Center for the Study of Social Policy’s Post

Public benefits can fill crucial gaps in access to resources for young people as they transition to adulthood. This new report summarizes promising ways to improve benefits access for youth, including targeted outreach, navigation support, partnerships across organizations, simplifying or expanding eligibility, and optimizing administrative processes, and provides next steps for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. Read more from Amelia Coffey, Laura Wagner, Michelle Casas, and Heather Hahn:

“For over 30 years, Youth Off The Streets has provided early intervention, prevention, crisis and post crisis support to children and young people aged from 12, their families and their communities. “Our work has provided a significant evidence base to inform and improve our operational responses and systems analysis. Central to our evidence base are the voices of children and young people. Their stories and those of their families reflect the trauma, racism, disadvantage, barriers and injustices they have experienced throughout their lives. “Their stories reflect and highlight the failings of our systems, legislation, social policy and investment priorities. Yet, importantly, their stories also reflect their strengths and resilience and their openness to opportunities for change. “The six recommendations Youth Off The Streets detailed in our submission were based on this evidence and the broader academic sector evidence – evidence that clearly demonstrates the causative links between cultural heritage, socio-economic position and adverse childhood experiences to connection to the youth justice system. “Our systems and social structures view cultural heritage purely as a risk factor. As a result, we have missed significant opportunities to recognise and strengthen the protective factors that connection to culture and traditional practices provide. “Our systems and social structures place a higher value on punitive actions and consequences over recognising the collective intergenerational trauma that permeates many of our communities and the individuals within them. “If, as a society, we agree that no child is born inherently ‘bad’ or lawbreaking by nature, it is imperative that we examine and address the causative factors that act as catalysts to anti-social behaviours and connection to the justice system.” - Michelle Ackerman, Director of Youth Support Services, at the QLD Government Youth Justice Reform select committee hearing in February.

Before the year comes to a close, we simply must take a few posts to highlight the amazing work we supported in 2024. Let’s start with our Policy program. Our partnership with Public Policy Lab created The People Say, a first-of-its-kind resource cataloguing older adults’ experiences to better inform policy making. In attendance at the July launch event in Washington, DC were over 100 policymakers and stakeholders, staff from the offices of seven bipartisan members of Congress, and other key decision makers. Today The People Say has over 12,000 active users from all 50 states and DC! Momentum also continued on our #MultisectorPlansforAging (MPA) with the national framework informed by 4 listening sessions in Washington DC, PA, AL, and TX and more than 200 older adults. California solidified itself as a lodestar for broader MPA efforts with 32 communities across the state now working on their own local MPAs and 870 stakeholders at this year’s CA for ALL Ages & Abilities Day of Action informing forthcoming initiatives for 2025 and 2026. Beyond CA’s borders, MPAs are in development in 27 other states. Many of their efforts have been bolstered by our Rural MPA Toolkit, which highlights the difference in urban and rural demographic trends and communities needs to aid planning efforts. These inroads come at a crucial moment. Our partner NORC at the University of Chicago’s groundbreaking research on “near duals,”—a financially vulnerable subset of the broader #ForgottenMiddle— includes a first-of-its-kind analysis on this overlooked population, and offers bold policy recommendations to support their needs. A recent virtual event showcasing the research was attended by over 100 aging and policy leaders at the state and federal level. In such a high-stakes and oftentimes turbulent field, we could not be more proud of and grateful for our ever-reliable and dedicated partners’ commitment to ensuring a better future for older adults. Learn more about The People Say: https://lnkd.in/geqXcNMU Explore the Rural MPA Toolkit: https://lnkd.in/gxfAa6z2 Check out the NORC Near-Duals and Forgotten Middle Research: https://lnkd.in/g9ZGBB6d

This event delved into the impact of non-inclusive research on Equity-deserving communities, highlighted practical aspects of inclusive research & community engagement, and examined the intersectionality of childhood disability and racial identity/ethnicity in Canada. Dr. Bukola Salami, RN, PhD launched our event by emphasizing EDI & an intersectional lens in child health research. Canada's wealth contrasts with child poverty and environmental neglect, prompting the need for inclusive research, community engagement, and an EDI Action Plan. The next session on inclusive research & community engagement from the POPCORN network discussed the importance of commitments to EDI & anti-racism, challenges in health equity training for academics, and the importance of co-designing studies with communities. In the final session, we explored vital aspects including team diversity, respectful engagement, and the impact of intersectionality on child health outcomes. The takeaways were valuable EDI principles, practical tips, and resources for advancing child health equity through research. Don't miss our final session in our series on March 28: Evidence-informed Policy: Advancing health equity for all children. Register now to be part of the discussion: https://bit.ly/48XVSYR #ChildHealthEquity Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Paula Robeson Alberta Children's Hospital University of Calgary IWK Health One Child Every Child

I'm excited to share a new article I co-authored with my CT colleagues! Please check it out! This study used an interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) to describe changes to providers’ participation in Maryland's child care subsidy program following implementation of a constellation of child care policies enacted between January 5, 2015, and March 2, 2020 (i.e., prior to the COVID-19 pandemic). Findings indicate a marked increase in the percentage of licensed family child care (FCC) and center-based providers serving children with a subsidy following increases in household income eligibility levels and provider reimbursement rates in 2018. Provider participation rates varied by neighborhood income level, with participation expanding more in neighborhoods with lower poverty density relative to their starting level in 2015.  https://lnkd.in/eqRz9cyU

📣𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞: 𝐀 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 This report highlights the need for significant system changes to ensure Scotland’s children are treated first and foremost as children, with a trauma-informed and rights-respecting approach. Developed using insights from young people, their families, and professionals, the report advocates for an integrated model of care centred on the needs of children and families. This vision is grounded in the belief that children should remain within their families wherever possible. When that is not feasible, they should be supported within their communities, with services working together to provide flexible and dynamic care that is tailored to the individual needs of each child. The report calls for a move away from the current secure care model towards more community-focused, therapeutic environments. A 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬-𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡: At the heart of this vision is a commitment to uphold The Promise and Scotland’s new legislative framework under the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which recognises all under-18s as children. Read our member Children & Young People's Centre for Justice (CYCJ) new report: https://lnkd.in/ebH9h6YZ

The Children's Commissioner has today launched findings and recommendations from #TheBigAmbition, a landmark survey of children’s voices across the UK.🗣️ Ambitions have been set in an effort to act on the results of the survey. Suggestions to improve the lives of children and young people in care include: 🔵 Ensuring every child in care who is entitled to advocacy is offered it on a proactive, opt-out basis. 🔵 Every child in care has a loving stable home, and sufficient high-quality placements for all children in care are provided. 🔵 Every young person with care experience continue to receive care and support for as long as they need it, with care leavers receiving appropriate financial support. 🔵 Any child who needs secure care receives it in an integrated, homely environment, to replace current forms of secure provision. This includes introducing legislation to ensure that children in need of secure care are placed in the most appropriate setting and the use of the inherent jurisdiction to deprive children of liberty is no longer used. We support the ambitions from #TheBigAmbition, and we hope the Government are receptive to the findings and implement positive change for care-experienced children and young people.📢

🌟As we wrap up Phase Two of the #ChangingChildrensChances ⛅ project at Centre for Community Child Health, we are reflecting on our achievements over the past nine years. 🌟 ✅ We’ve developed a new framework to understand the factors shaping children’s health, development and wellbeing. This framework helps identify inequities and opportunities to take action. ✅ We’ve used innovative ways to analyse existing data to test stacked interventions and identify which combinations of interventions work best to reduce inequities. ✅We show that stacked interventions reduce child inequities. By simultaneously addressing factors across families, communities and policies, we can improve outcomes like reading skills, mental health and physical health. ✅ We’ve empowered decision makers with evidence that can inform more precise and effective policies to address child inequities – ensuring limited public funds are directed towards opportunities that will achieve maximum impact. Learn more about the Changing Children's Chances project 🌤️ https://bit.ly/3Z549r9 This progress wouldn’t be possible without the leadership and expertise of our Investigator Group – leading national and international child equity researchers and child health clinicians. We’re also incredibly grateful to our research partners. The University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) partnered with: 🤝Beyond Blue 🤝The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care 🤝The Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS) 🤝 Brotherhood of St Laurence. A special thanks to our wonderful Knowledge Translation Reference Group, whose expertise and dedication have been instrumental in driving this project forward. ⌛ The time to close the #equity gap is now. Together, we can drive meaningful change to give every child a chance to thrive. Let’s keep the momentum going! ⌛ #ChildHealthEquity #ChildDevelopment #EarlyYears #Research #Impact #Engagement 

NEW: Our latest brief highlights state strategies aimed at supporting equitable systems of care for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). Many CYSHCN require specialized services, yet they often face difficulties accessing high-quality care. These challenges are often compounded for youth with more complex conditions; CYSHCN who are Black, Latinx, or American Indian and Alaska Native; families with low incomes; and families who live in rural areas. Check out the brief to explore state policy priorities to address barriers and support equitable systems of care for CYSHCN, including supports for family caregivers; improved access to providers and specialists; and data collection, sharing, use, and quality assurance:https://loom.ly/BgC2Czw

Calling all Current and Past Head Start/Early Head Start Parents and Caregivers: Please sign this letter asking Washington, D.C. leaders to ensure that Head Start remains strong! This letter, drafted by the National Head Start Association on behalf of Head Start and Early Head Start parents and caregivers, asks our country’s leaders to continue the national commitment to providing all children the foundation they need to thrive, regardless of their circumstances at birth, by reconsidering the impact of the proposed new Head Start rule, and prioritizing: Making sure any new requirements are fully paid for, and do not result in reducing the number of children and families served; Keeping children safe and healthy utilizing proven practices, not arbitrary federal rules; and Recognizing the unique cultures, traditions, and preferences of communities and continuing to provide Head Start programs the local autonomy to meet individual community needs. Current and past Head Start/Early Head Start parents and caregivers are all encouraged to sign this letter. We hope you will sign and also circulate this request to Head Start families in other organizations. Signing Deadline: Sunday, May 12 at 11:59 p.m. EDT Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gyiiMgTz