Child Welfare Policy & News

A jury has awarded $2 million in damages to a Northern Kentucky social services worker who alleged in a whistleblower lawsuit he suffered extensive retaliation for reporting problems at the state's child protection agency.

Among his claims: Nearly 100 cases of child abuse and neglect were misplaced and languished for months, leaving some children stuck in abusive or neglectful situations with no investigation.

Research has confirmed that adverse experiences may influence the next generation through multiple pathways. The most apparent route runs through parental behavior, but influences during gestation and even changes in eggs and sperm may also play a role.

All these channels seem to involve epigenetics: alterations in the way that genes function. Epigenetics potentially explains why effects of trauma may endure long after the immediate threat is gone, and it is also implicated in the diverse pathways by which trauma is transmitted to future generations.

Social worker Caitlin Ryan, founder and Executive Director of the Family Acceptance Project, talks about how social workers can help families support their children who are LGBTQIA2S+.

Social workers are helping to address the impact that the pandemic has had on children’s mental health.

Our guest is Suzin Bartley, Executive Director at The Children's Trust, an organization working to stop child abuse in Massachusetts. Their programs partner with parents to help them build the skills and confidence they need to make sure kids have safe and healthy childhoods.

NASW condemns Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s direction to the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to implement Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s opinion to treat age-appropriate, medically necessary, gender-affirming treatment as child abuse.

Although these cruel, politically motivated actions are non-binding, they perpetuate transphobia, and further harm the mental health and well-being of transgender and gender expansive youth by attempting to eliminate life-saving access to essential health services.