Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare School of Social Work, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota

Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare

Research & Evaluation

Learning Modules

CASCW's learning modules are developed by affiliated faculty within the School of Social Work. Child welfare-relevant evaluation findings, which include current policies and practices affecting Title IV-E eligible families and children, are incorporated into these supplemental training materials.

Each Curriculum Module contains Discussion Questions, Selected References, Additional Resources, Suggested Guest Speakers and a PowerPoint presentation.

Intervention Approach with Kinship Families: Strategies for Child Protection Workers

Authors: Priscilla Gibson
Keywords: Child protection workers, formal kinship foster care, intervention strategies, direct practice
Date Posted: July, 2009

Sexual Identity Development: Process and Importance

Authors: Colleen Fisher
Keywords: sexual identity
Date Posted: July, 2009

The transition of youth with disabilities from the child welfare system

Authors: Katharine Hill, MSW, MPP, LISW and Elizabeth Lightfoot, PhD
Keywords: transition, disabilities, youth
Date Posted: July, 2008

Transformational Service Delivery in Kinship Foster Care: Influence of Casey’s Breakthrough Series

Authors: Priscilla A. Gibson
Keywords: Kinship foster care, kin search
Date Posted: May, 2008

Child Protection and Educational Neglect: A Preliminary Study

Authors: Tim Zuel, Anita Larson
Keywords: Child Protection/Welfare, Educational Neglect, Truancy, School Attendance
Date Posted: December, 2005

The NEATS: A Competency-Based, Ecological Assessment for Children and Families

Authors: Jane Gilgun, Alankaar Sharma
Keywords: assessment, case plans, neurobiology, executive function, attachment, trauma, and self-regulation, ecosystems
Date Posted: August, 2008

Establishing Case Typologies in Foster Care: Summary of Research Results

Authors: Susan J. Wells PhD, Angela Neal
Keywords: Case types, foster care, outcomes
Date Posted: February, 2009

Hennepin County Placement Stability/Instability Study

Authors: Susan J. Wells PhD, Esther Wattenberg PhD, Angela Neal
Keywords: Foster care, placements, disruptions
Date Posted: February, 2009

Foster Care Re-Entry Study

Authors: Susan J. Wells PhD, Angela Neal, Meredith S. Daniels
Keywords: Re-entry, reasons, characteristics
Date Posted: February, 2009

The Impact of Child Welfare Services on Racial Disparities in Outcomes: Child Welfare Services for African American and Caucasian Children in Four Minnesota Counties

Authors: Susan J. Wells, PhD, Angela Neal
Keywords: Disproportionality, matched pairs, African American
Date Posted: February, 2009

Child Sexual Abuse: Understanding the Issues

Authors: Jane Gilgun, PhD and Alankaar Sharma
Keywords: Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse
Date Posted: Fall 2007

Protective Supervision: An Exploratory Study—“Strengthening the Capacity to Respond to Children in High-Risk Families”

Authors: Esther Wattenberg and Kate Troy
Keywords: Protective Supervision, Educational Neglect, Child Welfare Date Posted: Spring 2007

Assessing Child Exposure to Adult Domestic Violence

Authors: Jeff Edleson, PhD
Keywords: Child Mental Health
Date Posted: Fall 2006

High School Graduation and Child Welfare: A Description of the Education Status of Older Minnesota Adolescents in the Academic Year After Substantiated Child Maltreatment Findings

Authors: Anita Larson, Marcie Jefferys, PhD
Keywords: Graduation Rates, Child Maltreatment
Date Posted: Summer 2006

Informal Kinship Care in Minnesota: A Pilot Study

Authors: Associate Professor Pricilla A. Gibson, Ph.D., L.I.C.S.W. Keywords: Kinship Care, Older Caregivers, Informal Arrangements
Date Posted: Fall 2005

Managing Child Protection Cases Involving People with Disabilities

Authors: Assistant Professor Elizabeth Lightfoot, Ph.D. & Traci LaLiberte, M.S.W.
Keywords: Disabilities, Child Protection Case Management, Accessibility Date Posted: Spring 2005

Out-of Home Placements Due to Parent Chemical Abuse and the Connection to Methamphetamine Addiction

Authors: Tami Swenson, M.A. & Marcie Jefferys, Ph.D
Keywords: Child Welfare, Out-of-home Placement, Substance abuse, Social Worker Safety
Date Posted: Fall 2004

Factors that Influence Health Care Coverage for Low-Income Populations Under Minnesota's Welfare Reform

Authors: Jessica Toft, M.S.W., Professor David Hollister Ph.D.
Keywords: Health Care Coverage TANF Medicaid Racial-Ethnic Groups Immigrants, Child Welfare, Family Welfare,
Date Posted: Fall 2004

Male Offenders in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems

Authors: Jemel Aguilar, MSW; Assistant Professor Laura Abrams, Ph.D.
Keywords: Juvenile Justice, Out-of-home placement, Maltreatment, Substance Abuse, Race/Ethnicity, Gender
Date Posted: Fall 2004