Download "The Intersection of Child Welfare and Disability: Focus on Children"

The Spring 2013 issue of CW360°, "The Intersection of Child Welfare and Disability: Focus on Children," from the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) is now available online. This CW360° explores issues impacting children with disabilities in child welfare and provides examples of policy solutions and practice strategies for working with this population.

It is essential for child welfare workers and advocates to understand and be aware of the prevalence of disability in child welfare. As Traci LaLiberte and Tracy Crudo state in their letter from the editors,

"There is not a child welfare worker, supervisor, or administrator practicing in the field today that has not or will not come into contact with children with disabilities. Indeed, it is likely that many of the children on any given child welfare worker's caseload have some form of disability."

CASCW's annual CW360° magazine provides comprehensive information on the latest research, policies, and practices in a key area affecting child well-being to communities, child welfare professionals, and other human service professionals. CASCW will also produce a special issue this summer focusing on parents with disabilities in the child welfare system.

To view the current and past issues of CW360°, visit the CW360° webpage on the CASCW website.

The Star Tribune featured department of Family Social Science professor Bill Doherty in an article titled "Done right, many couples benefit from counseling." Doherty gives tips on what to look for in a couple's therapist, such as how much of the practice is devoted to couples. He also points out things to watch out for that can help couples to avoid inexperienced therapists.
Doherty is the project lead for Minnesota Couples on the Brink, which just launched a Directory of Discernment Counselors for people across the nation to find therapists in their state who are trained in discernment counseling.

In conjunction with Emergence Pictures in Minnesota and the Fetzer Institute in Michigan, Dr. Mark Umbreit, director of the Center for Restorative Justice & Peacemaking in the School of Social Work, has produced a broadcast-quality 27 minute film on "Being With the Energy of Forgiveness."

The film is based on Umbreit's research and practice with homicide survivors, offenders and communities, including Native Americans and Somalis in Minneapolis, and clergy sex abuse in Milwaukee. The film features four main case stories that identify lessons learned from restorative justice dialogue with former enemies.

Later this year, Wipf and Stock Publishers in Oregon will publish Umbreit's book on the same topic. It was co-written with Jennifer Blevins, Ph.D. student and research associate with the center.

Stephanie Carlson, associate professor at the Institute of Child Development, recently had her research on links between executive function and creativity featured in Ideas To Go's March newsletter in an article entitled: Why You Should Have a Child-Like Imagination (and the Research that Proves It).

Department of Family Social Science professor Catherine Solheim advises couples in debt in an article in the Star Tribune.
"Finding practical strategies feels empowering," said Solheim. She goes on to provide tips on how to create a plan as well as maintain relationships when dealing with issues such as debt.
Read the article.

Minnesota Couples on the Brink project launched an online training video for therapists interested in Discernment Therapy. Department of Family Social Science professor Bill Doherty coined the phrase "discernment therapy" for couples that are at a crossroads in their relationship and need help "discerning" the pros and cons of their options.
Professor Doherty and discernment therapy are referenced in the article on Syracuse University's blog "When does a relationship become bad enough to leave?"
The Couples on the Brink project also launched a Discernment Counseling Directory for people seeking relationship counseling from a trained therapist outside of Minnesota. Currently therapists are available in over ten different states.

CEHD Alumni Relations is proud to highlight 23 outstanding alumni who have achieved early distinction in their careers, demonstrated outstanding leadership, or shown exceptional volunteer service in their communities.

The CEHD 23: Rising Alumni are emerging leaders from diverse professions who improve lives through the psychological, physical, and social development of children, youth, and adults. Their work includes efforts to close the achievement gap, understand the developing brain, and build family resilience.

The alums share good advice for young professionals and speak fondly on how college faculty and staff have positively influenced their careers. See all the profiles.

Registration is now open for the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare's (CASCW) 14th annual free child welfare conference, "The Intersection of Child Welfare and Disability," on May 7, 2013, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The conference will be held in the McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota's East Bank campus, and will also be available via live web stream.

CASCW is pleased to feature the following keynote presenters:

• Dr. Dick Sobsey, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta and Director of the JP Das Developmental Disabilities Centre.
• Dr. Traci LaLiberte, Director of the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare at the University of Minnesota, and
• Dr. Elizabeth Lightfoot, Associate Professor and PhD Program Director at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work.

Following the keynote presenters, staff from the National Resource Center on Youth Development will discuss the development and use of their guide on psychotropic medication for youth in foster care.

In the afternoon, CASCW will host two panel presentations featuring practitioners discussing local reactions and application of the information provided in the morning keynote presentations.

For more details on the event, see our event webpage found here.

Participants may earn up to 6 CEUs for their attendance.

Information and registration for On-Site Attendees may be found here.
(There is a $15 fee for lunch.)

Information and registration for Web Stream Viewers may be found here.
(There is no charge for live web stream.)

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Nora Lee at cascw@umn.edu or 612-624-4231.

We look forward to your attendance!

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare has published two new child welfare policy briefs:

		Father Engagement in Child Welfare looks at how policy can be used to positively engage fathers in their child welfare-involved children's lives. Highlighted policy issues surround bringing consistency to practice, coordinating between child protection and child support, and overcoming legal barriers to involvement.
		Child Well-Being in Minnesota: A Primer for the 2013–2014 Legislative Session is a briefing on Minnesota's child welfare system, including child protection, foster care, and adoption service systems. It highlights populations served, funding structures, and decision-making criteria for evidence-based policy solutions.

To access all seven child welfare policy briefs, please visit the Center's Child Welfare Policy Briefs webpage, part of the overall Child Welfare Policy web section.

Department of Family Social Science professor Shonda Craft was asked how people can effectively deal with seasonal affective disorder, especially during a winter like this one, that just doesn't seem to end. Watch the video of her response at Fox 9 News.