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Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs...
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Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement

A special issue of Societies (ISSN 2075-4698).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 9933

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Angelique Day

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Social Work, University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
Interests: child welfare; kinship care; transition-age youth
Dr. Heather N. Taussig

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80208, USA
Interests: prevention programming; youth mentoring; positive youth development; child welfare

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is a paucity of evidence-based programs that have been designed and/or evaluated with children and families who are involved with the child welfare system or are at risk of such involvement. This Special Issue seeks to showcase innovative and contextually sensitive prevention and intervention efforts for this population that include, but are not limited to, the domains prioritized by the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA): (1) mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services; (2) in-home parent skills-based programs; and (3) kinship navigator services.

We welcome qualitative and quantitative studies at all stages of development, including the following:

  • Theory and logic model development.
  • Models for co-designing programs in partnership with those who have lived experience, community-based participatory research, and/or youth participatory action research.
  • Pre-intervention research (e.g., identification of key risk and protective factors, measurement development, and conducting focus groups).
  • Feasibility and pilot studies (especially those that measure engagement).
  • Efficacy or effectiveness studies.
  • Studies of mediation or moderation.
  • Adaptation of existing programs to serve families involved in the child welfare system, especially those that target marginalized youth and families who are diverse in race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality.
  • Implementation science studies.

Guidelines and Instructions

Interested authors should submit an abstract no longer than 750 words by March 10, 2024, to Angelique Day at . Invitations for full manuscripts will be sent by March 30, 2024, and completed manuscripts will be due by June 30, 2024. Manuscripts must be prepared according to the journal’s submission guidelines (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/societies/instructions).

Contributions have to follow one of the three categories of papers (article, conceptual paper or review) of the journal and address the topic of the Special Issue.

 

Dr. Angelique Day
Dr. Heather N. Taussig
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • child abuse and neglect
  • child welfare
  • out-of-home care
  • foster care
  • prevention program
  • intervention
  • evidence-based practice

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1236 KiB  
Article
Trauma-Informed Photovoice for Adolescents and Young Adults with Child Welfare Involvement
by Colleen C. Katz, Moiyattu Banya, Astraea Augsberger, David Collins, LaShawnda Kilgore, Kerry Moles, Cheyanne Deopersaud and Michelle R. Munson
Societies 2024, 14(10), 196; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100196 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1104
Abstract
Youth who age out of foster care face a constellation of challenges associated with navigating the transition to adulthood and often do not have opportunities to express their perspectives. The purpose of this project was to partner with these youth to develop a [...] Read more.
Youth who age out of foster care face a constellation of challenges associated with navigating the transition to adulthood and often do not have opportunities to express their perspectives. The purpose of this project was to partner with these youth to develop a trauma-informed photovoice program that can be freely utilized in child welfare programming. This youth participatory action research (yPAR) project engaged youth and young adults with child welfare experience in a long-term partnership to co-develop and pilot test a trauma-informed photovoice program called Photovoice for Change (P4C). P4C evolved into a three-meeting structure: (1) orientation and launch; (2) preparation for sharing; and (3) share back. Youth participants revealed photographs of “places and spaces” that impacted their lives, sharing their meaning with other youth and supportive adults in a group setting. The project concluded with a gallery showing, featuring a video highlighting the program participants’ experiences. Trauma-informed photovoice may be an important program to embed within the child welfare system, as it can provide youth with an opportunity to: (a) strengthen within-group relationships and (b) express important aspects of their lives in a supportive and safe environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)
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19 pages, 588 KiB  
Article
Kinnecting Caregivers to Services, Resources, and Supports: Findings from an RCT of Colorado’s Kinship Navigator Program
by Greg Forehand, Marc Winokur, Lauren Alessi, Sunil Butler and Jeannie Berzinskas
Societies 2024, 14(9), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090181 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 897
Abstract
This study reflects the evidence-building journey for the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program. Colorado Kinnected expands the scope of services, resources, and supports offered to kinship families through an innovative approach that enhances an earlier Kinship Supports Demonstration Project. The Colorado Kinnected target [...] Read more.
This study reflects the evidence-building journey for the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program. Colorado Kinnected expands the scope of services, resources, and supports offered to kinship families through an innovative approach that enhances an earlier Kinship Supports Demonstration Project. The Colorado Kinnected target population includes kinship caregivers caring for children and youth of any age with an open child welfare case. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce child welfare involvement by limiting traditional foster care and congregate care use when out-of-home placements are required. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from June to November 2020 to examine the impact of the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program on the kinship placement outcomes of 402 children and youth with an open child welfare case in seven Colorado counties. The initial study found that children and youth placed with kinship caregivers who received Colorado Kinnected services were significantly more likely to reunify with their parents after their kinship placements ended than were children and youth who received kinship supports as usual. The sustained effects study featured additional analyses of traditional foster and congregate care entry rates within six months of kinship placement for the same sample of children and youth. Children and youth in the intervention group were significantly less likely than children and youth in the control group to enter foster care or congregate care within six months after the end of their kinship placements. Overall, both analyses indicate that the Colorado Kinnected program promotes sustained permanency among children and youth in formal kinship placements. Data equity analyses to explore the contextual sensitivity of the intervention are detailed, and implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)
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14 pages, 230 KiB  
Article
Cross-State Validation of a Tool Supporting Implementation of Rural Kinship Navigator Programs
by Brianna Routh, Christine McKibbin, David Wihry, Jennifer A. Crittenden, Ayomide Foluso and Jennifer Jain
Societies 2024, 14(9), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090178 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 907
Abstract
While kinship care is prevalent and preferred over out-of-family care, there are relatively few measurement tools validated for use with this audience. The Title IV-E Clearinghouse, used to rate Families First Prevention Services such as Kinship Navigator Programs, requires valid tools. Such families [...] Read more.
While kinship care is prevalent and preferred over out-of-family care, there are relatively few measurement tools validated for use with this audience. The Title IV-E Clearinghouse, used to rate Families First Prevention Services such as Kinship Navigator Programs, requires valid tools. Such families face a myriad of needs in supporting children in their care. Previous research has established the significant challenges faced by rural families. Accurate assessment of these needs, particularly for rural families, is an essential component of kinship navigation services. In this study, we examined the face validity of the Family Needs Scale for use with kinship caregivers in rural programs. Methods: The evaluation teams with each respective kinship program conducted four virtual focus groups comprising kinship caregivers (n = 18) in three rural states. Participants were recruited from outside an ongoing Kinship Navigator Program Evaluation sample but had previously received program support as kinship caregivers. All states received IRB approval from their respective universities. Verbal consent was obtained at the time of the focus group. Focus groups lasted approximately 60–90 min and participants received a gift card incentive. Data were transcribed and qualitatively coded by question set and individual questions to identify phenomenological trends. Findings: Across four focus groups, we found four themes: (1) Broad agreement regarding the face validity of most assessment items; (2) Lack of clarity and shared understanding of several terms used within the tool, (3) Responses change with Ages and Stages of kinship family, and (4) Perspective considerations varying when completing the assessment. Discussion: Findings indicate that most assessment items had strong face validity, where there are a few opportunities to clarify key concepts relevant to rural kinship families and assess additional needs to understand the situational scope of the kinship experience. Overall, the needs assessment tool appears to have validity in assessing current kinship needs and outcomes within Kinship Navigator program evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)
11 pages, 723 KiB  
Article
Assessing Racial and Class Bias in Child Welfare: Development and Piloting of the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale
by Monica Faulkner, Catherine A. LaBrenz, Anna Wasim and Laura Marra
Societies 2024, 14(9), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090172 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2423
Abstract
Research has highlighted racial and socioeconomic disparities for families in child welfare, with calls to address inequities through trainings and structural change. However, few measures have been developed to assess the recognition of racial and class biases among child welfare practitioners, one key [...] Read more.
Research has highlighted racial and socioeconomic disparities for families in child welfare, with calls to address inequities through trainings and structural change. However, few measures have been developed to assess the recognition of racial and class biases among child welfare practitioners, one key step in addressing implicit biases and reducing racial disparities. While the Families First Prevention Services Act has prioritized evidence-based practices, it is crucial to ensure that practitioners are culturally responsive. This study developed and piloted the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale to measure the awareness of implicit and structural biases among child welfare practitioners. The development and validation of the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale included three parts: (1) scale development; (2) scale piloting using exploratory factor analysis; and (3) scale validation using confirmatory factor analysis. Two main factors were identified that explained 68.05% of the total variance; eight of the nine items loaded onto the two factors. Items on the first factor reflected implicit bias recognition, and items on the second factor reflected structural bias. Preliminary findings suggest that a two-factor scale presents good internal reliability and validity. As the Family First Preservation Services Act continues to prioritize evidence-based practices, it is important to consider the cultural sensitivity and responsiveness of providers administering them. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)
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13 pages, 1253 KiB  
Concept Paper
Building Evidence for a Promising Home-Grown Substance Use and Mental Health Child Welfare Prevention Model
by Moira Flavin, Pilar Bancalari, Kristen Faucetta and Samantha Wulfsohn
Societies 2024, 14(10), 208; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14100208 - 17 Oct 2024
Viewed by 808
Abstract
The NYC Administration for Children’s Services and MDRC have partnered since 2021 to develop a rigorous research agenda leading to an impact evaluation of the Family Treatment and Rehabilitation (FT/R) model, a “home-grown” New York City intervention for families experiencing substance misuse and/or [...] Read more.
The NYC Administration for Children’s Services and MDRC have partnered since 2021 to develop a rigorous research agenda leading to an impact evaluation of the Family Treatment and Rehabilitation (FT/R) model, a “home-grown” New York City intervention for families experiencing substance misuse and/or mental health challenges that put children at risk of maltreatment. This paper will describe the first phase of that research, which had two goals: (1) to refine a logic model that would result in a shared understanding of core components of the FT/R model, and (2) to create a plan for a subsequent implementation study that would enable MDRC and ACS to understand how 18 FT/R programs are implementing the model across New York City. The paper will describe the team’s orientation to this research, including centering equity in the work by prioritizing the inclusion of staff and family perspectives. Next steps in the research roadmap will be discussed, including convening a council of lived experience advisors, as well as implications for evidence-building for sustainability. This research has the long-term potential to support FT/R’s inclusion in the Family First Prevention Services Clearinghouse and ultimately, the leveraging of Title IV-E funds to support scaling of a locally developed, culturally responsive, and adaptable child welfare prevention model beyond New York City. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)
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21 pages, 544 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Systematic Review of Economic and Concrete Support to Prevent Child Maltreatment
by Gretchen Cusick, Jennifer Gaul-Stout, Reiko Kakuyama-Villaber, Olivia Wilks, Yasmin Grewal-Kök and Clare Anderson
Societies 2024, 14(9), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc14090173 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 2385
Abstract
The association between poverty and maltreatment is well established, and numerous studies show the detrimental effects of economic and material hardship on maltreatment, child welfare involvement, and family well-being. In turn, an increasing body of literature suggests the value of programs and services [...] Read more.
The association between poverty and maltreatment is well established, and numerous studies show the detrimental effects of economic and material hardship on maltreatment, child welfare involvement, and family well-being. In turn, an increasing body of literature suggests the value of programs and services that provide economic and concrete support in stabilizing and supporting families and, ultimately, reducing occurrences of maltreatment. In this article, we examine the effectiveness of economic and concrete support in reducing primary outcomes of child maltreatment and child welfare involvement and in improving secondary outcomes of child and adult well-being through a systematic review of the literature. We review studies published between 1990 and 2023 through searches of scholarly databases, child welfare websites, and evidence-based clearinghouses. We used a two-stage review process to identify a final sample of articles for data extraction. Twenty-four studies with low risk of bias were included in the synthesis. Regardless of delivery mechanism, we found consistent, favorable evidence of the impact of economic and concrete support as a prevention strategy to reduce child maltreatment and child welfare entry and to a lesser extent, improvements in child and adult well-being across these studies. Implications for policy, practice, and racial equity are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Building the Evidence Base for Innovative and Contextually Sensitive Programs to Prevent and Treat Child Abuse and Neglect and Reduce Child Welfare Involvement)
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