The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and Arizona State University (ASU) established a unique partnership to collect federally required National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) survey data from young people in Arizona. Social work students in a Title IV-E program conducted many of the interviews while learning about the needs of young people who are transition-aged and gaining research skills. This article describes the process of developing and implementing the project and provides recommendations for engaging in child welfare agency and university collaborations to meet federal reporting requirements while advancing knowledge about young people in transition.
The mission of ASU’s Center for Child Well-Being is to advance child and family well-being. We believe society can collectively overcome challenges and make a difference by ensuring the health and well-being of its children. Drawing upon the expertise of faculty from across ASU's research enterprise, we work to increase resilience among families and to build safer and more vibrant communities for young people.
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The 4th Annual Children of Incarcerated Parents National Conference will take place virtually on Wednesdays March 30, April 6 and April 13th, 2022 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MST (UTC-7).
Please join us for this unique three-day event as we continue working toward the goals of creating awareness, expansion of programming, collaboration, and advocacy for children and families. This year's theme Leading the Future: Young People as Partners for Change focuses on elevating the voices of children, youth, and families whose lives have been impacted by incarceration.
The conference includes plenaries, panels, focused sessions and workshops, many of which include youth voices and those with lived experience, in three main tracks:
● Understanding the effects of incarceration on children, youth, their families, and caregivers
● Connecting children, youth, and families during and after incarceration
● Supporting and centering the voices and experiences of children and youth
Three Plenary sessions with the following featured speakers will highlight the conference:
On March 30, 2022, Peter Scharff Smith, Professor in the Sociology of Law, The Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law, Oslo University will be presenting the topic The Children and Families of Prisoners - from research to reform. Peter has studied history and social science, holds a PhD from the University of Copenhagen and has also done research at the University of Cambridge and at the Danish Institute of Human Rights. Peter has undertaken several studies on the families and children of prisoners and has published books and articles within this field.
On April 6, 2022, Echoes of Incarceration, an award-winning documentary initiative produced by youth who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system will be sharing their holistic approach to incorporating youth voice. Since 2008 Echoes has trained youth with incarcerated parents in filmmaking and advocacy and created documentaries and video journalism about the impact of mass incarceration on children.
On April 13, 2022, Sarai Flores and Isabel Coronado will be presenting Intergenerational Trauma and Resiliency: A Mother and Daughter Journey In this presentation, a formerly incarcerated mother and her daughter discuss the intergenerational trauma and resiliency that has impacted their lives through witnessing and experiencing mass incarceration and how they use their advocacy to change the criminal legal system. Learn more about trauma-informed practices and current federal legislation impacting children of incarcerated parents.
More in-depth information on these featured speakers can be found here.
Don't miss the unique opportunity to connect with those on the front lines of this epidemic to gather to learn, share best practices, and engage in action planning.
Conference details:
Dates: Wednesdays, March 30, April 6 and April 13, 2022
Times: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. MST
Location: Virtual
Cost: Early bird registration – $89 thru 11:59 p.m. March 1, 2022
General Admission – $99 after 11:59 p.m. March 1, 2022
For questions about the conference, please check out our FAQ
Thank you to our sponsors and exhibitors for their generosity in helping us make this conference possible.
Click on any organization's logo to visit their website.
For information on sponsor and exhibitor opportunities, please contact us at childwellbeing@asu.edu.
Important Information about accessing the 4th Annual Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference.
Ready to attend the 4th Annual Children of Incarcerated Parents National Conference?
We will use an online platform called Whova for our event. You can Download the Whova Mobile App or Access It From the Web Platform on Desktop:
- View the event agenda and plan your personal schedule
- Access handouts, video recording, or streaming (if the event organizer uploaded them) directly within sessions and utilize the session Q&A to ask questions (if enabled by the organizers)
- Set up in-person/virtual meet-ups with other attendees to connect and network
- Create and converse through various Discussion Topics in the Community Board
- Receive updates such as last minute session changes from the organizers
After downloading, use the email that you used when signing up to access the Whova mobile apps or web portal. Make sure you choose a strong password. You can also sign up using a social media account. Once you have signed up, you should be taken directly to the event!
News
Newest information on our blog regarding trends, current events, and research
Child Sex Trafficking Report- Maricopa County Collaborative December 2020
Between 2017 and 2020, 291 children in Maricopa County were confirmed victims of child sex trafficking. These disturbing findings are outlined in a report released by the Arizona State University Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, Mercy Care, and the Phoenix Police Department and funded by the Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family. This report reviews child sex trafficking victims reported to the Maricopa County Child Sex Trafficking Collaborative between 2017 and 2020.
The Maricopa County Child Sex Trafficking Collaborative is a unique community initiative that was developed to serve child victims of sex trafficking through a multidisciplinary and holistic perspective. Details about the victims, how they were referred to the Collaborative, their guardianship, and information about the impact of COVID-19 are included in this report.
Findings include:
How Are Arizona Youth Living in Out-of-Home Placement Really Doing?
Written by: Julia Hernández, PhD, MSW
What is NYTD?
The National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD) is a Federal reporting system designed to track youth and the independent living services they receive from states as they prepare to transition out of the foster care system.
In 1999, Public Law 106-169 established the John H. Chaffee Foster Care Independence Program, providing states with flexible funding for programs that help youth transition from foster care to independence. As a condition of receiving funding, the law requires states to track the services they provide and the outcomes of youth who participate in Chafee funded programs. In 2008, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the federal agency tasked with overseeing the administration of Chaffee funding, developed NYTD to meet this provision. As part of NYTD, states are required to survey youth in foster care at ages 17, 19, and 21.