Child-Maltreatment-Research-L (CMRL) List Serve

Message ID: 9584

Date: 2014-04-04

Author:Elliott G. Smith

Subject:*URGENT* NSCAW Support

Hi Glenn, I completely agree with you that we need specific examples. Here’s one that comes to my mind: after the 2003 CAPTA re-authorization made substantiated infants and toddlers eligible for Part C intervention services, the NSCAW data were able to provide national estimates of how large that population would be. This information is critical when arguing for more funds to close the gap between the service needs of children and the services they receive. A recurring nationally representative sample that allows us to see what happens to children in the years after their CPS investigation, is an incredibly important source of information for both researchers and practitioners. With NSCAW, the voices of the children and their caregivers, teachers, and caseworkers are all represented and the survey measures are focused on the impact of the child welfare system on the developmental trajectories of those children. No other source of data can provide such a rich and informative description. The NSCAW publications, about 400 of them if you want to count, inform the work of practitioners, the questions of researchers, and the decisions of policymakers. Objective scientific inquiry provides a strong foundation for informed decision-making. Thanks for posing the question, Elliott -- Elliott G. Smith, PhD National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research Cornell University egs1@cornell.edu | 607.592.9822 On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 11:22 AM, Glenn Higgins > wrote: We are clearly talking two different languages here and perhaps that is the problem. From the field, I am talking about impact on the child welfare system. You are counting publications. A classic disconnecct. I am going to guess that the budget for NSCAW is well above 100 million. What has improved other than the national sample? I think identifying those specific improvements that are directly connected to the research will better support your (our) arguement for continued funding. GH On Friday, April 4, 2014 11:04 AM, diane wach > wrote: You can find a collection of the research published using NSCAW data here, with links to full text (access to text is based on your organization's journal subscriptions): http://www.refworks.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/refshare2?site=010271135918800000/RWWS5A10943/NSCAW There are approximately 400 publications with 230 published in peer-reviewed journals. Also, you can find a listing of NSCAW 1 citations here: http://www.refworks.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/refshare2?site=010271135918800000/RWWS5A10943/NSCAW-1 And NSCAW 2 citations here: http://www.refworks.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/refshare2?site=010271135918800000/RWWS5A10943/NSCAW-2 -diane Diane Wach, MA, MSEd, LPC dianewach.weebly.com Research Analyst Doctoral Student in Human Development National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research College of Human Ecology Cornell University 607.255.2543 On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 10:11 AM, Leah Bruns > wrote: I just happen to be looking at this document: http://cssr.berkeley.edu/cwscmsreports/ppts/Annotated%20Bibliography%20-%20Grid%20of%20Systemic%20Implications.pdf It cites multiple Child Welfare specific research articles & books several using NSCAW data and directly relating to Child Welfare practice. -Leah Bruns On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 9:49 AM, Glenn Higgins > wrote: Keith Thanks for the update. Given you are asking people to support your efforts, can you say a little more about how the renewed funding will be spent? You asked for grassroots efforts/support from the field. I always had the impression that NSCAW was a large mental health study and did very little to inform the field of practice. Even the key findings you note in the attached letters seem to restate findings that have been known decades. Perhaps you can point us to specific improvements in the child welfare system (in the field) that have emerged from the analysis of NSCAW data. I know I would find that very helpful. These actual improvements should be noted in the letters to our elected officials. Glenn On Friday, April 4, 2014 7:35 AM, "Smith, Keith R." > wrote: Dear Child Maltreatment Researcher, I’m contacting you about an urgent legislative matter. I am not sure if you are aware that the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) is at this moment desperately trying to sustain funding that supports a vital data source, the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). NSCAW is a nationally representative survey that enables ACF, along with researchers across multiple disciplines committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children, to monitor the health, mental health – including trauma, development, and well-being of infants, children, and youth served by the child welfare system. NSCAW has been critical for informing current policies about children’s unmet needs – particularly the dearth of evidence-based intervention for this population. ACF is requesting funding in the FY 2015 budget for NSCAW – and that the funding is in serious jeopardy of being cut without grassroots support from the field attesting to the need for this important survey. I am reaching out to you to see if it’s possible to spread the word to colleagues in the Network about the need for letters in support of NSCAW. Letters of support urging representatives in the House and Senate to fund NSCAW are needed by this Friday, April 4. Letters of support should be emailed to Dr. Cecilia Casanueva at ccasanueva@rti.org . Dr. Casanueva, along with other leading policy researchers and child advocates across the country, are collecting these letters of support to submit to the key representatives involved with the budget process. I’ve attached a template of letters of support, as well as a one-page overview of NSCAW. Of course, if folks are moved to send letters to their state reps, that would be very helpful as well. You can find contact information for your House representative at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and for your Senators at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm . Thanks for your help! Sincerely, Keith R. Smith

Hi Glenn, I completely agree with you that we need specific examples. Here’s one that comes to my mind: after the 2003 CAPTA re-authorization made substantiated infants and toddlers eligible for Part C intervention services, the NSCAW data were able to provide national estimates of how large that population would be. This information is critical when arguing for more funds to close the gap between the service needs of children and the services they receive. A recurring nationally representative sample that allows us to see what happens to children in the years after their CPS investigation, is an incredibly important source of information for both researchers and practitioners. With NSCAW, the voices of the children and their caregivers, teachers, and caseworkers are all represented and the survey measures are focused on the impact of the child welfare system on the developmental trajectories of those children. No other source of data can provide such a rich and informative description. The NSCAW publications, about 400 of them if you want to count, inform the work of practitioners, the questions of researchers, and the decisions of policymakers. Objective scientific inquiry provides a strong foundation for informed decision-making. Thanks for posing the question, Elliott -- Elliott G. Smith, PhD National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research Cornell University egs1cornell.edu | 607.592.9822 On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 11:22 AM, Glenn Higgins > wrote: We are clearly talking two different languages here and perhaps that is the problem. From the field, I am talking about impact on the child welfare system. You are counting publications. A classic disconnecct. I am going to guess that the budget for NSCAW is well above 100 million. What has improved other than the national sample? I think identifying those specific improvements that are directly connected to the research will better support your (our) arguement for continued funding. GH On Friday, April 4, 2014 11:04 AM, diane wach > wrote: You can find a collection of the research published using NSCAW data here, with links to full text (access to text is based on your organization's journal subscriptions): http://www.refworks.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/refshare2?site=010271135918800000/RWWS5A10943/NSCAW There are approximately 400 publications with 230 published in peer-reviewed journals. Also, you can find a listing of NSCAW 1 citations here: http://www.refworks.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/refshare2?site=010271135918800000/RWWS5A10943/NSCAW-1 And NSCAW 2 citations here: http://www.refworks.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/refshare2?site=010271135918800000/RWWS5A10943/NSCAW-2 -diane Diane Wach, MA, MSEd, LPC dianewach.weebly.com Research Analyst Doctoral Student in Human Development National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research College of Human Ecology Cornell University 607.255.2543 On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 10:11 AM, Leah Bruns > wrote: I just happen to be looking at this document: http://cssr.berkeley.edu/cwscmsreports/ppts/Annotated%20Bibliography%20-%20Grid%20of%20Systemic%20Implications.pdf It cites multiple Child Welfare specific research articles & books several using NSCAW data and directly relating to Child Welfare practice. -Leah Bruns On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 9:49 AM, Glenn Higgins > wrote: Keith Thanks for the update. Given you are asking people to support your efforts, can you say a little more about how the renewed funding will be spent? You asked for grassroots efforts/support from the field. I always had the impression that NSCAW was a large mental health study and did very little to inform the field of practice. Even the key findings you note in the attached letters seem to restate findings that have been known decades. Perhaps you can point us to specific improvements in the child welfare system (in the field) that have emerged from the analysis of NSCAW data. I know I would find that very helpful. These actual improvements should be noted in the letters to our elected officials. Glenn On Friday, April 4, 2014 7:35 AM, "Smith, Keith R." > wrote: Dear Child Maltreatment Researcher, I’m contacting you about an urgent legislative matter. I am not sure if you are aware that the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) is at this moment desperately trying to sustain funding that supports a vital data source, the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). NSCAW is a nationally representative survey that enables ACF, along with researchers across multiple disciplines committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable children, to monitor the health, mental health – including trauma, development, and well-being of infants, children, and youth served by the child welfare system. NSCAW has been critical for informing current policies about children’s unmet needs – particularly the dearth of evidence-based intervention for this population. ACF is requesting funding in the FY 2015 budget for NSCAW – and that the funding is in serious jeopardy of being cut without grassroots support from the field attesting to the need for this important survey. I am reaching out to you to see if it’s possible to spread the word to colleagues in the Network about the need for letters in support of NSCAW. Letters of support urging representatives in the House and Senate to fund NSCAW are needed by this Friday, April 4. Letters of support should be emailed to Dr. Cecilia Casanueva at ccasanuevarti.org . Dr. Casanueva, along with other leading policy researchers and child advocates across the country, are collecting these letters of support to submit to the key representatives involved with the budget process. I’ve attached a template of letters of support, as well as a one-page overview of NSCAW. Of course, if folks are moved to send letters to their state reps, that would be very helpful as well. You can find contact information for your House representative at http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/ and for your Senators at http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm . Thanks for your help! Sincerely, Keith R. Smith