The purpose of this study was to evaluate children’s functioning over time as a result of receiving treatment at Washburn Center for Children. The evaluation focused on understanding how children’s behavior and symptomology (as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) changed over time.
Using statewide data from the Minn-LInK Project and administrative data from one treatment foster care (TFC) agency in Minnesota, a number of cross-system child outcomes were explored. This study was intended to begin to form a broader picture of the status of TFC children and to help fill gaps in the TFC literature by linking TFC program records across other systems. This exploration led to concrete recommendations for TFC agency data systems and data collection practices.
In this two-episode series, Katherine Nulicek, MSH, interviews experts from the Center for Practice Transformation and Minnesota Alternatives about harm reduction and person-centered strategies to help child welfare workers.
Child welfare workers are often placed in the difficult position of needing to protect vulnerable children while supporting caregiver recovery. Perhaps the old idiom, “stuck between a rock and a hard place” characterizes these dueling responsibilities. Parents and caregivers in the grips of an addiction or struggling with mental illness need broad support to live their way into recovery, AND, children need to be protected. The work of child welfare is supporting the whole family toward health and wellness where each member has their important needs met.