APHSA -- American Public Human Services Association’s Post

The Upstream Youth Mapping Collaboration Project is a recently launched strategic planning workshop. Missouri Behavioral Health Council (MBHC) recognizes that there are additional opportunities to strengthen and improve mental health in Missouri communities, especially among the youth. Upstream workshops assess available resources, identify gaps/challenges in accessing services, and establish a plan for community change and, ultimately, statewide systems change in children’s services and the juvenile justice population. Upstream is a community-based approach that leverages judicial leadership and collaborations with child welfare agencies, juvenile offices and courts, state and local public agencies, community-based organizations, and community members to increase access to community-based services, prevent child maltreatment and out-of-home placement, reduce court involvement, and support strong, safe, and healthy families. The goal is to improve the availability, accessibility, and awareness of resources and services for children and youth in Missouri communities. You can learn more by visiting https://ow.ly/pVYO50RIAq3.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 321,000 children in the U.S. lost a parent to an overdose (mostly related to opioids) between just 2011 and 2021. Black children experienced the highest year-to-year loss of parents, revealing one of several "hidden" elements of the opioid epidemic that has huge impacts on the wellness of Black communities. Most of these Black children get aggressively funneled into the nation's fragmented child welfare system. We saw this during the crack/heroin epidemics of the 1980s/1990s. Unsurprisingly (like back then), Black children are disproportionately represented in America's child welfare system. They're also less likely to be reunited with their parents, and less likely to get adopted. This is especially the case in cities like Los Angeles, which has America's largest and arguably most dysfunctional child welfare system. In this article for the Los Angeles Times, I cover the landscape of Black parental deaths due to drug use and the history of unfettered removals of their children by state agencies. Studies have consistently shown that child welfare workers are significantly more likely to view Black parents as less loving and less redeemable than white parents and parents of other races who have committed similar "infractions" like substance misuse. This helps justify the removals and, as a result, keeps Black families separated. With the aid of local courts, implicit and explicit bias in child removals has not only become standard practice in places like Los Angeles but *best* practice. #opioidepidemic #childwelfare

As October is National #DomesticViolenceAwareness Month, we want to share key information and resources with our community. Every year, millions of children are exposed to domestic violence, which can have long-lasting impacts on emotional health and social and academic functioning.   Read our statement to learn more about domestic violence's intersection with child well-being: https://lnkd.in/eFJaHyTH #mapoli #dvam #childwelfare

Would you like to develop a Kinship Navigator Program to improve caregivers' access to supports and resources? Explore our latest policy brief for practical recommendations  https://lnkd.in/gs5Th7Gr  These include setting realistic timeframes for design and implementation and applying a Culturally Responsive and Equitable Evaluation approach to center perspectives of caregivers and make sure social justice principles are upheld. #ChildWelfare #Childwellbeing

Read a summary of our response to the Disability Royal Commission's Final Report. The Commission's final report on violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability comes after four years of work. Down Syndrome Australia played a vital role, addressing important issues for people with Down syndrome and their families. In our response, we discuss how we're advocating for change in key areas: prenatal screening, health, NDIS, education, employment and migration. Read our response: https://lnkd.in/gkShubfh

Hope Science is the approach Evaluation Plus, LLC practices in all they do. It can be applied in many aspects of a community, like child welfare, crime and law enforcement, groups who are denied basic human rights, and more. Evaluation Plus is the evaluation partner for Project HOPE, a three-year demonstration initiative introduced by the DOJ's Office for Victims of Crime with technical assistance from Social Current. The initiative is working to infuse the science of hope to build protective factors and assist law enforcement officers with addressing burnout, trauma, and adversity to improve officer well-being and community connections. To learn more about hope science, read this blog post by Evaluation Plus President and CEO Laura Pinsoneault: https://ow.ly/hNyn50Qqqow #hopescience #lawenforcement #burnout #mentalhealth #community

 A new roadmap from the nonprofit Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC) —convened #healthcareproviders, professional organizations and patient advocates — outlines steps various parts of the health care system can take to better meet the needs of people w/ intellectual & developmental #disabilities.

One week from today, Governor Josh Shapiro will release his budget proposal for the coming fiscal year (7/1/2024-6/30/2025). We need your help to contact the Governor and ask him to include a DSP rate increase in his budget. Last fall, the Governor ordered the Department of Human Services to begin an immediate review of the fee schedule rates for the Intellectual Disability and Autism (ID/A) system, a first step in the process of increasing wages for DSPs. Regulation requires that the rates be updated at least every three years, with the last update occurring in January of 2022. We are hopeful that the Governor will expedite this data update and include a rate increase in his February budget proposal. We need your help to contact the Governor and ask him to include a rate increase in his budget. Visit PAR - Pennsylvania Advocacy and Resources for Autism and Intellectual Disability's website to learn more and take action: https://ow.ly/50jr50Qw4rS #MainstayPA #EnrichingLivesUnlockingPotential #Advocacy #Pennsylvania #Disability

Yesterday’s finalization of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule to update section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a historic milestone for disability rights and marks the first update to the law in 50 years. Specifically, the rule supports banning biased treatment decisions and rejecting tools that devalue life based on disability, defines accessibility standards for web-based tools, adopts the U.S. Access Board's guidelines for diagnostic medical equipment, emphasizes integrated settings, and ensures fair treatment in HHS-funded child welfare services. Muscular Dystrophy Association has been highly involved during the public comment process by providing valuable insights and perspectives to support the neuromuscular disease community, and we are excited to see this work come to fruition. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e2Qttw2A Join us in advocating for access for our community at MDA.org/Advocacy #MDA #Advocacy #DisabilityRights

🌟 Sexual Behavior as a Continuum: A Resource for Child Welfare Partners 🌟 Navigating sexual development in children can pose unique challenges for both parents and professionals in child welfare. At Chosen, we understand the importance of equipping families with the tools and support they need to address problematic sexual behavior with sensitivity and care. It's crucial for us to recognize that sexual behavior exists on a continuum, evolving from infancy through childhood and adolescence. While some behaviors may be uncomfortable to address, they don't necessarily indicate developmental concerns. However, children who have experienced trauma and neglect often have a much higher incidence of problematic sexual behaviors. 🚸 When evaluating behaviors, factors like consent, age appropriateness, and response to guidance are essential considerations. Our goal is to provide resources and training to help caregivers and professionals navigate these sensitive topics with confidence and empathy. 🔍 Take Action: Keep the learning going by sharing this free infographic with someone! If you would like to learn more about how Chosen is equipping families struggling with problematic sexual behavior, click the link below: https://lnkd.in/g_ERbQtw Together, let's continue to support and empower families to create safe and nurturing environments where every child can thrive. #ChildWelfare #SexualDevelopment #ParentingSupport #ProfessionalTraining #ChosenCare #ContinuumOfDevelopment #Chosen #ChosenCare #Foster #Kinship #Adoptive #FamilyHealing