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Issue Brief on Underperforming Schools and the Education of Vulnerable Children
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Although
they represent a substantial minority of public school students, vulnerable children
and youth are largely missing from discussions around how to improve academic
achievement in schools. This issue brief describes the impact of disruptive,
and often traumatic, life experiences on the behavior and learning of children,
the schools frequent response of placing these children in special education,
and the students poor educational outcomes in high school.
The
authors of the brief take the perspective that the lives of vulnerable children
and the performance of their schools are intertwined. They propose that innovative
efforts to improve underperforming schools must be coupled with a focus on
developing effective ways for teachers and schools leaders to work with
vulnerable children and youth.
Read Underperforming Schools and the Education of Vulnerable Children and Youth by Lisa Walker and Cheryl Smithgall
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Report Analyzes
Policy and Practice of Family Assessment in Child Welfare |
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The Illinois Integrated Assessment (IA) program partners
child welfare caseworkers with licensed clinicians to streamline the collection
of important family information within the first 45 days of a child entering
DCFS care. The information-gathering activities and the collaborative process
between the caseworker and IA screener are intended to produce better-quality
child and family assessments, which in turn facilitate the development of
better service plans. Findings in this report suggest some improvements in program
performance have been made since the program's launch. The IA program yields comprehensive family
assessment information and provides opportunities for caseworker professional
development.
Read Family Assessment in Child Welfare: The Illinois DCFS Integrated Assessment Program in Policy and Practice by Cheryl Smithgall, Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner, Duck-Hye Yang, Jan DeCoursey, LaShaun Brooks, and Robert Goerge
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Study Examines Fathers and the Illinois Child Welfare System |
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In this study,
researchers examine the extent to which fathers--stepfathers, putative fathers,
legal fathers, adoptive fathers, or biological fathers--were interviewed as a
part of the Illinois Integrated Assessment (IA) process and the factors
associated with fathers being interviewed. The information in the IA reports provides
rich descriptions of the complex circumstances and family roles of fathers. Findings
from the study suggest the importance of
engaging fathers early in the assessment process; however, sustaining that engagement through services
and interventions warrants further attention.
Read Identifying, Interviewing, and Intervening: Fathers and the Illinois Child Welfare System by Cheryl Smithgall, Jan DeCoursey, Elissa Gitlow, Duck-Hye Yang, Elizabeth Jarpe-Ratner, Jiffy Lansing, and Robert Goerge
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Inside the Research: Fathers and Family Reunification |
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Chapin Hall's
implementation study of the Integrated Assessment (IA) program in Illinois showed that
when both parents participated in the IA interviews, more children are
eventually able to return home to their parents. More specifically, when
both parents were interviewed, the likelihood of family reunification was 3.2
times greater than when neither parent was interviewed. Furthermore, when only one parent was
interviewed, the likelihood of reunification was 2.4 times greater than when
neither parent was interviewed.
Read Inside the Research at chapinhall.org
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Spotlight: Chapin Hall a Key Player in the Elev8 Community School Initiative |
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Over the past few decades, there has been a movement toward the
integration of before- and after-school learning opportunities and
physical health, mental health, and other social services into the
school setting. One model that incorporates this idea is the community
school. With over 100 community schools in operation, Chicago Public
Schools is home to the largest community school initiative in the
nation. Another such initiative is Elev8.
Read the Spotlight on Elev8 at chapinhall.org
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Residential
Care of Children: Comparative Perspectives |
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Edited
by former Chapin Hall executive director Mark E. Courtney, a 2009 book published by Oxford University Press takes a look at residential care of children across the
globe. This volume grew out of meetings organized in connection with Chapin Hall's International Network of Child Policy Centers. Eleven country-specific chapters, written by child welfare experts from
around the world, provide an in-depth understanding of the historical
development of residential care, the current state of affairs, and predictions
for the future.
Find the book on the Oxford University Press website |
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Short Film on
Adolescent Health Services Wins Award |
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The Board on Children, Youth and Families of the National
Academies convened a committee on
Adolescent Health Care Services and Models of Care for Treatment, Prevention,
and Healthy Development. Chapin Hall executive director Matthew Stagner
served on the committee that produced the report Adolescent Health Services:
Missing Opportunities. A subsequent short film, Missing Opportunities: Adolescent Health Services, has recently won
a 2009 Freddie Award, an annual prize for health and medical media.
Watch the short film on Google Video |
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For More Information Contact:
Marc van Bree
Public Affairs Associate
mvanbree@chapinhall.org
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Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
1313 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
Phone: 773.753.5900
www.chapinhall.org
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