Chosen’s Post

I had the privilege of speaking at this year’s NARME conference to a group that cares about strengthening families. I spoke about foster families. Here are some things I shared: I conducted my own research with over 200 responses from foster families around the U.S. Here are the results: A 2018 Center for the State Child Welfare Data report found that 25% of foster families quit within 4 months and 50% quit within the 12 months of being licensed. So I asked “What are the top reasons so many foster parents quit this soon?” The #1 reason was because of issues with the system itself. The #2 reason was because they were unprepared to deal with trauma behaviors. And the #3 reason was because of the emotional stress. Another interesting question that I asked was “How can volunteers (church, friends, etc.) help foster families the most?” Here are the most popular practical ways people can help: #1. Provide babysitting. #2. Help with household chores. #3. Provide meals regularly. So, what are your thoughts about these results?

Last month, Chapin Hall released Meeting Family Needs, a strategic framework that provides a holistic framework provides a vision and practical tools for a child and family well-being system that buoys families facing adversity and helps address inequities. #ChildAbusePrevention #FamilyWellBeing https://lnkd.in/gxqsb7kq

It takes a village to raise a child, doesn’t it? I think it also takes a village to relinquish one. What I mean is, to the looking-to-adopt folks doing everything they can to build up and complete their families, would you also find ways to build up and help families remain together? To those who feel the Lord leading them to adopt, please don’t neglect the mother praying for a way to not relinquish her child. And even if she isn’t measuring up to your or the state’s or the world’s patterns and regulations, could you still consider that mother significant whose child is being forced out of her arms? In a clinical settings, it’s a strengths-based principle to assume a mother would raise her child if she could; that if she had access to growth-fostering resources and environment, the nightmare of placing her child into an institutionalized child welfare system would remain unfulfilled. What humble servants are there among us who’d contribute to such a village? How many family members does it take to keep a mother and her child intact? Maybe only one, especially if she’s covered with dignity and value and provision from siblings, parents, neighbors, community, state, nation, ancestors, and dare I say the local church whose faith leads them to love the least of us? This isn’t a judgment or condemnation on anyone whose calling is to adopt. It’s a request to lift judgment and condemnation off of mothers whose villages stood by when she called for their help. #birth #support #relinquishment #adoption #adoptee #adoptees #adopteejourney #adopteeawareness #birthparent #birthparentsupport #birthfamily #foreverfamily #adoptionawareness #mentlhealthawarenes #therapyredeemed

It’s #ChildAbusePrevention month and it’s a great time to lift up the supports, resources, and services in place to prevent our babies from being hurt and to help families access those supports that will help reduce child abuse and neglect. Considering preventing child abuse and neglect, we must acknowledge that there are biases that leads to the over representation of black and brown children involved with CPS. Take a moment and learn more about out these disparities that exist and are harmful to #black and #brown families. In order to encourage families to access resources that can assist them, we must also admit that CPS suffers from systemic racism and biases and actively commit-from our positions-to be a part of the solution. Yes, some parents need to be reported but there are tons who just need guidance, support, and healing. Let’s #preventchildabuse

✍🏻 Findhelp's Connections Blog: Supporting Children & Families ✍🏻 Child Welfare departments and child-serving organizations across industries face the complex challenge of reducing child removals while grappling with the unmet basic needs of children and families. Significant hurdles exist in navigating the maze of services, from mental health and substance abuse treatment to programs that address basic needs like paying for utilities, housing, transportation, food, and employment assistance. Up-to-date knowledge of these programs, eligibility requirements, how to enroll, and capacity is difficult at best and can be exacerbated by issues like staff turnover and cross state kinship placements. Findhelp is dedicated to supporting the holistic needs of children and families. Whether that’s ensuring families have access to services when a need first arises, to being there when crisis strikes, we’re committed to ensuring that families — and their advocates — have a trusted resource at their fingertips. Read our latest blog post to learn how we're partnering with organizations like Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, Kids Central, Inc., and Sutter County Children & Families Commission to support kids and families. 🫂 Read our blog ➡ https://hubs.li/Q02gRkCH0 #findhelp #ChildWelfare #ChildServing #families #SocialCare

Please read this blog by Child Trends for a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by kinship caregivers and their children and to deep dive into suggestions for how systems can work together to provide a safety net. https://lnkd.in/gdbqqgVN

Support for Families: Balancing work and family responsibilities can be challenging for parents, particularly those with young children. Advocating for child care services and resources can provide much-needed support for families, easing the burden on parents and caregivers and promoting family well-being. #worklifebalance #employeebenefits #humanresources #winstonsalem

On 10/1 and 10/2, meetings occured between the staff of the Division of Milwaukee Child Protective Services and CYF Division at the state and county levels in Dane Co. As the two largest counties serving Wisconsin’s Child Welfare system and CYF also serves Youth Justice and Prevention, these meetings were dedicated to comprehensive support and resources to children, youth and families who are facing challenges, such as abuse, neglect, mental health, poverty and more. What was the importance of these all day partnership meetings? Improved Outcomes for Children: By working together, both can provide more comprehensive and effective support to children and families, leading to better outcomes such as increased safety, improved community involvement/performance, and stronger family relationships. Enhanced Efficiency and Effectiveness: The sharing of resources reduces duplication of efforts, streamlines processes, and ensures that resources are allocated efficiently. Strengthened Community Connections: By collaborating, we can leverage a broader network of support and resources, building stronger connections within the communities we serve. The Key Elements of this significant joint meeting is: Shared Goals: Both divisions have aligned their goals to prioritize the well-being of children and families, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and family preservation. Information Sharing: Regular communication and data sharing between the two divisions ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of each family's needs and circumstances. Joint Case Management: Staff collaboration on case management, sharing responsibilities and leveraging their respective expertise to develop individualized plans for children and families. Resource Coordination: Community Services identifies and coordinates resources, such as housing, mental health counseling, and job training, to support families and address their underlying needs. Improved Staff Morale: The partnership fosters a positive and collaborative work environment, leading to increased job satisfaction and retention among staff in both divisions. Training and Capacity Building: Both divisions invest in training and professional development to enhance their knowledge and skills in areas such as trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and community engagement. #childwelfare #youthjustice #staffmorale #innovation #familyfirst #communityengagement #teambuilding

Learn from caregivers and families of origin who have experienced kinship care. This publication shares #stories and #advice on the importance of communication, building trust, and securing support. #KinshipCareMonth

Did You Know? Nearly 37% of children entering foster care in the U.S. are there due to parental substance abuse, including alcoholism (Children’s Bureau, 2021). In Texas alone, 30% of child removals are linked to addiction (Texas Department of Family and Protective Services). On a national level, 61% of child welfare cases involving neglect are connected to parental substance use (National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare). These children face housing instability, emotional trauma, and disrupted education. https://lnkd.in/gRGzG3wd At The Robb Kelly Foundation, we're committed to breaking this cycle. We provide holistic support for families affected by addiction, helping children stay in stable, loving environments. Together, we can make a difference. Support us in creating safe spaces for children and families in recovery. 💙 #EndTheCycle #SupportFamilies #RobbKellyFoundation