Translating Child Welfare Research Podcast
Translating Child Welfare Research Podcast
The Translating Child Welfare Research Podcast, hosted by Dr. Robin LaSota and Dr. Heather Fox, provides a brief substantive translation of key research findings for application in the child welfare system. Every six weeks, we invite a child welfare researcher to discuss an emerging finding from their research. They share with us how that finding could be translated to support effective and equitable child welfare practices, improving outcomes for the children, youth, and young adults served. The podcast features research from across the United States. Each episode is independent, you can choose the topics that call to you or listen to each episode as they are released. This podcast is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. It is hosted and produced by the School of Social Work. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of this page.
Podcast Host: Dr. Robin LaSota
Robin LaSota, PhD, is Director of Translational Research at the University of Illinois School of Social Work, as part of a contract to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Since 2018, Dr. LaSota has applied her research and leadership skills to supporting Illinois child welfare stakeholders to use research and data analysis to guide improvement to policy and practice. Research areas include: education and transition services, race equity in child welfare, prevention services, and workforce development. In 2020, Illinois launched new work to address race disparities in child welfare outcomes experienced by Black children and youth. In 2022 to present, Dr. LaSota has worked with a cross-division and multi-disciplinary team to learn about the risks and supports for children’s race identity development, especially children placed in transracial foster homes.
Podcast Host: Dr. Heather Fox
Dr. Fox is a mixed-methods researcher who champions implementing and scaling evidence- based strategies to improve equity in education and child welfare settings. Dr. Fox is a pragmatic researcher dedicated to translating research findings into actionable and anti-racist practices that support the well-being and resiliency of children, youth, and their families. Dr. Fox s contracted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to facilitate research translation that supports data-informed and equity-centered efforts to improve the experiences and outcomes for children, youth and families engaged in the child welfare system. This work includes designing, conducting, and contributing to mixed-methods research and evaluation studies utilizing quantitative, qualitative, cross-sectional, and inter-disciplinary research methodologies.
Introducing the Translating Child Welfare Research Podcast
In this brief episode, Drs. Robin LaSota and Heather Fox introduce the Translating Child Welfare Research podcast. Join them to learn the goal and vision of this podcast.
Serving Young Fathers in Care
Episode 1. Serving Young Fathers in Care: An Interview with Dr. Justin Harty
Episode and transcript coming October 21!
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Justin Harty on effective approaches to supporting young fathers in care in co-parenting and their transition to adulthood.
Dr. Justin Harty, Arizona State University
Dr. Harty is Assistant Professor at Arizona State University School of Social Work. He has several years of experience as a child welfare specialist in Illinois, and his research focuses on improved supports for father engagement, services to young fathers involved in the child welfare system, and anti-racist approaches to child welfare practices and policies. He completed his doctorate at University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
More Information:
- Fatherhood in Foster Care: Research and Guidance on Working with Young Fathers [Webinar]
- Fatherhood in foster care: A scoping review spanning 30 years of research on expectant and parenting fathers in state care.
- Engaging fathers in child welfare and foster care settings: Promoting paternal contributions to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. In Social Work Practice with Fathers
- Engaging fathers in child welfare practice [Book chapter section]. In Handbook on child welfare practice.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway’s Engaging fathers
Harnessing Social Networks: Exploring the Strengths and Resilience of Black Mothers in Child Welfare
Episode 2. Harnessing Social Networks: Exploring the Strengths and Resilience of Black Mothers in Child Welfare: An Interview with Dr. Abigail Williams-Butler
Episode and transcript coming December 2!
How can we better support Black mothers? Join Dr. Abigail Williams-Butler in conversation about how to help Black mothers capitalize on the strengths of their social networks. From her research, she provides insights to working with Black mothers in culturally fluent, strengths-based, and gender-affirming ways.
Dr. Abigail Williams-Butler, Rutgers University
Dr. Williams-Butler’s research interests include understanding the developmental trajectories of children and adolescents in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
More Information:
Youth With Lived Experiences in Care
Episode 3. Youth With Lived Experiences in Care: An Interview with Dr. Heather Taussig and Dr. Michelle Munson
Episode and transcript coming January 13!
Youth with lived experiences in care provide important recommendations for improving child welfare practice. Hear from Dr. Heather Taussig and Dr. Michelle Munson about two studies that feature wisdom from youth in care and how to support their well-being and transition to adulthood. Their research features expertise of youth, including those under the age of 16 — who have reunified with their families, have been adopted, or were permanently placed with kin.
Dr. Heather Taussig, University of Denver
Dr. Taussig’s work focuses on developing and rigorously testing programs that promote positive youth development in multiple realms to foster healthy futures by nurturing youth’s strengths.
Dr. Michelle Munson, NYU Silver
Dr. Munson has professional interests in mental health services research and intervention development and testing, and her work centers on adolescents and young adults.
More Information:
- It’s Complicated: A Longitudinal Exploration of Young People’s Perceptions of Out‑of‑Home Care and Their Reflections on How to Change the Child Welfare System
- “I’m Glad That I Was Given a Second Chance to Live”: the Buffering Impact of Turning Points in the Lives of Young People with Foster Care Experience
- Placement Experiences Instrument – Heather Taussig
The Role of Economic Mobility and Financial Assistance in Preventing Child Neglect
Episode 4. The Role of Economic Mobility and Financial Assistance in Preventing Child Neglect: An Interview with Dr. William Schneider
Episode and transcript coming February 24!
Join Dr. William Schneider in conversation about the role of economic mobility and financial assistance in preventing child neglect. He shares how research and federal policy in child welfare and poverty programs have evolved. Hear about growing evidence on the role of economic and concrete supports for alleviating conditions that heighten the risk of child neglect with the families that you serve.
Dr. William Schneider, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Schneider’s research examines the influence of macroeconomic factors, family complexity and fatherhood, and interventions in the promotion of child well-being and the prevention of child maltreatment.
More Information:
- EmPwR Study
- Heed Neglect, Disrupt Child Maltreatment: a Call to Action for Researchers
- The power of the future: Intergenerational income mobility and child maltreatment in the United States
- Childcare Subsidy Enrollment Income Generosity and Child Maltreatment
- The Social Welfare Policy Landscape and Child Protective Services: Opportunities for and Barriers to Creating Systems Synergy
Yound Adults in Care
Episode 5. Young Adults in Care: An Interview with Dr. Nancy Rolock
Episode and transcript coming April 7!
Join a conversation with Dr. Nancy Rolock who shares her research with young adults in care and their aspirations in relationships and well-being, not only for legal permanence, but for long-term relationships that are truly supportive. Based on many years of engaging with the child welfare community, Dr. Rolock shares insights on supports for post-adoption and guardianship, as well as the benefits of kinship care.
Dr. Nancy Rolock, Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Rolock has conducted child welfare research since 1996. Dr. Rolock is committed to using anti-racist practice, intervention research and implementation science to build evidence-informed services and supports for children and families involved in the child welfare system.
More Information:
- Post-Permanency Continuity: What Happens After Adoption and Guardianship From Foster Care?
- From Foster Care to Adoption and Guardianship: A Twenty-First Century Challenge
- A Comparison of Foster Care Reentry After Adoption in Two Large U.S. States
- Three sides to a foster care story: An examination of the lived experiences of young adults, their foster care case record, and the space in between
- Understanding the health and well-being of adults 10-15 years after adoption from the US foster care system
Title revealed soon!
Episode 6. An Interview with Dr. Bridget Colacchio
Episode and transcript coming May 19!
More Information:
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Disclaimer
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is providing the content of this podcast. The podcast is used for public service training purposes only. It is neither legal interpretation nor a statement of DCFS policy. It does not replace professional advice. Reference to any specific product, service, or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by DCFS. The views or opinions expressed by employees, contractors, guests, trainers/facilitators, are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of DCFS or any of their officials. Their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of the views or opinions expressed or any entity they represent.