What do school shootings and child maltreatment have in common? Join Rich Gehrman for his insight and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/What-Do-School-Shootings-and-Child-Maltreatment-Have-in-Common-with-narrative-for-podcast.pdf

www.safepassageforchildren.org

Maya’s Law passed last week on the final day of the 2022 Minnesota legislative session. Introduced by Foster Advocates, the bill requires workers to interview foster children separately from foster parents, keep a record of what was discovered during Family Assessments, and interview alleged maltreatment victims separately from adults if Substantial Child Endangerment or sexual abuse is alleged. (See Omnibus Bill lines 269.10-269.21 and 286.23-287.10). Learn more about the bill, its provisions, and the controversy around it. Join Rich Gehrman for a full discussion and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Narrative-for-podcast-on-Mayas-Law.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

You are invited to our Spring Open House! More info and RSVP for free at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

On Wednesday May 25th 2022 we interviewed Daniel Hatcher on the practice of counties and states seizing foster children’s income to pay for their placements. Daniel helped pass a bill in Maryland to end this practice, and is currently providing technical assistance on a bill to do the same in Minnesota as well.  He is a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law. About 8% - 10% of Minnesota foster children have income from Social Security and other benefit programs, amounting to approximately $8 million statewide – funds which could help foster children with their transition out of foster care to adulthood. 

Daniel L. Hatcher is Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore, teaching the Civil Advocacy Clinic. Hatcher previously worked at the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau as assistant director of advocacy, and as staff attorney representing foster children and impoverished adults. He was also a senior staff attorney with the Children's Defense Fund.  His book, “The Poverty Industry: The Exploitation of America’s Most Vulnerable Citizens” (NYU Press 2016) exposes how state agencies and companies are using vulnerable populations to maximize revenue rather than serving their best interests. The book builds on his past scholarship addressing a core conflict in human service agencies and other government institutions – agencies that exist to serve, also seek to exist. 

Join Rich Gehrman as he interviews Daniel on the practice of counties and states seizing foster children’s income to pay for their placements in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Narrative-for-blog-on-Amish-sexual-abuse-of-children.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

You are invited to our Spring Open House! More info and RSVP for free at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

This Star Tribune story documents that 145 teens who are dangerous to themselves or others lived at some point since last September in the M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital ambulance garage. The root cause of this problem is Baltimore’s Annie E. Casey Foundation.  Their lobbying got the 2018 Family First Act passed, which eliminates federal funding for residential treatment centers. Why? The ensuing disaster is national in scope. What do Casey’s lobbying campaign and closing juvenile detention centers have in common? Join Rich Gehrman for a full discussion and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Narrative-for-blog-on-Amish-sexual-abuse-of-children.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

You are invited to our Spring Open House! More info and RSVP for free at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

Garments of 13 sexually abused children were exhibited last month at a convention of “Plain” churches, which include Amish, Mennonite and Brethren communities. As reported by the Associated Press, the display included dresses and head coverings for four- and five-year-olds, and even a onesie. Who is committing these abusive acts against children, and who is condoning it? Why? Who is speaking up for the children? Listen to our podcast which also includes how Indian Boarding Schools and homeschooling follow similar patterns.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Narrative-for-blog-on-Amish-sexual-abuse-of-children.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

You are invited to our Spring Open House! More info and RSVP for free at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

It has become commonplace to disparage public servants who “can’t break out of their silos”. But current efforts by Minnesota child welfare managers tell a more positive story. Details are still unfolding, but we wanted to share now that we have recently experienced above-and-beyond efforts where staffers pushed through bureaucratic constraints, brought constituents together, and got the job done despite, well, their jobs. Here’s to the silo-busters. Why is breaking down government silos so incredibly hard? Join Rich for a full discussion on this plus in-depth commentary and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Narrative-for-podcast-on-In-Praise-of-State-Government-Silo-Busters.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

Join us at our upcoming inaugural Spring Open House! More info and registration at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

Early findings from our current research on Minnesota child murders show high risk cases being assigned to Family Assessment, the minimal-accountability version of child protection. To date this study documents parents who got this virtual free pass despite refusing medical treatment for children injured in a car crash, enabling sexual abuse of an infant, and a criminal conviction for malicious punishment of a child. Our previous research corroborates that these are common occurrences, not occasional lapses. Who is fostering and supporting these practices? Why? How will children be protected? Join Rich for a full discussion on this plus in-depth commentary and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the blog's transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/How-We-Became-Wholly-Indifferent-to-the-Suffering-of-Children-2-blog-transcript.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

Join us at our upcoming inaugural Spring Open House! More info and registration at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

Many observers expected child abuse to increase during covid because it would be hidden from mandated reporters, giving abusers free rein. However this JAMA Pediatrics article asserts that child maltreatment decreased during covid, as measured by child-abuse related Emergency Department (ED) visits. Conversely, this AAP News article demonstrates that while visits were indeed fewer, they were more serious, with 50% more requiring hospitalization. Which interpretation is true? What information is still needed? How can we keep children safe in these challenging public health situations? Join Rich for a full discussion on this plus in-depth commentary and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the full blog and podcast transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Did-Child-Abuse-Actually-Go-Down-During-Covid-narrative-for-podcast.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

Join us at our upcoming inaugural Spring Open House! More info and registration at https://bit.ly/safepassageopenhouse

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit us at www.safepassageforchildren.org

Professionals in domestic abuse programs, also called Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) prefer that victims decide for themselves when to leave a dangerous relationship. Children’s Protective Services (CPS) however responds to child abuse allegations immediately. What happens when both forms of violence co-occur? What other difficulties arise between victims' advocates? Is there common ground? How can we keep children and parents safe? Join Rich for a full discussion on this plus in-depth commentary and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the full blog and podcast transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Common-Ground-for-Domestic-Abuse-and-Child-Maltreatment-Advocates-with-narrative-for-podcast.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit them at www.safepassageforchildren.org

Research cited in this Child Welfare Monitor article indicates that most poor parents do not neglect their children.  So when poor families are screened into child protection it raises the concern that this is happening because mandated reporters and child protection workers have trouble distinguishing poverty from neglect. What do the national and state statistics show? How is neglect defined? How can we better make these distinctions? Join Rich for a full discussion on this plus in-depth commentary and analysis in this week's podcast.

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Rich Gehrman is the founder and Executive Director of Minnesota nonprofit organization Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota. He is the 2021 winner of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Minnesota’s 2021 "Mark Proctor Hero for Children Award."

Read the full blog and podcast transcript at https://safepassageforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Narrative-of-Podcast-for-difference-between-poverty-and-neglect.pdf

Safe Passage for Children of Minnesota’s nonprofit mission is to strengthen the Minnesota child welfare system so children are safe and can reach their full potential. If you know someone who cares about children, be sure to share this podcast with them.

Support Safe Passage's work for Minnesota's most vulnerable children at www.safepassageforchildren.org/donate and visit them at www.safepassageforchildren.org