On this week’s episode, we review some of the recent action out of Washington, including what’s going on with federal funds, the impact of Trump’s executive orders on some youth with lived experience, and who is temporarily leading child welfare and youth justice policy. 

We also break down the findings from a report on health care for youth who have aged out of foster care, and a new bill that would fund post-adoption support. 

Reading Room

Register for Empowered Youth Voices: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building Confidence in Storytelling.

https://bit.ly/3EZiz4t

The Acting Leaders on Child Welfare, Youth Justice

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/the-acting-leaders-on-child-welfare-youth-justice/259082

Early Trump Actions Leave Lived Experience Jobs in Flux

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/early-trump-actions-leave-lived-experience-jobs-flux/258758

Trump Halts, then Reinstates, Legal Counsel for Unaccompanied Minors Seeking Asylum

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/trump-halts-legal-counsel-for-unaccompanied-minors-seeking-asylum/259021

Report Notes Trends, Barriers in Medicaid Enrollment for Former Foster Youth 

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/gao-notes-trends-barriers-in-medicaid-enrollment-for-former-foster-youth/258781

Bills Introduced on Adoption Support, Rehoming

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/bills-introduced-adoption-support-rehoming/258945

In this episode of InnerViews, host Ivory Bennett sits down with Montina Myers-Galloway, a licensed clinical mental health counselor, TEDx speaker, and advocate for Black women healing from parentification. Together, they explore the impact of adultification and emotional burdens placed on Black youth in foster care and juvenile justice. Montina shares how professionals can create trauma-informed spaces, support mental well-being, and empower youth to reclaim their narratives. This conversation is a must-listen for those committed to breaking cycles and fostering emotional healing in child welfare.

On this week’s episode, Imprint Indigenous Children and Families Reporter Nancy Marie Spears hosts a special roundtable discussion on the future of Indigenous child welfare. Our panel of guests break down how they will engage with a new 25-year plan to reform and improve Indigenous child welfare policy and practice through improved implementation of, and compliance with, the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA.. 

ICWA 2050 was launched November 7 by the Protect ICWA Campaign to Honor ICWA’s 46th Anniversary and it’s called Protect, Preserve, Progress: Realizing the Spirit of the Indian Child Welfare Act. There are four key goals of this long-term plan, and the panelists talk about how their respective communities intend on engaging with each area of proposed change.

Guest panel:

Sarah Kastelic, (Alutiiq), is the executive director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association.

Te’Ata Loper, (Chickasaw), is the executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Child Welfare Association.

Kimberly Cluff is legal director of the California Tribal Families Coalition.

Linda S. Spears is president and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America.

Reading Room

Protecting Children and Healing Families, One Native Auntie at a Time
https://imprintnews.org/foster-care/protecting-children-and-healing-families-one-native-auntie-at-a-time/241572

The Way Forward: Report of the Alyce Spotted Bear & Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children
https://udallcenter.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2024-07/TheWayForward.pdf

Indian Child Welfare Act Think Tank to Strategize Legal Protections for Tribal Sovereignty
https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/indian-child-welfare-act-think-tank-to-strategize-legal-protections-for-tribal-sovereignty/239084

New Online Resources Available to Assist With Indian Child Welfare Cases
https://imprintnews.org/indigenous-youth-and-families/new-online-resources-available-to-assist-with-indian-child-welfare-cases/255684

On this week’s episode, Abecedarian Group President Celia Sims joins us to discuss child welfare and education policy, and the intersection of the two. Sims, who spent most of her career on Capitol Hill, reflects on a recent op-ed she wrote for The Imprint and shares thoughts on the practicability of President Trump’s proposal to shutter the Department of Education. 

Celia Sims is the founder of the Abecedarian Group, and serves as a volunteer court appointed special advocate. Sims has served as an advisor on education and child welfare policy for former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and was vice president of government relations for KinderCare Education.

Reading Room

Common Ground Is The Only
Political Path for Child Welfare

https://imprintnews.org/opinion/common-ground-only-political-path-child-welfare/256030

The Imprint’s extensive
coverage on educational stability for youth in foster care

https://imprintnews.org/tag/essa

New Report Highlights
Ongoing Challenges for NYC Students in Foster Care

https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/new-report-highlights-ongoing-challenges-for-nyc-students-in-foster-care/237967

On this week’s podcast, we go over some of the actions taken by the Trump administration in their first full week since the inauguration. We also discuss a report that finds some states are sending back federal money to help older foster youth, and a Texas bill that would bring sweeping change to the way the child welfare system works in that state. 

Rena Johnson of the Aviv Foundation and Mary Bissell of Child Focus join to talk about the Aviv Foundation’s Springboard Prize, an award that will invest $400,000 in several game-change oriented proposals.

Reading Room

Trump’s Day-one Actions Reverse Biden Decisions

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/trump-day-one-actions-reverse-biden-decisions/258340

Trump Administration Cancels Child Welfare Contract, Pulls Juvenile Justice Grants

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/trump-administration-cancels-child-welfare-contract-pulls-juvenile-justice-grants/258439

Child Welfare Leaders Stunned by Trump’s Call to Freeze Social Services Spending; Legal Action Quickly Threatened

https://imprintnews.org/child-welfare-2/child-welfare-leaders-stunned-by-trumps-call-to-freeze-social-services-spending-legal-action-quickly-threatened/258488

Report: Millions for Helping Older Foster Youth Goes Unspent

https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/report-millions-helping-older-foster-youth-goes-unspent/258528

HHS Should Help States Address Barriers to Using Federal Funds for Programs Serving Youth Transitioning to Adulthood

https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-25-107154.pdf

Texas Lawmakers Consider ‘ICWA for All’ Bill That Would Set New, Higher Standards for Removing Children
From Home

https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/texas-lawmakers-consider-icwa-for-all-bill-that-would-set-new-higher-standards-for-removing-children-from-home/258553

In this episode of InnerViews, Sensei Dave shares his journey from foster care and juvenile detention to becoming a mentor, author, and advocate for at-risk youth. Discover how his transformative "Inspire to Aspire" program equips young people with hope, skills, and resilience while empowering caring adults to create lasting change. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about breaking cycles, fostering equity, and building brighter futures for youth impacted by the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

In November, the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) held its first national conference in more than a decade, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the landmark Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. 

Right after the conference ended, OJJDP Administrator and longtime youth justice reformer Liz Ryan joined us to discuss the conference, in particular the large presence of young people who have experienced the justice system. Ryan also reflected on the future of justice reform, and what she feels the Biden administration accomplished during her tenure.  

Reading Room

Episode 100! Biden’s Juvenile Justice Agenda with Liz Ryan
https://imprintnews.org/podcast/episode-100-biden-juvenile-justice-agenda-liz-ryan

Decarceration Advocate Liz Ryan to Lead Juvenile Justice for Biden Administration
https://bit.ly/37hzj6A

Nation’s Top Juvenile Justice Official Disputes ‘Youth Crime Wave’ Narrative
https://bit.ly/3xR7k7X

On this Headlines edition of The Imprint Weekly Podcast, we stick with Capitol Hill where a lot went down around the holidays. We discuss the arrest of a former foster youth and advocate arrested after a celebration of the Chafee Act, along with some child welfare legislation that made it into law (and one bill that did not). 

We also break down some long-sought data about what happens when youth are charged as adults in the United States, and the lastest federal report on child abuse and neglect. Thanks to live podcast attendee, new rescue dog Dracula, for being a good boy while we recorded!

Reading Room

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace Calls Police on Prominent Foster Youth Advocate; Eyewitnesses Dispute Her Assault Allegations
https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/nancy-mace-calls-police-prominent-foster-youth-advocate/256826

Foster Youth Advocate Pleads Not Guilty to Alleged Handshake Assault on Member of Congress
https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/foster-youth-advocate-pleads-not-guilty-to-alleged-handshake-assault-on-member-of-congress/256858

Flurry of Bills Move to President, but Not Workforce Reauthorization
https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/flurry-bills-move-president-not-workforce-reauthorization/257117

Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act Poised to Become Law
https://imprintnews.org/subscriber-content/stop-institutional-child-abuse-act-poised-to-become-law/257027

A Long-Delayed Look at Youth Charged as Adults
https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/a-long-delayed-look-at-youth-charged-as-adults/258083

Juveniles Charged in Adult Criminal Courts, 2014
https://bjs.ojp.gov/document/jcacc14.pdf

Federal Study on Transfers of Juveniles Delayed, Again
https://imprintnews.org/subscriber-content/federal-study-transfers-juveniles-delayed/25194

Biden Commutes Sentence of one of the ‘Kids for Cash’ Judges
https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/biden-commutes-kids-cash-judges/256977

Closing the Book on “Kids for Cash”
https://safecampaudio.org/episode/closing-the-book-on-kids-for-cash/

Child Maltreatment Reports on the Rise, Confirmed Victim Numbers Decline, Federal Report Shows
https://imprintnews.org/youth-services-insider/child-maltreatment-reports-on-the-rise-confirmed-victim-numbers-decline-federal-report-shows/258032

As always, we were fortunate to have some amazing guests join us this year on The Imprint Weekly Podcast. In this episode we feature clips of 10 great interviews from 2023. 

If you enjoy this podcast, or the great work our reporters do at The Imprint and Fostering Families Today, and the work that our Youth Voices Rising team does, please consider making a donation. And if you do so this month, during Newsmatch, your donation will get doubled!

Fostering Media Connections is very lucky to have some terrific philanthropic supporters, advertisers and sponsors, and subscribers to our business and policy section that help make this organization go. But we really cannot do it without donors like you who read our stuff, listen to our podcasts and attend our online events.
There are tons of really great nonprofit, independent news outlets to support out there, and we hope you consider us one of them. To give today it’s easy! Visit www.imprintnews.org/donate.

Guests include:
Shelly Jackson, law enforcement policies attorney for Strategies for Youth.
LaShawnda Pittman, associate professor of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle.
Rob Geen, founder of CWPolicy, LLC and leads the Child Welfare Initiative at the Bipartisan Policy Center.
Carolyn Travis, community advocacy coordinator for California Youth Connection.
Alex Piquero, professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminology at the University of Miami and previously served as the Director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Serita Cox, co-founder of iFoster.
Gwen Moore, Member of Congress
Dawn Post, founder of Themis Youth Law & Advocacy.
Jerry Milner, co-founder of the Family Justice Group, and former associate commissioner of the U.S. Children’s Bureau. 
Will Schneider, associate professor at the University of Illinois School of Social Work and the faculty director for the Children and Family Research Center. 

On today’s episode, Dr. Jenny Tanis of the Hope College School of Social Work and Dr. Sacha Klein of the Michigan State University School of Social Work join to talk about their research into the impact of State paid family leave policies on infant maltreatment. 

The United States is among the few developed countries without paid family leave as a national policy. But four states have long had local leave policies in place: California, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Tanis and Klein wanted to see what, if any, impact this had on infant maltreatment in those states compared to trends in other states. 

Reading Room 

State Paid Family Leave Policies and Infant Maltreatment
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38574603/

Paid family leave's effect on hospital admissions for pediatric abusive head trauma
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26869666/

Impact of Direct Cash Benefits to Low-Income Families Can Be Far-Reaching
https://imprintnews.org/family/impact-direct-cash-benefits-low-income-families-child/237760