CWLA – prevention of child maltreatment is the responsibility of entire communities
by Denise Nanni and Milena Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the
following, our interview with Donna Petras working at CWLA, an
American welfare organization for children and families in the USA. The focus
is on abused and neglected children and on the struggle against mistreatment of
children in the family.
following, our interview with Donna Petras working at CWLA, an
American welfare organization for children and families in the USA. The focus
is on abused and neglected children and on the struggle against mistreatment of
children in the family.
How do you get in touch with families and individuals
that could benefit from your help?
that could benefit from your help?
The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is a powerful coalition of hundreds of
private and public agencies serving vulnerable children and families since
1920. Our expertise, leadership and innovation on policies, programs, and
practices help improve lives of millions of children across the United States.
Our impact is felt worldwide.
private and public agencies serving vulnerable children and families since
1920. Our expertise, leadership and innovation on policies, programs, and
practices help improve lives of millions of children across the United States.
Our impact is felt worldwide.
Our vision is that every
child will grow up in a safe,
loving, and stable family.
child will grow up in a safe,
loving, and stable family.
CWLA leads and engages its
network of public and private agencies and partners to advance policies, best
practices and collaborative strategies that result in better outcomes for
children, youth and families that are vulnerable.
children and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect, family disruption,
or a range of other factors that jeopardize their safety, permanence, or
well-being. CWLA also focuses on the families, caregivers, and the communities
that care for and support these children.
network of public and private agencies and partners to advance policies, best
practices and collaborative strategies that result in better outcomes for
children, youth and families that are vulnerable.
children and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect, family disruption,
or a range of other factors that jeopardize their safety, permanence, or
well-being. CWLA also focuses on the families, caregivers, and the communities
that care for and support these children.
CWLA works in the
following five core areas:
following five core areas:
CWLA’S STANDARDS OF
EXCELLENCE
EXCELLENCE
For 70 years, CWLA has
established Standards of Excellence for child welfare practice. These Standards
have played a unique national role in shaping quality child welfare practice.
They have been a foundation tool for improving the national child welfare
system, guiding policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and the broader public.
The Standards are widely accepted as the foundation for sound U.S. child
welfare practice, providing goals for the continuing improvement of services to
children and their families.
established Standards of Excellence for child welfare practice. These Standards
have played a unique national role in shaping quality child welfare practice.
They have been a foundation tool for improving the national child welfare
system, guiding policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and the broader public.
The Standards are widely accepted as the foundation for sound U.S. child
welfare practice, providing goals for the continuing improvement of services to
children and their families.
POLICY ADVOCACY CENTER
CWLA works to improve
public policies for children, youths, and families through our Advocacy Center.
Located in Washington, DC near Capitol Hill, our advocacy staff mobilize and
lead efforts to enact public policies in the best interests of children, youths
and families.
public policies for children, youths, and families through our Advocacy Center.
Located in Washington, DC near Capitol Hill, our advocacy staff mobilize and
lead efforts to enact public policies in the best interests of children, youths
and families.
PRACTICE EXCELLENCE CENTER
CWLA provides consultation
to public and private agencies serving children and families to help them
implement evidence-informed/based best policies, programs, and practices to
achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
to public and private agencies serving children and families to help them
implement evidence-informed/based best policies, programs, and practices to
achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
MODELS OF PRACTICE AND
TRAINING
TRAINING
CWLA develops and
disseminates evidence-informed/based models of practice to transfer knowledge
developed through research to policies, programs, and practices with children
and families. CWLA provides competency-based training for social workers and
agencies on a wide array of topics essential for excellent services to children
and families.
disseminates evidence-informed/based models of practice to transfer knowledge
developed through research to policies, programs, and practices with children
and families. CWLA provides competency-based training for social workers and
agencies on a wide array of topics essential for excellent services to children
and families.
PUBLICATIONS
CWLA publishes Children’s
Voice magazine, Child Welfare Journal, National Blueprint for Excellence in
Child Welfare, and hundreds of books. Under the imprint CWLA Press, we produce
the most respected publications in the areas of adoption, foster care,
residential treatment, child welfare curricula, cultural competence, pregnancy
and parenting, independent living, and permanency, as well as children’s books.
We also make available the world-renowned PRIDE Model of Practice for the
Development and Support of Foster and Adoptive Families.
Voice magazine, Child Welfare Journal, National Blueprint for Excellence in
Child Welfare, and hundreds of books. Under the imprint CWLA Press, we produce
the most respected publications in the areas of adoption, foster care,
residential treatment, child welfare curricula, cultural competence, pregnancy
and parenting, independent living, and permanency, as well as children’s books.
We also make available the world-renowned PRIDE Model of Practice for the
Development and Support of Foster and Adoptive Families.
What are the current number related to families in
need of drug treatment and what are the trends of the last years?
need of drug treatment and what are the trends of the last years?
In the United States
approximately 70% of the families referred to child
services are substance use involved. This is the most prominent issue related
to child maltreatment in the USA. Recently, we have seen an increase in opioid
addiction and overdose deaths among young people.
approximately 70% of the families referred to child
services are substance use involved. This is the most prominent issue related
to child maltreatment in the USA. Recently, we have seen an increase in opioid
addiction and overdose deaths among young people.
According to the
Survey on Drug Use and Health published by the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, an office of the US Government (www.samhsa.gov),
the 2015 survey found “the percentage of
people identified as needing
among young adults aged 18 to 25 and was lowest among adolescents aged 12 to
17. In 2015, approximately
this age group), 5.4 million young adults (15.5 percent of this age group), and
15.0 million adults aged 26 or older (7.2 percent of this age group) needed
substance use treatment in the past year (Figure 1). Stated another way, about
1 in 20 adolescents, 1 in 6 young adults, and 1 in 14 adults aged 26 or older
were classified to be in need of
year.”
Survey on Drug Use and Health published by the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, an office of the US Government (www.samhsa.gov),
the 2015 survey found “the percentage of
people identified as needing
among young adults aged 18 to 25 and was lowest among adolescents aged 12 to
17. In 2015, approximately
this age group), 5.4 million young adults (15.5 percent of this age group), and
15.0 million adults aged 26 or older (7.2 percent of this age group) needed
substance use treatment in the past year (Figure 1). Stated another way, about
1 in 20 adolescents, 1 in 6 young adults, and 1 in 14 adults aged 26 or older
were classified to be in need of
year.”
Why did you decide to focus some of your initiative on
Indian child welfare and LGBTQ youngsters?
Indian child welfare and LGBTQ youngsters?
Our work focuses on
and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect, family disruption, or a
range of other factors that jeopardize their safety, permanence, or well-being.
and youth who may have experienced abuse, neglect, family disruption, or a
range of other factors that jeopardize their safety, permanence, or well-being.
We work to identify and
provide evidence-based/informed approaches to help children and families that
are vulnerable. Responding to the needs of American Indian children and
families requires approaches that are responsive to their unique cultures. We
work with Indian Tribes to assure we provide culturally sensitive and
responsive policies, programs, and practices.
provide evidence-based/informed approaches to help children and families that
are vulnerable. Responding to the needs of American Indian children and
families requires approaches that are responsive to their unique cultures. We
work with Indian Tribes to assure we provide culturally sensitive and
responsive policies, programs, and practices.
families are a more recently recognized population with vulnerabilities to
maltreatment. We
welfare policies, programs, and practices
to their unique needs.
effective ways to prevent maltreatment in vulnerable families?
CWLA recently published
the Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare. This document provides standards
of excellence for child welfare services
practice principles
maltreatment prevention and intervention. You can obtain a copy of the
Blueprint on the CWLA website,
the Blueprint for Excellence in Child Welfare. This document provides standards
of excellence for child welfare services
practice principles
maltreatment prevention and intervention. You can obtain a copy of the
Blueprint on the CWLA website,
Our experience has found
that prevention of child maltreatment is the responsibility of entire
communities, not just child protection and child welfare agencies. Strategies
to prevent maltreatment are most effective when the parents of children are
included in their development and implementation. Inclusion of parent leaders
in the development and implementation of child maltreatment prevention
strategies improves their effectiveness by increasing the
that the design of strategies will be responsive to the unique circumstances of
families.
that prevention of child maltreatment is the responsibility of entire
communities, not just child protection and child welfare agencies. Strategies
to prevent maltreatment are most effective when the parents of children are
included in their development and implementation. Inclusion of parent leaders
in the development and implementation of child maltreatment prevention
strategies improves their effectiveness by increasing the
that the design of strategies will be responsive to the unique circumstances of
families.
Do you cooperate with any authority or public
institution? If yes, how?
institution? If yes, how?
We work cooperatively, and
collaboratively with
and local levels in a variety of ways. We provide
information to inform and advocate for policies that are helpful to children
and families. We work collaboratively to develop evidence-informed/based
programs to
public agencies to support implementation of best practices and
We also work with public agencies to disseminate information
child welfare field through conferences and other
publications.
collaboratively with
and local levels in a variety of ways. We provide
information to inform and advocate for policies that are helpful to children
and families. We work collaboratively to develop evidence-informed/based
programs to
public agencies to support implementation of best practices and
We also work with public agencies to disseminate information
child welfare field through conferences and other
publications.
