Description:
Child welfare services aims to transition children in foster care to a permanent home as soon as possible, but only about 35% of children in foster care nationally reach a permanent home within a year, and Black children in foster care are less likely than White children to reach permanent homes. Reunification with parents is preferred but is not always a safe choice. This webinar discusses new research on guardianship, a little used permanency option that provides stable, loving homes for many children while helping preserve family ties to birthparents in situations where they cannot be the primary caregiver. Using data collected from surveys and interviews with caregivers and permanency professionals, we reflect on a national debate about using adoption versus guardianship as permanency options. Adoption is more legally binding, but it requires terminating the rights of birthparents, which can be traumatic for children, parents, and relative caregivers. Guardianship establishes a permanent caregiver (usually grandparents, aunts and uncles), does not require termination of parental rights, and usually features visitation and other involvement by birthparents. Guardians are happy to care for the child while not stripping all rights from the birthparent, who is usually their daughter, son, or sibling. Critics, however, think that guardianship‘s greater flexibility can pose risks for children. We share our findings on the views of caregivers and permanency professionals about the best choices, describe a new Illinois initiative to increase the use of guardianship, and invite participants to weigh in on the debate.
 

Are We Really Better Together? Sustaining Successful Multi-Disciplinary Investigations of Child Sexual Abuse
A multi-disciplinary trauma informed response coordinated by Children's Advocacy Centers is the established gold standard in responding to child sexual abuse. This workshop will highlight the benefits, weaknesses, and lessons learned, and attempt to translate the latest research for best practices in the multi-disciplinary investigative response. Sometimes acknowledging and understanding each other's professional strengths and limitations is the crux for solving cases and for job satisfaction.
Workshop leader: Stacie LeBlanc, JD, MEd   Resources

An Overview of Evidence-Based Trauma Interventions for Children and Adolescents Impacted by Child Sexual Abuse
The significant short-term and long-term impact of child sexual abuse on children and adolescents is well documented and it is therefore critical that youth affected by sexual abuse receive effective treatment. Fortunately, the number of empirically supported trauma-focused interventions for children and adolescents has been increasing. This workshop will briefly define evidence-based treatment in general and then provide an overview of empirically supported interventions designed to ameliorate the negative effects of child sexual abuse. There will be a particular focus on Trauma-focused Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, a trauma treatment model initially designed to address the impact of sexual abuse on youth and their non-offending caregivers. This model, co-developed by Esther Deblinger, Ph.D., has demonstrated its efficacy in over 24 randomized controlled trials and has been the subject of over 100 peer reviewed publications.
Workshop leader: Elisabeth Pollio, Ph.D. Resources

Best Practices in Assessing and Treating Children Who Initiate Problematic Sexual Behavior with Other Children​
Children ages 3-12 engage in sexual behaviors that range from normative to problematic and harmful. Professionals often misinterpret normative behaviors in children and often are unsure how to effectively address genuine problematic sexual behaviors. As such, many children with problematic sexual behavior do not receive the types of services that support healthy behavioral functioning and healing within the family. Research suggests that children with problematic sexual behavior are highly responsive to treatment that includes their caregivers and addresses priority needs identified in initial and on-going assessment. This workshop will provide information to help professionals distinguish normative from problematic sexual behavior in children, identify assessment strategies to support treatment planning, and identify research supported treatment elements known to reduce or eliminate problematic sexual behavior in children. 
Workshop leader: Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., MA ​ Resources