Conferences

MCWNN 2009: Child Well-Being in the United States

Delivered at the Third National MCWNN Forum at University of Texas, School of Social Work, San Antonio, TX (January 2009)

Presenters: Luis E. Flores, Serving Children and Adolescents in Need, Inc., Texas; Judge Oscar G. Gabaldón, Jr., Judicial District Child Protection Court, Texas; Sandra Rodriguez, Child Protective Services, Texas; and Deborah Escobedo, Youth Law Center, California

This session focused on the state of immigrant children and families in the child welfare system and how their well-being ties into Casey Family Program’s 2020 vision. Addressing the needs of migrant children and families is a key component of system change efforts to improve permanency outcomes and mitigate disproportionality for youths of color in the child welfare system. The unique issues and needs faced by migrant children and families who come in contact with the child welfare system were also discussed, along with. the challenges and promising practices involved with addressing the judicial, permanency, education and mental health needs of migrant children and families.

MCWNN 2009: Texas Immigration and Child Welfare Learning Laboratory: Preliminary Findings

Delivered at the Third National MCWNN Forum at University of Texas, School of Social Work, San Antonio, TX (January 2009)

Presenters: Raquel Flores and Lara Bruce, American Humane Association, Colorado

Over the past few months, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the American Humane Association have supported a qualitative study of the child welfare practices that affect immigrant children and families who come to the attention of public child welfare in the San Antonio area, specifically the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services’ Region 8. The presenters discussed preliminary findings.

MCWNN 2009: Opening Remarks: A Collaborative Effort That Advances the Issues Identified at the Intersection of Migration and Child Welfare, and the Road Ahead

Delivered at the Third National MCWNN Forum at University of Texas, School of Social Work, San Antonio, TX (January 2009)

Presenter: Sonia Velazquez, American Humane Association, Colorado

The unique regional focus of this roundtable led to a collective examination of practical and local issues that child welfare agencies confront when serving large numbers of immigrant families and children living in border communities who share a number of characteristics. The conference looked at how each side of the border defines child and family well-being, how these interpretations translate into transnational opportunities for collaboration and how, on the other hand, they might have resulted in barriers to policy, practice, research and system support.

MCWNN 2009: Barriers to and Receipt of TANF and Implications for Well-Being Among “Not-Qualified” Latino Immigrant Families in a Rural California County

Delivered at the Third National MCWNN Forum at University of Texas, School of Social Work, San Antonio, TX (January 2009)

Presenter: Richard Speiglman, Child and Family Policy Institute, California

Citizen children with undocumented parents are eligible for “child-only” TANF grants. In such cases, the adults and many of the children are not part of the assistance unit because they are considered “not qualified” immigrants. With funding provided by the American Humane Association, researchers at the Child and Family Policy Institute of California, Urban Institute and American Humane conducted a case study in one California county. The study examined how families with and without adult cash assistance make do; the barriers to receipt of benefits for eligible family members; services children need that, were they available, might promote optimum development; and possible compromise to children’s general well-being — and hence the potential role of the child welfare system — from minimal TANF support.

MCWNN 2009: Immigration, Child Welfare, and Borders

Held at University of Texas, School of Social Work, San Antonio, TX (January 2009)

The 3rd National Forum of MCWNN focused on the unique issues facing immigrant families and child welfare systems located in border states.