systemic Failures’ to Keep Georgia Foster Kids Safe https://bit.ly/4bmIVZe For Kansas Foster Youth, a Fourth Path to Permanency https://bit.ly/44BdxnK

Join host Ivory Bennett in an insightful conversation with Saunya Jones as they explore the complexities of healing from trauma, neglect, and abuse within the foster care system. From mental, emotional, and sexual health to the well-being of Black women, they delve into topics such as generational trauma, the intersection of past trauma and foster care, and societal stigmas hindering sexual assault survivors' paths to joy and agency. Discover empowering anecdotes and practical steps towards fostering healing, empowerment, and resilience for people with lived child welfare experiences. Find Saunya Jones at www.fullylovingyourself.co.

We're sharing a bonus episode from InnerViews! Join host Ivory Bennett on InnerViews as she delves into the complex intersections of trauma, health, and empowerment with special guest Dalyce Wilson. From the societal protection of predators to the health of Black women, Ivory and Dalyce explore topics such as sexual assault, trauma's impact on diseases like T1D, mental and emotional well-being, and the healing journey. Discover the power of forgiveness, the resilience of the human spirit, and actionable steps toward reclaiming self after trauma.

Criminologist Alex Piquero, who led the Bureau of Justice Statistics early in the Biden administration, joined us to discuss what the best available data shows about trends in youth crime before, during and after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also discussed the media’s coverage of youth crime, and what Piquero’s research shows are the most effective ways to prevent and deter youth from committing crimes. Reading Room Gov. Moore, Veto Maryland’s Juvenile Justice Reform Bill https://rb.gy/ea8kcg America; You want decent public safety? Then pay for it. https://rb.gy/1n2w4b ‘Raise the Age’ repeal takes effect, meaning 17-year-olds will be charged as adults https://shorturl.at/qwGRW National Incident-Based Reporting System https://bjs.ojp.gov/national-incident-based-reporting-system-nibrs National Crime Victimization Survey https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/ncvs

In February, Carolyn Travis of California Youth Connection wrote an op-ed for The Imprint calling on Governor Gavin Newsom to keep his commitment to fair market support for youth who receive subsidized independent living placement (SILP) funds in extended foster care. Travis joined us on the podcast to talk about her own experience transitioning into extended foster care and then into adulthood, and how important her ability to save some money through SILP was as she entered the workforce during COVID-19. Carolyn Travis is the community advocacy coordinator for California Youth Connection, one of the nation’s oldest advocacy groups led for and by current and former foster youth. Travis is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles. Reading Room Governors on Both Coasts Face Budget Shortfalls for Serving Children and Families Next Year https://rb.gy/wapi7x Carolyn Travis: California Governor’s Budget Breaks His Promise to Older Foster Youth https://rb.gy/mp78ym 2023 Implementation Fact Sheet: Higher Monthly Payments for Foster Youth in SILPs Based on Local Housing Costs https://jbay.org/resources/2023-fact-sheet-silp/

On this month’s headlines edition of the podcast, we discuss new federal data on foster care, the first state and tribe to get approved for kinship licensing, and what happened this year in the government spending deal. We also talk about a controversial law in Tennessee over foster parents’ views on sexual orientation, Minnesota’s African American Family Preservation Act, and more. Reading Room What’s In the 2024 Spending Deal for Youth and Families https://bit.ly/43SWuNF Michigan, Salt River Pima Tribe Approved for Federal Kinship Support https://bit.ly/3U9gkkc Federal Report: Foster Care Total Dropped Again in 2022 https://bit.ly/3TsQ3Mh 50-State Comparison of Mandatory Reporting Laws https://coloradocpo.org/mandatory-reporting-resource/ Senate Approves Bill Establishing a Right to Foster, Adopt by Anti-LGBTQ Parents in Tennessee https://bit.ly/4asVq5i Idaho Legislature requests Office of Performance Evaluations investigation of Youth Treatment Homes https://bit.ly/3VRHjlD Short-Staffed New York Juvenile Facilities Place Detained Youth at Risk, State Investigation Finds https://bit.ly/3VMdPWo A Bill Once Again Before Minnesota Lawmakers Set Out to Preserve Black Families. This Year’s Version Would Apply to Almost Everyone in the Child Welfare System. https://bit.ly/3xt8Obb NAACP and Children’s Advocates Request Federal Civil Rights Investigation of Minnesota’s Child Welfare System https://bit.ly/3vBuscP Congressional Candidate Wants to Create a Place for Young Women ‘To Dream, To Fight and To Just Be’ https://bit.ly/43PBlDQ Profiles in Youth Work: Lateefah Simon https://bit.ly/3xqbVRg Barry Krisberg, Lifelong Crusader for Youth Behind Bars, is Mourned Nationwide https://bit.ly/43R0ga2

A new multimedia package produced by The Imprint and Voices of Monterey Bay takes readers, viewers and listeners deep inside rural Oregon’s Indian Country, where elders are Indigenizing social work through equine therapy for young people who have experienced foster care and youth justice systems. “Horses take us all the way back to our history before our land was taken away,” explains John Doug Spence, who leads equine therapy sessions across Oregon. “It’s a way of taking back our power.” The project, Healing the Children of Horse Nations, is a collaboration between The Imprint’s Indigenous Children and Families Reporter Nancy Marie Spears, an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma; podcast producers Julie and Mara Reynolds; and visual storyteller Josué Rivas, who is Mexica and Otomi. To read Nancy Marie Spears' reporting for "Healing the Children of Horse Nations," visit: https://bit.ly/3J41mpr For a collection of photography for this project by Josué Rivas, visit: https://bit.ly/3U1xFeX

Healing the Children of Horse Nations, a new multimedia package produced by The Imprint and Voices of Monterey Bay, takes readers, viewers and listeners deep inside rural Oregon’s Indian Country, where elders are Indigenizing social work through equine therapy for young people who have experienced foster care and youth justice systems. “Horses take us all the way back to our history before our land was taken away,” explains John Doug Spence, who leads equine therapy sessions across Oregon. “It’s a way of taking back our power.” Check out this episode of The Imprint Weekly Podcast for an interview with the people behind Healing the Children of Horse Nations, and check back on Wednesday April 3 for the official release of the project.

Join us in an illuminating episode of InnerViews as we delve into the profound topic of healing trauma through the lens of re-parenting, guided by the wisdom of Deborah D. Denzel. Drawing from her lived expertise and career in improving the child welfare system, Deborah shares transformative insights into her personal journey of resilience. Explore the pillars of re-parenting and discover empowering strategies for self-nurturing and growth. Through candid reflections and empowering moments, Deborah reveals how embracing the concept of re-parenting has paved the way for healing, joy, and personal empowerment.

Dr. LaShawnDa Pittman spent years studying the lives of dozens of grandmothers in the Chicago area for her book, Grandmothering While Black. “Despite managing the simultaneity of love and coercion,” she writes, “the Black grandmothers in this study demonstrated their love for their grandchildren in their willingness to provide care, as an extension of parenting and sometimes in place of it.” Dr. Pittman explored that balance of love and coercion and many other takeaways from her work. Reading Room Grandmothering While Black: A Twenty-First Century Story of Love, Coercion, and Survival https://www.drlashawndapittman.com/ Family Ties: Analysis From a State-By-State Survey of Kinship Care Policies https://www.aecf.org/resources/family-ties White House Announces Slate of Actions on Child Welfare https://bit.ly/3ZFa7h

On this week’s episode we talk to Rob Geen, who is leading the new Child Welfare Initiative started by the Bipartisan Policy Center. Some of the initiative’s early activities have included: -A national survey on public attitudes and views about the child welfare system and how it should operate -A landscape assessment based on interviews with those working for, involved with, and directly affected by child welfare policy. -A review of state child welfare legislative activity in recent years. Geen talked to us about the origins of the initiative, findings from its early activities, and his view on what “bipartisanship” means in the context of child welfare policy. Reading Room The American Public Weighs in on Our Nation’s Child Welfare System https://bit.ly/49KD8ML Bipartisanship Across the Nation: A Review of State Child Welfare Legislation https://bit.ly/48JEQfT Key Findings from BPC Child Welfare Landscape Assessment https://bit.ly/48PjEoG

On this week’s podcast, we discuss some new legislation aimed at drawing more interest in extended foster care, long-sought data on compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act, and the use of federal funds for family justice. We also break down yet another child welfare-related lawsuit in New York, and concerns over the precedent set by the conviction of Jennifer Crumbley. Reading Room Bipartisan Bill Would Expand Federal Extended Foster Care Program https://bit.ly/3Uum8FC Fostering Adults: The State of Care https://imprintnews.org/special-series/fostering-adults-state-extended-care Biden Proposes New Federal Data on ICWA Compliance https://bit.ly/3OUriXL Keeping The Kids: Native American overrepresentation in foster care in Montana. https://montanafreepress.org/keeping-the-kids/ Most States Now Access Federal Funds for Family Court Lawyers https://bit.ly/3uN543q New York City Class-Action Lawsuit Defends Parents’ Rights in CPS Home Visits — A Rare Constitutional Challenge https://bit.ly/48HyRrO The Trouble With Convicting Parents for Their Children’s Violent Crimes https://bit.ly/3Injhan Bill Tracker: Protecting Benefits for Foster Youth https://bit.ly/3uqHgCe

Healing Generations: Nurturing the Inner Child Through Reparenting - A Journey with Dr. Alison Davis Welcome to InnerViews, a new monthly podcast from the Youth Voices Rising program at Fostering Media Connections! InnerViews is not just a podcast; it's an intimate exploration led by Ivory Bennett, a seasoned professional with 17 years of lived foster care experience. Each episode is a deep dive into topics surrounding trauma, mental and emotional health, well-being, and the unique challenges faced by Black women in the realm of healing. Join Ivory Bennett on "InnerViews" for powerful conversations, lived expertise, and a journey towards holistic well-being. Subscribe now and become part of a community committed to understanding, healing, and thriving. Your story matters, and Ivory is here to guide you on the path to inner transformation. In the inaugural episode of "InnerViews," join host Ivory Bennett in a profound exploration of trauma, healing, and the well-being of Black women with esteemed guest Dr. Alison Davis. Delve into crucial topics such as generational trauma, misogynoire, and the significance of culture in mental and emotional health. Discover empowering insights on parenting, re-parenting, and the transformative journey towards intentional living. Together, let's embark on a path of healing and understanding, where courageous storytelling paves the way to a softer, more empowered life. About the host: Ivory Bennett, a national interdisciplinary equity advocate, brings over 8 years of experience in classroom instruction, curriculum design, and department leadership. With a focus on trauma-informed pedagogy, Ivory is committed to achieving education and child welfare equity, especially for youth with marginalized identities. As the Program Manager for Youth Voices Rising, Ivory develops comprehensive training programs that prepare and empower youth to tell their stories. Ivory also advocates for policy improvements within the child welfare sector. Ivory's vast experience includes roles as Manager, Community Impact Coach for Teach for America in Dallas, Project Manager for Fostering Families Today, and serving as Special Program Board Chair for The Leaders Readers Network.

On this week’s episode we first talked to Kat McCloud about the new season of “Self-Taught,” a podcast from foster youth, for foster youth that just joined our SafeCamp Audio Network. McCloud talks about the first season of the show, what to expect in the second (which is now out) and how she decides what she is comfortable sharing publicly. Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus on Children, joins us to discuss a new tax reform bill that includes a big proposal to provide more financial support for low-income parents and children, as well as federal budget deliberations and what states are doing related to child spending. Bruce Lesley is president of First Focus on Children. Prior to his work at First Focus on Children, he served as Senior Health Policy Advisor on the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committees for U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman. Reading Room Self-Taught: Former Foster Youth on Sex, Health, and Life https://safecampaudio.org/show/self-taught/ Money and Maltreatment https://bit.ly/3hcelIU New Research Links Increased Minimum Wage to Reduced Child Maltreatment https://bit.ly/2RvAqr7 Support Grows For No-Strings-Attached Cash For Families To Prevent Foster Care Removals https://bit.ly/3DD1NUY Let the Child Tax Credit Work https://bit.ly/3aALZHh

On our monthly headlines episode, we discuss recent Imprint coverage on a child welfare litigation group’s first big legal challenge, the impact of fentanyl on legislation and policy in child welfare, and the Biden administration’s incremental steps on fines and fees in the juvenile justice system. We also discuss the child welfare case of a transgender teen in Montana, and the state of federal data on child welfare. Reading Room New York Appeals Court Case Focuses on Non-abusive Parent Being Subjected to Home Supervisions https://bit.ly/3w4Ybum New Civil Rights Organization Dedicated to Families’ Rights Launches in New York City https://bit.ly/356ToLZ Western States Wrestle With a Child Welfare Response to Addictive Drugs https://bit.ly/489qlSe ‘We failed her.’ Santa Clara County social workers publicly rebuke boss, agency over handling of high-risk kids like baby Phoenix https://bit.ly/49pui6C DOJ Calls on States To Eliminate Juvenile System Fines and Fees https://bit.ly/3SMGg4w A Minnesota Host Home Program Helps Vulnerable LGBTQ+ Youth Avoid Homelessness https://bit.ly/49ejXu2 Gianforte rebuts far-right accusations about child protection case https://bit.ly/42uTCFJ Child Welfare Outcomes 2020 https://bit.ly/493LGh9

On January 1, two of Washington State’s largest human services providers combined to form a new organization called Akin. The merger of two healthy nonprofits perhaps reflects the alignment of business and outcomes to a new vision for how youth and families are served by governments and their partners. Dave Newell, the first CEO of Akin, returns to The Imprint Weekly podcast to discuss how the merger came together, what to expect (and not) from the new organization, and his perspective on parts of the child welfare process that are not reformable. Reading Room “A Tsunami Is Headed Your Way.” The Pandemic, One Year Later https://bit.ly/2OC4Erc Sharon Osborne on Three Decades of Nonprofit Leadership and System Dismantling https://bit.ly/3SBUrJQ Keyon’s Case Heads to Washington Supreme Court https://bit.ly/3sAirg1 Washington Supreme Court: ‘Meaningful Preference’ for Kin Is Required https://bit.ly/3IcVdp1 Kinship Care Prioritized Under New Washington State Law https://bit.ly/3uepodx Breaking The Scarcity Mindset In The Nonprofit Sector https://bit.ly/3SKyQy Akin www.akinfamily.org

Strategies for Youth (SFY) is one of the few organizations in the country focused on the true front door of the juvenile justice system: interactions between youth and law enforcement officers. Recently, SFY published a collection of model policies for departments to use in making those interactions safer and more productive. SFY’s Shelley Jackson, who spent decades working on guidance and policy for the federal government, joins us to describe these model policies and how they came together. Reading Room 12 Model Law Enforcement Policies for Youth Interaction https://strategiesforyouth.org/model-policies/ “Kids Are Not a Priority Until They’re A Problem” https://imprintnews.org/podcast/kids-not-priority-until-problem Make Training Police on Juvenile Justice, Youth Interaction a National Priority https://bit.ly/3IFnzbY Hope Springs Infernal for Better Policing https://bit.ly/3DIleJG

As always, we were fortunate to have some amazing guests join us this year on The Imprint Weekly Podcast. In this episode we feature clips of 20 great interviews from 2023. If you enjoy this podcast, or the great work our reporters do at The Imprint and Fostering Families Today, and the work that our Youth Voices Rising team does, please consider making a donation. And if you do so this month, during Newsmatch, your donation will get doubled! Fostering Media Connections is very lucky to have some terrific philanthropic supporters, advertisers and sponsors, and subscribers to our business and policy section that help make this organization go. But we really cannot do it without donors like you who read our stuff, listen to our podcasts and attend our online events. There are tons of really great nonprofit, independent news outlets to support out there, and we hope you consider us one of them. To give today it’s easy! Visit www.imprintnews.org/donate.

On this week’s podcast, we break down the new data featured in The Imprint’s “Who Cares” project, which seeks to provide an up-to-date answer on two key questions in child welfare: How many kids are in foster care today? And where are they living? Every year we obtain answers directly from states on this subject, and surround that with data drawn from the federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. You can access all of our national tables and state-by-state profiles at FosterCareCapacity.com. Reading Room Who Cares: A National Count of Foster Homes and Families www.fostercarecapacity.com Number of Youth in Formal Foster Care Continues to Decline, Imprint Survey Finds https://shorturl.at/pIVY2 Measuring Family Separation https://bit.ly/47SSeP8

On this week’s podcast, we discuss some headlines that seem to emanate in part from workforce woes, a lawsuit over anonymous reporting, one state’s effort to adjust child welfare policy after marijuana legalization, and missing school while locked up. Lisa Dickson of ACTION Ohio joins us to talk about the annual series of Thanksgiving dinners she helped state for youth in Ohio foster care, the right way to incorporate lived experience, the death of Ma’khia Bryant, and more. Reading Room Imperial County Social Services Report Draws Vocal Criticism https://tinyurl.com/bdfzr7tf Watchdog Finds ‘Errors on Top of Errors’ at DHHS Before Child Death https://tinyurl.com/mznm99j7 Financial Crisis for Central Florida Foster Care Nonprofit https://tinyurl.com/2zb592vd Brooklyn Mother and Son Sue New York City Children’s Services over ‘Traumatic’ CPS Investigations Following False Reports https://tinyurl.com/4zwatuvm With Cannabis Newly Legalized, Minnesota is Latest State to Adjust its Child Welfare Approach https://tinyurl.com/2yee8bch Problem Newly Revealed in Juvenile Hall Schools: A Failure to Get Kids to Class https://tinyurl.com/2jyf62yt Education Inside and Out https://tinyurl.com/y68aaf6k Fifty Years of Transforming Youth Justice https://shorturl.at/ePW23 Thanksgiving Together Ohio https://tinyurl.com/3edd3w2d