Applications being accepted for Director of the Child Welfare Academy
July 16, 2008 Applications are being accepted for the position of Director of Maryland's Child Welfare Academy, a partnership between the Maryland Department of Human Resources, Social Services Adminstration and the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Family Connections named a Promising Program
February 8, 2008 Family Connections was identified in the Pew Charitable Trust report Time for Reform: Investing in Prevention: Keeping Children Safe at Home as a promising program developed to prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring in the first place. Diane DePanfilis Testifies Before Maryland LegislatorsFebruary 5, 2008
Associate Dean for Research Diane Depanfilis recently provided testimony on child welfare issues to Maryland legislators.
She provided testimony in support of H.B. 262 Child Abuse & Neglect-Child Welfare Alternative Response System in Maryland before the Maryland House of Delegates'Judiciary Committee on January 31, 2008.
Family Connections recognized as Promising Practice
January 29,2008 The Family Connections program was originally developed and tested with federal funding from 1996-2001 (Diane DePanfilis-PI) and continues through a combination of federal, state, and foundation funding. It is currently being replicated with Grandparents in Baltimore and in 7 locations across the country. It was reviewed by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare in the category of Prevention Programs. A scientific rating of 3-Promising Practice means: (1) There is no clinical or empirical evidence or theoretical basis indicating that the practice constitutes a substantial risk of harm to those receiving it, compared to its likely benefits. (2) The practice has a book, manual, and/or other available writings that specifies the components of the practice protocol and describe how to administer it. (3) At least one study utilizing some form of control (e.g., untreated group, placebo group, matched wait list) has established the practiceýs efficacy over the placebo, or found it to be comparable to or better than an appropriate comparison practice. The study has been reported in published, peer-reviewed literature. (4)If multiple outcome studies have been conducted, the overall weight of evidence supports the efficacy of the practice.
More information can be found at:
http://www.cachildwelfareclearinghouse.org/program/84/detailed#relevant-research New Reports Released
January 25, 2008 Two new reports related to child welfare accountability were released by the Ruth H. Young Center for Families & Children (RYC) Center in collaboration with the Family Welfare Research & Training Group at the School of Social Work. Reports were co-authored by Sarah Kaye, Terry Shaw, Pamela Ovwigho, and Diane DePanfilis. Two read the full reports, visit http://www.family.umaryland.edu/ryc_research_and_evaluation/child_welfare_research_files/cwa08-07.htm
University of Maryland to Open Trauma Center for Families
November 6, 2007 SOURCE: The (Baltimore) Examiner – Nov. 6
SUMMARY: The harsh realities of Baltimore’s violence levels, paired with the city’s university researchers and medical centers, make it an ideal place for one of 10 trauma centers across the nation specifically geared toward helping families. The University of Maryland's School of Medicine and School of Social Work, along with the Kennedy Krieger Family Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, are starting a Family-Informed Trauma Treatment Center with a $2.4 million federal grant. “We have families who never go out at night. Think about what that means in terms of their psyche,” said Fred Strieder, PhD, MSSA, a clinical associate professor at the School of Social Work. “Traumatic experiences such as domestic violence, school violence, and child abuse derail families,” said Laurel Kiser, PhD, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, who believes living in Baltimore’s roughest neighborhoods is traumatic in itself. To read the article visit:
http://www.examiner.com/a-1031198~University_of_Md__to_open_trauma_center_for_families.html
Grandparent Family Connections Receives Grant to Design Grand-Family Housing Grandparent Family Connections (GFC), a program of the Ruth H. Young Center for Families and Children, was awarded a $140,000 planning grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Zanvyl and Isabelle Krieger Fund, and the Helena Foundation for GFC's Baltimore City Intergenerational Housing and Service Initiative. The project will be led by GFC's Dr. Fred Strieder. Strieder, along with Marla Oros of the Mosaic Group and Wes Moore, will be investigating existing housing/service models that have been developed to serve grandparents who are caregivers for their grandchildren and other caregivers caring for their relatives.
The goal of the grant is to design a plan for grand-family housing in Baltimore that would include the provision of specialized services for these families. The initiative would also develop services that would be available to caregivers throughout Baltimore City.
Foster Care Payment Report Released!
October 2007, Updated January 25, 2008 Hitting the M.A.R.C.: Establishing Foster Care Minimum Adequate Rates for Children Report Summary  | Technical Report | Press Coverage | NASW Story 1/08 UMB News: Social Work Study Examines National Foster Care Payment Rates Baltimore Examiner: Maryland Rank Favorable on Foster Care Visit the Children's Rights web site for State Fact Sheets and additional information.
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