Latest news with #ChapinHall
CNN
3 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Pritzker adviser on Illinois mandate of mental health screenings for students
Illinois is mandating mental health screenings for students in grades 3-12. Dr. Dana Weiner, Chapin Hall senior policy fellow at the University of Chicago and adviser to the office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, joins CNN's MJ Lee on 'Early Start' to discuss.
CNN
3 days ago
- Health
- CNN
Pritzker adviser on Illinois mandate of mental health screenings for students
Illinois is mandating mental health screenings for students in grades 3-12. Dr. Dana Weiner, Chapin Hall senior policy fellow at the University of Chicago and adviser to the office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, joins CNN's MJ Lee on 'Early Start' to discuss.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion - Children do best with their families
Recently, a chorus of voices in child welfare have tried to frame the growing national effort to reduce unnecessary family separation as a threat to child safety. But what they are selling isn't the truth — it's fear. And that fear fuels a system that too often harms the very children it claims to protect. Here's the real truth: Children do best with their families. The child welfare system has for far too long confused poverty with neglect, punishing families who are poor with separation rather than offering the supports that can keep families together safely. According to federal statistics, 75 percent of child maltreatment cases involve neglect, not abuse. And what's often labeled as 'neglect' is frequently a symptom of poverty: inadequate housing, food insecurity, lack of childcare or missed medical appointments. It's not a willful failure to care for a child but a lack of resources to do so. Still, more than one-third of all children in the U.S. experience a child protective services investigation by age 18; that number rises to more than 50 percent for Black children. These investigations are invasive, traumatic and often lead to unnecessary separations. Yet there is little evidence that these disruptions lead to better outcomes. In fact, research shows the opposite. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children placed in foster care are more likely to experience mental health issues, struggle in school, and encounter the criminal legal system than their peers who remained at home — even when those peers lived in similarly challenging conditions. The authors concluded that foster care placement can compound the harm children have already experienced, rather than alleviate it. Critics often invoke child fatalities to justify the current system's punitive approach, but the data tells a more hopeful — and instructive — story. Child fatalities from maltreatment have actually declined over the past year, while remaining fairly stable over the past five years. Experts point to key preventative factors behind this trend: expanded use of early intervention programs, better risk assessment tools and increased access to basic supports like housing, food and childcare. One study from Chapin Hall found that for every additional $1,000 per person living in poverty spent on public benefits, child maltreatment fatalities dropped by nearly 8 percent. Rather than evidence for more surveillance, these numbers show that when we invest in families, we save lives. The uncomfortable truth is that we've built a surveillance state around poor families, and we call it 'protection.' The mandated reporting system that is the center of child welfare policy is flawed and has led to overreporting of cases. Of the 4.4 million referrals from mandated reporters in 2019, 2 million were screened out, meaning they did not warrant an investigation. Too often, family supports and child safety are held up as a false dichotomy. We can both support families in a way that helps prevent the need for government intervention and provide the safety measures that protect children where harm is alleged. That includes offering such services as home visiting, child tax credits or housing assistance, because the research is clear: When families have access to basic supports, child maltreatment declines. Consider the data. In states that implemented the expanded Child Tax Credit in 2021, food insecurity and financial hardship dropped significantly. Second, a national study by Chapin Hall found that increases in access to such concrete supports as rent assistance and utility aid led to reduced involvement by Child Protective Services. Third, High-quality home visiting programs, like Nurse-Family Partnership and Healthy Families America, led to a decrease in substantiated reports in child maltreatment by as much as 48 percent. This isn't ideology — it's evidence. Let's be clear: There are cases of real, heartbreaking abuse. And yes, some children must be removed from parents for their safety. But these cases are not the norm. The overwhelming majority of families caught in the system are just struggling, not dangerous. And they deserve support, not separation. We also can't ignore how disproportionately Black families are reported, investigated and separated from their children. Studies show that even when controlling for income and type of allegation, Black children are more likely to be removed than white children. This isn't a coincidence — it's bias, baked into every level of decision-making. The real truth about child welfare in America is that it's not keeping all children safe. But it could. It's time we move from surveillance to support, from punishment to partnership. Because when we give families what they need, we protect children best. Dr. Melissa Merrick is president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. Dr. Jody Levison-Johnson is president and CEO of Social Current. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
12-05-2025
- Health
- The Hill
Children do best with their families
Recently, a chorus of voices in child welfare have tried to frame the growing national effort to reduce unnecessary family separation as a threat to child safety. But what they are selling isn't the truth — it's fear. And that fear fuels a system that too often harms the very children it claims to protect. Here's the real truth: Children do best with their families. The child welfare system has for far too long confused poverty with neglect, punishing families who are poor with separation rather than offering the supports that can keep families together safely. Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here According to federal statistics, 75 percent of child maltreatment cases involve neglect, not abuse. And what's often labeled as 'neglect' is frequently a symptom of poverty: inadequate housing, food insecurity, lack of childcare or missed medical appointments. It's not a willful failure to care for a child but a lack of resources to do so. Still, more than one-third of all children in the U.S. experience a child protective services investigation by age 18; that number rises to more than 50 percent for Black children. These investigations are invasive, traumatic and often lead to unnecessary separations. Yet there is little evidence that these disruptions lead to better outcomes. In fact, research shows the opposite. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that children placed in foster care are more likely to experience mental health issues, struggle in school, and encounter the criminal legal system than their peers who remained at home — even when those peers lived in similarly challenging conditions. The authors concluded that foster care placement can compound the harm children have already experienced, rather than alleviate it. Critics often invoke child fatalities to justify the current system's punitive approach, but the data tells a more hopeful — and instructive — story. Child fatalities from maltreatment have actually declined over the past year, while remaining fairly stable over the past five years. Experts point to key preventative factors behind this trend: expanded use of early intervention programs, better risk assessment tools and increased access to basic supports like housing, food and childcare. One study from Chapin Hall found that for every additional $1,000 per person living in poverty spent on public benefits, child maltreatment fatalities dropped by nearly 8 percent. Rather than evidence for more surveillance, these numbers show that when we invest in families, we save lives. The uncomfortable truth is that we've built a surveillance state around poor families, and we call it 'protection.' The mandated reporting system that is the center of child welfare policy is flawed and has led to overreporting of cases. Of the 4.4 million referrals from mandated reporters in 2019, 2 million were screened out, meaning they did not warrant an investigation. Too often, family supports and child safety are held up as a false dichotomy. We can both support families in a way that helps prevent the need for government intervention and provide the safety measures that protect children where harm is alleged. That includes offering such services as home visiting, child tax credits or housing assistance, because the research is clear: When families have access to basic supports, child maltreatment declines. Consider the data. In states that implemented the expanded Child Tax Credit in 2021, food insecurity and financial hardship dropped significantly. Second, a national study by Chapin Hall found that increases in access to such concrete supports as rent assistance and utility aid led to reduced involvement by Child Protective Services. Third, High-quality home visiting programs, like Nurse-Family Partnership and Healthy Families America, led to a decrease in substantiated reports in child maltreatment by as much as 48 percent. This isn't ideology — it's evidence. Let's be clear: There are cases of real, heartbreaking abuse. And yes, some children must be removed from parents for their safety. But these cases are not the norm. The overwhelming majority of families caught in the system are just struggling, not dangerous. And they deserve support, not separation. We also can't ignore how disproportionately Black families are reported, investigated and separated from their children. Studies show that even when controlling for income and type of allegation, Black children are more likely to be removed than white children. This isn't a coincidence — it's bias, baked into every level of decision-making. The real truth about child welfare in America is that it's not keeping all children safe. But it could. It's time we move from surveillance to support, from punishment to partnership. Because when we give families what they need, we protect children best. Dr. Melissa Merrick is president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. Dr. Jody Levison-Johnson is president and CEO of Social Current.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Foundations For Success: Former Foster Youth Pioneering Pathways To Independence Through Innovative Support
Written by Jayme Catalano, Director of Communications, First Place for Youth A new study evaluating San Francisco's "Foundations for the Future" guaranteed income pilot program is revealing both significant challenges and promising opportunities for young adults transitioning from foster care. While many participants face housing insecurity and financial hurdles, this innovative approach providing $1,200 monthly payments represents a potential turning point in how we support youth building independent lives. The program's comprehensive evaluation offers valuable insights for creating more effective support systems that can empower former foster youth to achieve stability and success. Photo courtesy of First Place for Youth The March 2025 Chapin Hall study of San Francisco's "Foundations for the Future" guaranteed income pilot program paints a troubling picture of life after foster care. The program provides monthly payments of $1,200 to young people who recently aged out of extended foster care, yet the baseline data reveals persistent struggles: 70% of participants frequently worry about paying bills, 40% experienced homelessness in the past year, and 70% face food insecurity. These aren't just statistics; they represent real young people attempting to build independent lives without the family safety nets most take for granted. The study follows 150 young adults who aged out of San Francisco's extended foster care system after January 2022, capturing a comprehensive snapshot of their circumstances before receiving guaranteed income payments. "What strikes me is that most of these youth are eligible for CalFresh but not all are taking advantage of this resource," notes Matt Levy, Vice President of Evaluation and Learning at First Place for Youth, an organization providing housing and support services to former foster youth. "It also speaks to the need for effective financial literacy supports, given how many youth are struggling with bills and past debt." The finding that 40% of study participants experienced homelessness within the past year should alarm policymakers and child welfare advocates alike. This statistic becomes even more concerning when considering that 28% reported not having enough money to pay rent, and 22% reported staying in unsafe housing situations because they couldn't afford to move. Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus), California's housing program for former foster youth ages 18-25, provides up to 36 months of housing and supportive services. However, the study results suggest that either current program capacity is insufficient or barriers to access remain substantial. THP-Plus offers more than just housing—it provides a supportive environment where young adults can develop independent living skills while pursuing education and employment goals. When properly implemented, it creates the stability necessary for youth to focus on building careers and financial security rather than merely surviving. But with 40% of former foster youth experiencing homelessness despite this program's existence, significant gaps clearly remain in the system. This only underscores the importance of supplementing programs like THP-Plus with new Guaranteed Income pilots like this one that aim to fill those gaps. The financial circumstances revealed in the study are equally troubling. Only 18% of participants reported being able to afford a $400 emergency expense. While 75% had bank accounts, nearly half of those had zero dollars in them. About half reported having debt, and among those with debt, 70% were behind on payments. "This highlights a critical gap in how we prepare young people for independent living," explains Levy. 'Financial literacy isn't just about understanding bank accounts—it's about building the skills to budget, save, manage credit, and plan for the future. Many former foster youth have rarely had role models to support them here.' Financial literacy for foster youth isn't a luxury—it's a necessity. Without family support networks to fall back on, even small financial setbacks can lead to catastrophic consequences including homelessness, food insecurity, and deteriorating mental health. The study found that 38% of participants didn't have enough money to pay a bill in full or on time in the past year, demonstrating how financial precarity permeates daily life for these young adults. Perhaps most concerning is the disconnect between need and resource utilization. While 70% of study participants were food insecure—and half reported not eating sometime during the past year because they couldn't afford food—only 27.3% were enrolled in CalFresh, California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. This participation gap represents a significant missed opportunity. CalFresh can provide up to $250 monthly for groceries, which could substantially help to alleviate food insecurity among this population. The San Francisco guaranteed income pilot program represents an innovative approach to supporting former foster youth. Its $1,200 monthly payments may help address immediate financial needs, but the baseline data reveals that deeper, systemic interventions are also necessary. "These young people have already faced significant challenges in their lives," Levy reflects. 'Our systems should be designed to provide them with the support they need to thrive, not just survive.' As a society, we have both a moral obligation and practical interest in ensuring former foster youth have genuine opportunities for success. The economic and social costs of continued housing instability, financial insecurity, and food insecurity far outweigh the investments needed to provide effective support services. The Chapin Hall study should serve as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for addressing this invisible crisis before another generation of former foster youth falls through the cracks. Be sure to look for updates from Chapin Hall as they continue to evaluate the guaranteed income pilot program in San Francisco.
