National Center for Child Welfare Excellence

NCCWE Weekly Update 10/29/2014

Digital Stories from NCCWE
Watch “From There to Here: Rebecca’s Story.” A moving story made by youth from ACS in NYC and the NCCWE digital story team.
http://www.nccwe.org/digital-stories/rebecca.html

Represent: The Voice of Youth in Foster Care

Read the latest issue of Represent Magazine- Focusing on Becoming Ourselves
http://representmag.org/issues/FCYU118/index.html

I Wish My Mom Could Accept Me
This writer recounts his mother’s reaction when she learns he’s gay from his guidance counselor, and the fallout that ensues as a result.
http://representmag.org/issues/FCYU118/I_Wish_My_Mom_Could_Accept_Me.html

Greater oversight for youth in foster care on the horizon in NYC
Mayor Bill de Blasio signed several bills into law requiring ACS to collect and annually report on housing, education, and employment outcomes for youth aging out of care. Read more in the NYC Public Advocate's report "Improving the Outcomes for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care in New York City"
http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/sites/advocate.nyc.gov/files/PublicAdvocate-AnnualReport-FosterCase.pdf

Six Skills Every Foster Parent Should Have
Do you think YOU are ready to become a foster parent? Check out this article highlighting the skills that will help you and your family prepare.
http://adoption.about.com/od/fosterin1/a/fosterbasics.htm

Visit NYSCCC to find stories, articles, and resources to support your journey.
http://nysccc.org/fostercare/become-a-foster-parent/is-foster-care-for-you/

Health Issues for Judges to Consider for Children in Foster Care
This resource provides Judges with an overview of important health issues for children and youth in care and age-appropriate forms for obtaining, recording, and tracking relevant health information for individual children.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/8d6689db40f05c9c615b526c7/files/health_issues_for_Judges.pdf

White Paper Series on Well-Being
In 2012, the Administration on Children, Youth and Families published the information memorandum Promoting Social and Emotional Well-Being for Children and Youth Receiving Child Welfare Services. Building on this guidance, the Children's Bureau published a series of white papers focused on integrating well-being into child welfare practice to effectively achieve safety and permanency for children and families.

The series includes an overview and three separate papers.

The overview presents a historical evolution of child welfare practice from the 1970s through today and the recent emphasis on well-being.
http://gucchdtacenter.georgetown.edu/resources/WP%20-%20Overview%20FINAL-508%20v2.pdf
The first paper outlines the domains and indicators of well-being and presents a framework for ensuring the healthy development of young people who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect.
http://gucchdtacenter.georgetown.edu/resources/WP1%20-%20Comprehensive%20Framework%20508%20v5.pdf
The second paper is centered on the use of evidence-based practices to improve the well-being of children in foster care, specifically trauma screening, clinical assessment, and progress monitoring.
http://gucchdtacenter.georgetown.edu/resources/WP2%20-%20Screening%20Assesing%20and%20Monitoring%20508%20v2.pdf
The third paper presents a case study of a program that has successfully implemented the core aspects of the well-being framework.
http://gucchdtacenter.georgetown.edu/resources/WP3%20-%20Case%20Study%20Nov%202013%20508%20v2.pdf

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Gerald P. Mallon, DSW, LCSW
Julia Lathrop Professor of Child Welfare
Executive Director
National Center for Child Welfare Excellence
Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
A Service of the Children's Bureau
2180 Third Avenue. 7th Floor
New York, NY 10035
http://www.nccwe.org
mallong@aol.com