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CASCW is committed to connecting child welfare professionals to relevant and accessible training resources. We are excited to bring you the latest in research, policy, and practice via PODCASTS. Our channel will cover a wide range of topics and will feature interviews with researchers, policy makers, frontline child welfare workers, community members, youth, and many others. Download and listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud. Subscribe to the channel on your preferred podcast app in order to automatically receive new episodes as they are released.
THIS WEEK’S FEATURED PODCAST
Sharing Stories, Sharing Lives—with Kendra Morris Jacobson |
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| In this episode, CASCW’s Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) Program Coordinator Keely Vandre talks with Kendra Morris Jacobson about the history and state of the research around Lifebooks and Lifestory work, and how this framework can be more accessible for integration into child welfare practice. Kendra oversees the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) and the Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange (OARE), and is Certified in Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSWi). In previous clinical work at Oregon Health & Science University, Kendra counseled children and families, led groups and contributed to research projects. Kendra obtained her B.A. in English Literature at Gettysburg College, and M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Lewis & Clark College. She was a supporting contributor to Dr. Redmond Ream’s recently published article in Adoption Quarterly, titled “Lifebooks in Child Welfare: Why Isn’t a Great Idea Used More Often?” RESOURCES:
REFERENCES: Dr. Redmond Reams:
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Doing the Work: Centering Storytellers—with Elliott Odendahl, MSW, LICSW |
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| In this episode, Doing the Work: Centering Storytellers, CASCW’s Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) Program Coordinator Keely Vandre talks with Elliott Odendahl, MSW, LICSW about Lifebooks in practice across child welfare and clinical mental health settings and populations. Elliott is a clinical social worker in private practice at Sankalpa Therapy and Wellness Center who has extensive experience working with children, youth, individuals and families of diverse backgrounds who are experiencing behavioral and mental health needs, disruptions in attachment and family relationships, trauma, as well as those experiencing the negative impacts of systemic and structural bias and racism. She has also provided Therapeutic Supervised Parenting to families, crisis support services to foster care providers and support services to families involved with Child Protection. Elliott is a PACC alumni and facilitator for the program around cross-cultural practice and case consultation. RESOURCES:
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Sharing Stories, Sharing Lives—with Kendra Morris Jacobson |
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| In this episode, CASCW’s Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) Program Coordinator Keely Vandre talks with Kendra Morris Jacobson about the history and state of the research around Lifebooks and Lifestory work, and how this framework can be more accessible for integration into child welfare practice. Kendra oversees the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) and the Oregon Adoption Resource Exchange (OARE), and is Certified in Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSWi). In previous clinical work at Oregon Health & Science University, Kendra counseled children and families, led groups and contributed to research projects. Kendra obtained her B.A. in English Literature at Gettysburg College, and M.A. in Counseling Psychology at Lewis & Clark College. She was a supporting contributor to Dr. Redmond Ream’s recently published article in Adoption Quarterly, titled “Lifebooks in Child Welfare: Why Isn’t a Great Idea Used More Often?” RESOURCES:
REFERENCES: Dr. Redmond Reams:
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Doing the Work: Centering Storytellers—with Elliott Odendahl, MSW, LICSW |
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| In this episode, Doing the Work: Centering Storytellers, CASCW’s Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) Program Coordinator Keely Vandre talks with Elliott Odendahl, MSW, LICSW about Lifebooks in practice across child welfare and clinical mental health settings and populations. Elliott is a clinical social worker in private practice at Sankalpa Therapy and Wellness Center who has extensive experience working with children, youth, individuals and families of diverse backgrounds who are experiencing behavioral and mental health needs, disruptions in attachment and family relationships, trauma, as well as those experiencing the negative impacts of systemic and structural bias and racism. She has also provided Therapeutic Supervised Parenting to families, crisis support services to foster care providers and support services to families involved with Child Protection. Elliott is a PACC alumni and facilitator for the program around cross-cultural practice and case consultation. RESOURCES: | |
Remembering What Supervision is All About—with Christina Haddad Gonzalez |
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| In this first episode of the Heart of Supervision podcast, Mimi Choy-Brown (host) talks with Christina Haddad Gonzalez, MSW, LICSW who is a leader both teaching clinical supervision practice to future and current supervisors at the UMN SSW and supervising youth mental health services today. | |
The Reflective Supervision/Consultation Model |
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| In this episode of the Heart of Supervision podcast, Mimi Choy-Brown (host) talks with Dr. Alyssa Meuwissen from the Reflective Practice Center at the Center for Early Education and Development at the UMN about the basics of what reflective supervision is and how it could be an important tool for the child welfare workforce. RESOURCES: | |
Learning the 1-2-3- of Supervision in Child Welfare with Katrina Cisneros |
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| In this episode of the Heart of Supervision podcast, Mimi Choy-Brown (host) talks with seasoned child welfare practitioner and supervisor-Katrina Cisneros who isi also on the faculty at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work and a leader in racial and social equity, culturally responsive services and clinical supervision. | |
Supervision in Child Welfare Today with Four Voices from the Field |
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| In the fourth episode of the Heart of Supervision podcast series, Mimi Choy-Brown (host) talks with four current supervisors and practitioners working in child welfare services about what child welfare supervision is like today, what it could be, and why it matters. | |
Introducing the Early Childhood Development and Child Welfare Series |
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| Early Development and Child Welfare is a new podcast series co-created by CEED and The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW). The series of 10 episodes covers a range of important aspects of child development and child welfare work. | |
Attachment and foundations of self-regulation |
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| Faith Eidson, LMSW interviews Dr. Marva Lewis to discuss the impact of early caregiving relationships on a child’s ability to self-regulate. | |
Applying a developmental lens to child welfare work |
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| Christine Cole, LCSW, IMH-E interviews Kristin Irrer, IMH-E to discuss how recognizing the various developmental needs of children is crucial for Child Welfare workers in order to appropriately engage with youth and families. | |
Applying an infant mental health lens to child welfare work |
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| Faith Eidson, LMSW talks with Dr. Sarah Shea about how using an Infant Mental Health (IMH) framework in Child Welfare work can benefit young children and their caregiver(s). RESOURCES: | |
Early brain development |
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| Christine Cole, LCSW, IMH-E and Dr. Kathleen Thomas delve into the topic of early brain development and its reliance on adult interaction. RESOURCES:
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Applying a cultural lens to child welfare work |
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| Dr. Tanika Eaves Simpson, IMH-E, and Amittia Parker, PhD, LMSW, MPA explore the importance of being able to acknowledge and engage with diverse cultures in the Child Welfare field. RESOURCES: | |
Cultural perspectives from child welfare workers: A panel |
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| Dr. Tanika Eaves Simpson, IMH-E interviews Andrea Penick, LMSW and Cassandra Thomas, LMSW to discuss how their unique cultural perspective(s) influence their work in Child Welfare. RESOURCES:
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The importance and process of early childhood screening |
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| Kate Walthour, MSW, LISW talks with Anna Paulson, M.Ed. and Janell Schilman to discuss the referral and evaluation process when there are concerns about a child’s development and when screening is required through the Child Protection and Treatment Act (CAPTA). RESOURCES: | |
Applying a neuroscience lens to child welfare work |
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| Kristin Johnson, MSW interviews Professor Daniel Berry to explore the interactions between genetics and the environment on a child’s brain development. RESOURCES:
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The effects of stress biology and toxic stress |
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| Kristin Johnson, MSW interviews Salam Soliman, Psy.D, IMH-E to discuss the effect that elevated levels of stress have on the developing brain and how Child Welfare workers might help mitigate stress levels through providing resources to at-risk families. RESOURCES:
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Embedding knowledge into practice: CEED’s Supporting Early Social and Emotional Development Credential |
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| Faith Eidson, LMSW interviews Kim Eckel, the founder of Footbridge for Families, about the process for obtaining SESED Credential and how the program has impacted their approach to Child Welfare. RESOURCES: | Download Transcript |
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.
In order to support the entire family, child welfare workers can help fill the gap between parent and child by being hopeful in the midst of despair, speaking truth with understanding, balancing choice and accountability, and trusting the process with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Hope in the midst of despair |
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| Join Steve Carlson PsyD from the Center for Practice Transformation in this guided meditation. This meditation will acknowledge and honor the role of hope in our work with caregivers who are in the grips of a life situation that seems hopeless. In the mystical sense of the word, hope is not just wishful thinking. Hope is a life force that rests on a steadfast belief in our human capacity to change, even with an incomplete vision of what we will be. | |
Truth with compassion |
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| Steve Carlson PsyD from the Center for Practice Transformation leads another meditation in this episode called Truth with compassion. Today we will ground ourselves in Satyagraha, which is the Sanskrit word for “holding onto truth”. This meditation will support our ability to respond to anger and another’s reactivity with truth, understanding, and compassion. | |
Freedom and responsibility |
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| Steve Carlson PsyD from the Center for Practice Transformation dives into the topics of Freedom and Responsibility. Although we usually cannot choose our circumstances, we are always free to choose how we respond and our attitude. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. This meditation will help support our capacity to respond to our clients mindfully, believing in their inherent ability to find their way. | |
Trust with healthy suspicion. |
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| Join Steve Carlson PsyD from the Center for Practice Transformation for the final podcast of this series: Trust with healthy suspicion. Common sense tells us we cannot trust and mistrust at the same time. And yet, when it comes to working with substance use disorders, this is an essential skill. A famous biblical phrase captures the important shared stance of mistrust and trust: “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves”. Today’s meditation will support our capacity to fill the gap of honesty and deceit with our unwavering commitment to truth and compassion. | |
Introduction to the CASCW Core Series |
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| Introducing a series of Child Welfare related podcasts featuring a variety of topics, people and perspectives. The series will share the latest research and practice skills related to chemical and mental health, disabilities, theoretical underpinnings in child welfare and more. | |
Chemical and Mental Health: Importance of a Person-Centered Philosophy |
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| In this episode Katherine Nulicek, MSW interviews Steve Carlson, PsyD from the Center for Practice Transformation to discuss the importance of putting a person-centered philosophy into practice when working with individuals with substance abuse disorders and mental health and the implications it can have on child welfare professionals and decision making. RESOURCES: | |
Chemical and Mental Health: Harm Reduction and Person-centered Strategies |
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| In this episode Katherine Nulicek, MSW interviews Paula Brandt of Minnesota Alternatives. Paula describes the benefits of using harm reduction and person-centered strategies to help child welfare workers and practitioners understand individuals in recovery. RESOURCES: | |
Theoretical Underpinnings in Child Welfare: Introduction to Neoliberalism and Child Welfare |
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| Dr. Traci LaLiberte speaks with Dr. Jessica Toft to introduce a three part series on Neoliberalism. Dr. Toft provides an in-depth introduction to Neoliberalism, Social Work and Child Welfare Work. The series will feature research and interviews describing how it relates to Social Work. DR. JESSICA TOFT: RESOURCES: | CITATION: Toft, J. & LaLiberte, T. (Hosts). (2021, March 31). Introduction: Neoliberalism , Social Work, and Child Welfare Work. (introduction) In CASCW Core Series |
Theoretical Underpinnings in Child Welfare: Neoliberalism and Child Welfare Part One |
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| Dr. Toft and PhD candidate, Ruti Soffer-Elnekave dive into What Neoliberalism is and why it Matters for Social Work. RESOURCES: | CITATION: Toft, J. & Soffer-Elnekave, R.1 (Hosts). (2021, April 7). |
Theoretical Underpinnings in Child Welfare: Neoliberalism and Child Welfare Part Two |
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| Dr. Jessica Toft and PhD candidate Ruti Soffer-Elnekave take a look at what early research tells us about how Neoliberalism affects Child Welfare Services. RESOURCES:
| CITATION: Toft, J. & Soffer-Elnekave, R.1 (Hosts). (2021, April 14). |
Theoretical Underpinnings in Child Welfare: Neoliberalism and Child Welfare Part Three |
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| In this episode Professor Jessica Toft interviews Mimi Abramovitz and Jennifer Zelnick to discuss their New York City Study about Managerialism Effects on Social Service Providers. RESOURCES: | CITATION: Toft, J.(Host). (2021, April 21). |
Theoretical Underpinnings in Child Welfare: Neoliberalism and Child Welfare Part Four |
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| In this 30-minute podcast, Dr. Jessica Toft and PhD candidate Ruti Soffer-Elnekave discuss survey findings from a scoping review they conducted in which they summarized the literature that discussed what neoliberalism actually is and how it interfaces with social work. This podcast episode focuses on brand new findings from a survey of all licensed social workers in the state of Minnesota examining how neoliberal managerialism affects social workers working conditions. They specifically examine the impact on child welfare social workers in Minnesota. RESOURCES: | |
Dr. Wendy Haight: Moral Injury in Child Welfare Professionals |
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| In this episode Korina Barry interviews Dr. Wendy Haight, Gamble-Skogmo Chair in Child Welfare and Youth Policy at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Haight gives an overview of moral injury and healing for mental health, social work and child welfare professionals. RESOURCES: | |
Dr. Kimara Guftstafson: UMN Adoption Clinic Interview |
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| In this episode Korina Barry interviews Dr. Kimara Gustafson of the University of Minnesota's Adoption Medicine Clinic. Dr. Gustafson shares more about the services provided to families at the clinic and also shares how this work has shifted due to COVID-19. RESOURCES: | |
Disability and Child Welfare Episode 1: Parent-Centered Planning for Parents with Disabilities |
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| In this episode Dr. Liz Lightfoot, Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, interviews Dr. Sharyn DeZelar about the parent-centered planning model and its benefit to parents with disabilities involved in child welfare. RESOURCES: | |
Disability and Child Welfare Episode 2: LEND Interview with DJ Strons |
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In this episode Jenny Tessmer, a Minnesota LEND Fellow (Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities), interviews former LEND Fellow DerJuan Strons (DJ) about the intersectionality of disabilities, social work and child welfare. Listen as they take a deep dive into how disabilities can impact parenting. DJ speaks on how his education in neurological disabilities has guided him in his work as a child protection worker. He also describes how Hennepin County aims to support families by providing resources, family-centered care and support with the goal of reunification. RESOURCES: | |
Disability and Child Welfare Episode 3: LEND Interview with Gail Meyer |
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| In this episode LEND Fellow Jenny Tessmer interviews long time foster parent Gail Meyer. Gail speaks about the joys and challenges of being a foster parent for over 20 years. She also talks about the necessity of supports and programming needed in order to support foster children with diagnosed and undiagnosed disabilities. RESOURCES: | |
Disability and Child Welfare Episode 4: LEND Interview with Heather Van Brunt and Alyssa Mason |
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| In this episode, Erin Ward, from the University of Minnesota LEND Program (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities), interviews Heather Van Brunt, Program Manager at MN Adopt. MN Adopt is an organization in Minnesota that provides support and resources to foster and adoptive families. Erin also interviews Alyssa Mason, a pediatric occupational therapist working in a school district. Alyssa is a second year LEND fellow. Both guests share information and insight for foster and adoptive families in the midst of navigating parenting resources, specifically for children who have experienced trauma. RESOURCES: | |
Be@School Episode 1: Inequitable School Absenteeism |
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| This episode from our Be@School Webinar series explores Pre COVID absentee policies and how they disproportionately penalize students of color and strategies for reform. RESOURCES: Additional: | |
Be@School Episode 2: Students with Disabilities |
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| In this episode from the be@school webinar series, we take a closer look at special education for students with disabilities during Covid-19. The episode will include a brief overview of the legal framework schools operate within and real-world examples of how schools and service providers are "getting it right" in spite of the challenges schools are facing. RESOURCES: | |
Be@School Episode 3: Education Supports for County Involved Youth |
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| In our final episode of the be@school Webinar series we take a closer look at several initiatives and partnerships that Hennepin County launched in order to strengthen and leverage relationships to reduce disparities in education for youth involved in county services. RESOURCES: | |
What is CASCW? Interview with Jean Quam |
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| In this episode Korina Barry, Director of Outreach at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW), sits down with Jean Quam. Jean Quam is the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota. Dean Quam is also one of the co-founders of CASCW, which was founded in 1992 at the University of Minnesota's School of Social Work. In this interview, Dean Quam shares more about how the Center was brought to life, how the work of the center has evolved over the years, and her hopes for the future. | |
Introduction |
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| In the midst of this pandemic, CASCW (Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare) has begun a new series that highlights how COVID-19 is shifting the everyday lives and work of frontline child welfare professionals and the children and families they serve across the state of Minnesota. To protect one another, we must practice social distancing. But what does that mean for those of us in child welfare? Korina Barry speaks with professionals at all levels of the child welfare workforce to answer that question. Aside from insight and advice offered in each episode, what we find is that to continue the work of protecting children and families it takes all of us. It takes a village. | |
Interview with Traci LaLiberte |
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| In this episode Korina chats with Traci LaLiberte, Executive Director of CASCW. Traci shares how the pandemic has impacted the work of CASCW over the first month of social distancing and Stay at Home Executive orders in Minnesota. Traci provides insight into some of the ways the child welfare workforce has been impacted so far and how CASCW can support the workforce in the coming months. | |
Interview with Jamie Sorenson |
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In this episode, Korina chats with Jamie Sorenson, Director, Child Safety and Permanency Division, MN Department of Human Services. Jamie highlights the latest updates related to policy change and practice guidance for the Minnesota child welfare workforce as a result of COVID-19. We also hear about the ways that key state divisions, county agencies, and community providers are working together to best support children and families across the state. UPDATE: Since speaking with Jamie on April 20th, the Children’s Bureau has released a statement encouraging governors to classify child welfare workers as Level 1 first responders. You can find the link to this letter below. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with Liz Snyder & Tracy Crudo |
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In this episode, Korina chats with Liz Snyder and Tracy Crudo, Co-directors of the MN Child Welfare Training Academy. Liz and Tracy update us on how COVID-19 has impacted training for child welfare workers across the state and how their team is quickly adapting training delivery methods to meet social distancing requirements. We also hear more about how the implementation of the new Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy has been impacted and what the coming months will look like for the roll out of new training around the state. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan |
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| In today’s episode, Korina chats with Minnesota’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. During our conversation Lt. Governor Flanagan discusses how she has been navigating change and loss due to COVID-19, including how she is taking care of herself and her family. She also highlights some of the ways that she and Gov. Walz continue to advocate for vulnerable children and families during this time, including important policy changes that are underway. | |
Interview with Ashley Rooney |
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| In this episode, Korina chats with Ashley Rooney. Ashley is a Child Protection Worker and Title IV-E Child Welfare Fellow. In this episode, Ashley discusses how COVID-19 has impacted her work as child protection investigator. Ashley also shares how she has navigated unexpected changes to her life as a graduate social work student during this time. | |
Interview with Kim Clemenson |
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In this episode Korina chats with Kim Clemenson, Division Director, Ramsey County Children and Family Services. Kim discusses how her staff have adapted quickly and how child welfare practice in her county has shifted due to COVID-19 so far. Kim shares how her staff are staying connected and supporting one another as well as the ways they are connecting with other counties and community providers to best support children and families during this time. | |
Interview with Becky Tripp |
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In this episode Korina chats with Becky Tripp, Child Protection Supervisor at Wilkin County. During our conversation, Becky shares more about how COVID-19 has shifted child welfare practice in Wilkin County. Becky also highlights some of the ways that rural communities are being impacted as well as what resources are available and what resources are still needed. | |
Interview with Mary Doyle and Carly Cantu |
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| In this episode Korina chats with Mary Doyle and Carly Cantu of the Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) team at Hennepin County in Minnesota. During our conversation, Mary and Carly shared more about the FGDM approach and how the pandemic has shifted this process over the past couple of months, all while still allowing for meaningful connections with youth and families. | |
Interview with Linda Eagle Speaker |
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In this episode Korina chats with Linda Eagle Speaker, Cultural Elder in Residence at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. Linda starts us off with a beautiful and grounding meditation. Linda also shares her story and experience in boarding school and how that experience led to her work supporting families in child welfare. Linda leaves us with tips for healing trauma and taking care of ourselves during the pandemic. TRIGGER WARNING: there are descriptions of physical and sexual abuse in this episode. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with Anne Gearity |
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In this episode Korina chats with Dr. Anne Gearity, Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. During our conversation, Dr. Gearity reminds us all of the resilience of children and youth. Dr. Gearity shares more about how adults can support children and protect their own well-being while doing so. Dr. Gearity provides tips and tools focused around three key topics: trauma, regulation, and resilience. | |
Interview with Mary Harrison |
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In this episode Korina chats with Dr. Mary Harrison, Research Associate at the Center for Early Education and Development, University of Minnesota. During our conversation, Mary shares more about her research on reflective practice, which includes reflective consultation and supervision. Mary discusses how we can incorporate reflective practice in our everyday lives during a pandemic. Mary also discusses new training resources that have been tailored for frontline child welfare professionals. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with MyVoice Youth Leaders |
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In this episode Korina chats with Armanda and John of MyVoice. MyVoice, of Ampersand Families, is a youth leadership program for and by young people impacted by the foster care and adoption system. Armanda and John share more about themselves and their experiences in the foster care system and beyond. Armanda and John also discuss ways they are taking care of themselves and offer suggestions for other young people in taking care during these times. TRIGGER WARNING: mention of self-harm, abuse, and placement disruption in this episode. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with Cheri Goodwin |
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In this episode Korina chats with Cheri Goodwin, Director of Red Lake Children and Family Services. Cheri shares with us some history of Red Lake Nation as well as how Red Lake has responded and navigated the pandemic so far as a sovereign Nation. Cheri also discusses the ways her child welfare team continues to support children and families with culturally-specific services during the pandemic. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with Dr. Amy Krentzman |
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In this episode Korina chats with Dr. Amy Krentzman, Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. During our conversation, Dr. Krenztman shares what we know about addiction recovery support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Krentzman also highlights brand new resources that she has created on supporting addiction recovery. These resources can be found at the links below. RESOURCES: | |
Interview with Tracy Shoberg |
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In this episode Korina chats with Tracy Shoberg, Deputy Director of the SAFeR Project, Battered Women’s Justice Project. During our conversation, Tracy shares what we know about intimate partner violence and domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tracy shares more about the work of the Battered Women’s Justice Project and provides additional resources for supporting survivors during these times. RESOURCES: | |