Greetings – The Duke Endowment's Child & Family Well-Being program area works to ensure that all children in the Carolinas grow up in families safe from maltreatment and are supported by nurturing parents and caring adults. Our goal is to see an improved child welfare system driven, in part, by evidence-based practices and policies.    As we near the end of 2023, we reflect on a year of significant progress that improved the outcomes of children and families in North and South Carolina—and recognize that more needs to be done. To carry the momentum into the new year, we're revisiting valuable resources that emphasize the power of youth voice, evidence-based programs, and implementation science.  Phil Redmond, Director Tamika Williams, Associate Director Christina DiSalvo, Program Officer Kate Gaskin, Senior Coordinator *To ensure that this newsletter keeps reaching your inbox, please mark this email as "not spam."

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2023 Resources

Elevating Care Provided by Family Members An ongoing priority area for us is increasing the availability of and support for kinship care, when children are cared for by a relative or close family friend. Learn about the experiences of kin caregivers and kinship service providers and their suggestions on how to better support these children in this brief interview series. Increasing the availability of and support for kinship care remains a program area priority for the Duke Endowment. We encourage advocates and policymakers to learn about the value and needs of kinship families.

The Science of Improving Child Welfare Implementation science plays a key role in supporting efforts that advance equitable outcomes for children and families. A video featuring Allison Metz, an expert from the UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work, discusses how making an impact in child welfare involves expanding evidence-based strategies beyond individual organizations to a system level. When it Comes to Child Welfare Programs, Let's Use What Works An assessment from the Institute for Child Success in Greenville, S.C., developed with support from The Duke Endowment, identified three programs that improve outcomes for all families, particularly racial and ethnic minorities: The Incredible Years, Strengthening Families Program, and Multi-Systemic Therapy.   Navigating the needs of families means investing in programs that embed equity into the support system. Policymakers can improve access by increasing public and private investment in them and in the implementation support. Empowering Youth Voice to Enhance Positive Child Welfare Outcomes What happens to children once they age out of foster care? The transition into adulthood can be a challenging journey. After Chasidy turned 18, The Relatives' On Ramp program helped her forge new experiences and find her own voice. The nonprofit’s support system helped Chasidy care for herself without depending on others, understand requirements for independent living, and much more.   Prioritizing authentic youth voices involves encouraging youth to lead discussions about their future and well-being from a young age. To achieve positive change at the system level, advocates and policymakers must embrace youth engagement, while also providing them with the services and support they need.

In the News

'Deluged' Child Welfare Systems Struggle to Protect Kids Amid Calls for Reform North Carolina Budget Worries Child Care Advocates National Survey Assesses Use of Economic and Concrete Supports to Prevent Child Welfare System Involvement Early Childhood Advocates Turn Focus to Policy Changes