Alia’s Post

Releasing our 2023-2024 Impact Report. This past fiscal was a big year for regulatory amendments. Child welfare continues to grapple with chronic underfunding, siloed Ministry oversight and increasing administrative pressures. Despite this, agencies like ours continue to show up for our children, youth, families, communities and Nations by improving and expanding programs and services, taking care of ourselves so we can show up for others, and advocating for positive systemic change across social services. There is still much work to be done, but we recognize another year of heart work. https://lnkd.in/gHP4snaN

What do Illinois parents wish to share with elected officials and policymakers? Difficulties due to the rising cost of inflation and the increasing cost of living, as well as the need for better working conditions and employment opportunities were commonly highlighted as essential messages majority of parents within our Illinois Parent Survey Panel wished to convey. Other common themes included a need for resources, financial assistance, and social welfare services to be more accessible to everyone, and a better child care infrastructure. To learn more about the Illinois Parent Survey Panel, visit: https://lnkd.in/gDwUWHEi

What do Illinois parents wish to share with elected officials and policymakers? Difficulties due to the rising cost of inflation and the increasing cost of living, as well as the need for better working conditions and employment opportunities were commonly highlighted as essential messages majority of parents within our Illinois Parent Survey Panel wished to convey. Other common themes included a need for resources, financial assistance, and social welfare services to be more accessible to everyone, and a better child care infrastructure. To learn more about the Illinois Parent Survey Panel, visit: https://lnkd.in/gDwUWHEi

What do Illinois parents wish to share with elected officials and policymakers? Difficulties due to the rising cost of inflation and the increasing cost of living, as well as the need for better working conditions and employment opportunities were commonly highlighted as essential messages majority of parents within our Illinois Parent Survey Panel wished to convey. Other common themes included a need for resources, financial assistance, and social welfare services to be more accessible to everyone, and a better child care infrastructure. To learn more about the Illinois Parent Survey Panel, visit: https://lnkd.in/gDwUWHEi

What do Illinois parents wish to share with elected officials and policymakers? Difficulties due to the rising cost of inflation and the increasing cost of living, as well as the need for better working conditions and employment opportunities were commonly highlighted as essential messages majority of parents within our Illinois Parent Survey Panel wished to convey. Other common themes included a need for resources, financial assistance, and social welfare services to be more accessible to everyone, and a better child care infrastructure. To learn more about the Illinois Parent Survey Panel, visit: https://lnkd.in/gDwUWHEi

To create real change, we must prioritize those directly impacted. 🔑 Listen to the voices of lived experience. 🔄 Replace broken systems with ones that truly support families. 🌱 Amplify these stories because transformation begins with empathy and understanding. The perspectives shared in Families Belong Together: A Call to Replace the Child Welfare System show that the only way forward is to replace what is broken with something truly supportive of families.

Our mission is rooted in the vital need to restore families. While systemic challenges can feel daunting, we know that addressing issues like a broken crib or an unpaid water bill can make a significant difference in a child’s future. That’s why we engage everyone we can to take action — together, we can prevent the preventable. By harnessing the power of innovative technology and compassionate individuals, we forge connections that truly matter. Our Care-Sharing approach creates endless possibilities for restoration. Each time we meet immediate needs, we move closer to transforming the child welfare system. We’ve seen a remarkable 60% reduction in children entering out-of-home care after just 12 months of partnership. This isn’t just a statistic; it’s a testament to our collective impact on vulnerable families. ✨🧡 https://lnkd.in/e7vQfqet

What do child welfare leaders think about providing economic and concrete supports to families? And are they in a position to do so to prevent those families’ involvement in the child welfare system? Come learn what we learned from a national survey of those leaders.

A growing body of research shows using economic and concrete supports to help families meet basic needs can prevent unnecessary contact with the #ChildWelfare system. We explain the different ways that states are using flexible funds to provide concrete supports to families in our new policy brief: https://lnkd.in/gfpH_ARR Our brief shares recommendations to expand family and economic and concrete supports, including: 1. Provide direct cash assistance to families at risk of child welfare involvement to promote family dignity, address racial inequities, and more. 2. Engage experts with #LivedExperience to co-develop pathways for families to equitably access economic and concrete support services in their communities.

An increasing number of jurisdictions are creating Family Resource Centers. While these programs are sometimes known by different names, they generally focus on reducing child welfare involvement by strengthening families’ protective factors before hardship turns into crisis. Some address concrete needs such as housing, child care, and food, while others seek to reduce parental isolation by building parents’ social connections and strengthening their ability to deal with stress. This Casey Family Programs publication summarizes what we know about the role and efficacy of these programs. https://lnkd.in/e-eQnxjW