1.0 CE (National Association of Social Workers – NASW)
This training explores effective permanency practices that prioritize kinship care within child welfare systems. Participants will learn how to implement a kin-first culture, apply diligent recruitment strategies, and leverage successful state-level initiatives to improve outcomes for children placed with relatives. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, the session will equip professionals with tools to enhance relational and legal permanency for youth in care.
This workshop will provide an overview of an adoption disruption and dissolution study conducted by Wilder Research Foundation and the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). This study included surveys and interviews with adoption professionals, families as well as youth. Also, the study included a demographic analysis of adoption disruptions in Minnesota. We have concluded data collection and are currently working on data analysis as well as findings review. Our presentation will provide a background of the research study, a literature review summary, participant demographic information, and methodology. In addition, the presentation will provide an overview of preliminary findings and preliminary insights. Finally, the presentation will provide an overview of successes and challenges for the project thus far as well as a discussion of potential areas of focus for recommendations.
Youth with complex needs generally experience an increased number of placement changes – with a direct correlation with an increased length of stay in care. During the placement search process, prospective families receive relevant information about the youth, which often is limited to a list of diagnoses and behaviors. Youth often have little to no voice in the process.
Northwest Adoption Exchange (NWAE) “In my own words,” project aims to give youth a chance to give context to their “file”. Youth are empowered to create a video narrative project that allows them to share their hopes and goals for the future, their interests, and dive into some of the things they might be struggling with or working on. This approach ensures youth voice is central in any placement discussions about them.
This interactive session will review the “In My Own Words” project and its theory. Attendees will discuss actionable goals to elevate youth voice in a way that leads to placement stability and permanency in their jurisdictions
