For youth who have experienced foster care, the process of pursuing a post-secondary degree may pose particular challenges. The 2024 Campus Programming Directory produced by The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) aims to address this issue by raising the visibility of information that can help students with experience in foster care in Pennsylvania find higher education access and success. Now in its fourth edition, and presented for the first time in an interactive web format, the Directory brings together information about campus programs and services that can be particularly helpful towards the students’ college success, from application through graduation.

The first-of-its-kind resource provides information about institutional supports, services, and programs, in addition to noting key indicators of student support for each highlighted institution in Pennsylvania. The information is intended to assist students with experience in foster care in selecting prospective colleges that may be a good fit for them, and to be used as a supplement to existing college directories and other available information.

Read the full article on SP2’s website here.

Managing Faculty Director Dr. Greeson recently took the Zoom stage at the Philadelphia Policy Shark Tank, a program of two dynamic panel presentations organized by the New Jersey-Philadelphia Scholars Strategy Network for Philadelphia City Council members.  The first panel, Improving Environmental and Public Health, brought together academics, city planners, and epidemiologists to address diverse issues ranging from clean water and defibrillator training for law enforcement officers to city district health and social determinant mapping projects. Increasing Equity and Social Well-Being followed with presenters covering topics such as digital equity and a domestic worker bill of rights in Philadelphia. 

The program wrapped up with Dr. Greeson’s powerful insights on “Aging Out of Foster Care: A Research-Informed Vision for Healing the Crisis.” Drawing from her research and the Field Center's initiatives, she highlighted the immense challenges older youth face when aging out of foster care without adequate support. She introduced her innovative C.A.R.E. (Caring Adults ‘R’ Everywhere) intervention, aimed at fostering successful interdependence and strengthening social networks for these youths. Dr. Greeson ended with a compelling call to action, urging participants to engage with local foster care agencies and advocate for supportive policies. Her message of moving young adults aged out of foster care from mere survival to thriving resonated deeply with the participants.

In early September, the Field Center hosted an end-of-summer ice cream social that brought together members of the Advisory Board and Young Professionals Council, along with Faculty, Staff, and Student Interns. Attendees enjoyed ice cream provided by Nana’s Sweet Scoop while conversing in the Field Center’s courtyard. The event was a great opportunity for individuals involved with the Field Center’s work to come together and share their connection to our mission and vision, as well as celebrate recent achievements. YPC member Ann Perepezko shared that “It was wonderful to attend another YPC ice cream social. The event was a fantastic opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with other professionals, exchanging updates and ideas while enjoying delicious ice cream.”

Ann further remarked, “I especially appreciated the chance to connect with the new Field Center social work interns. It’s always inspiring to meet others who are committed to making a real impact in the social work field and to hear about their goals and passions.” Along with meeting new faces, our annual ice cream social is a great way to welcome Fall and connect with colleagues working within and supporting child welfare, and we look forward to continuing this tradition for years to come!

Earlier this month, The Field Center sponsored its three MSW interns to attend the Kempe Center’s “A Call to Action to Change Child Welfare” virtual conference. This global event brought together a diverse range of voices, including parents and children with lived experience, practitioners, academics, and specialists, all offering unique insights. The conference introduced groundbreaking approaches to reshaping practices, relationships, and institutions with a focus on advancing social, racial, economic, and family justice. Experts from around the world shared their research, practical insights, and lived experiences with the shared goal of driving transformative change in child welfare systems and community services.

Professional development is a key component of The Field Center’s internship to enhance knowledge and skills for work within child welfare and other systems, and to better equip interns for success following graduation. We are grateful for the ongoing opportunities to expand our understanding of child welfare, aligning our learning and work with The Field Center’s core values. With access to hundreds of sessions to choose from, each intern had the freedom to select topics that resonated with their professional interests and goals, allowing for a personalized conference experience. Standout webinars attended by our team included “A Conference Battle Call” by Poet Slam Anderson, “Parents from Around the World Unite,” and “Innovative Technology for Family Well-being and Resilient Youth”. Following the conference, our fellow intern Kate Greco remarked, “As someone interested in global social work practice, the conference broadened my perspectives on child welfare in the international landscape. I look forward to utilizing the knowledge I gained in my future endeavors.”

Through the Multidisciplinary Student Training Institute, The Field Center provides research, internship and field placement opportunities for selected students across multiple disciplines. Students receive training, career mentorship, and hands-on work experience within the field of child welfare. Meet our 2024-2025 MSW Interns below: 

Kate Greco is a full-time dual-degree Master of Social Work (Macro) and Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership student at the University of Pennsylvania. Kate completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Human Services at the University of Delaware in May 2023. Kate completed her foundation year social work field placement at the Defender Association of Philadelphia in the Child Advocacy Unit, where she gained first-hand experience advocating for children with open dependency cases in Philadelphia.

Sabrina Vargas is a 2nd year Master of Social Work (Macro) and Master of Nonprofit Leadership dual degree student at the University of Pennsylvania pursuing a specialization in Child Well-Being and Welfare. Sabrina is a 2023 first-generation college graduate from Rowan University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Sociology. Sabrina works in local West Philly schools, and has many research interests to support youth, families, and communities.

Hannah Bennett is a second-year master’s student at Bryn Mawr’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, focusing on Communities, Organizations, Policy, and Advocacy. With nearly two decades of experience building and managing academic arts libraries, she shifted her focus to social work in 2023. Hannah holds a BA and MA in Medieval Studies and an MLS from the University of Illinois. During her foundation year internship at Family Matters, Hannah supported families parenting children with special needs.

Read our students’ full biographies and learn more on our website.

Faculty Director Johanna Greeson and Associate Director Sarah Wasch presented their international research on Family Strengthening Initiatives at the CAFO Research Symposium: Connecting Research and Practice in Nashville, TN.

Faculty Director Dr. Cindy Christian and Faculty Director Kara Finck presented a workshop titled “Improving Ethical Practice in Inter-agency Child Abuse Investigations” at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN) Annual Congress in Uppsala, Sweden.

Faculty Director Johanna Greeson and Associate Director Sarah Wasch presented two posters (“Reintegration of Street-Connected Children & Youth in Kenya: Evaluation of Agape Children’s Ministry’s Family Strengthening Program” & “The program encourages people not to have a heavy heart”: A qualitative study of a Family Strengthening Program in Western Kenya”) at the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN) Annual Congress in Uppsala, Sweden. 

Grants and Awards:

Faculty Director Sara Jaffee, chair of the department of psychology in the School of Arts & Sciences, has been named a Class of 1965 Term Professor of Psychology. The Class of 1965 Term Chairs were established in 1990 in honor of their 25th Reunion. The Class of 1965 endowed a chair for each of the four undergraduate schools and one in honor of the College for Women.

Faculty Director Sara Jaffee Ph.D. and her team received a grant from the CDC to test whether programs to reduce housing cost burden also reduce families’ contact with Child Protective Services (CPS), rates of substantiated neglect, and exposure to violence in their neighborhoods.

Field Center experts recently published the following:

McLauchlan, N.R., Frasier, L.L., Fisher, L., Carroll, J., Christian, C.W., Delaney, A., Cave., K.J., Gallagher, J.J., Rose, S.R., Morris, J.B, Kaufman, E. & Cannon, J. W. (2024). High-Fidelity Bleeding Control Simulation Scenario During Medical Student Orientation Improves Students’ Self-Reported Ability to Identify and Treat Life-Threatening Bleeding with 3-year Follow-up. Journal of Surgical Education, 81(10), 1484-1490.

Jaffee, S.R. (2024). Genetic underpinnings of peer influence in adolescents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 181(9), 787-788.