The landmark National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) study represents the first effort to gather nationally representative data, based on first-hand reports, about the well-being of children and families who encounter the child welfare system. NSCAW's findings offer an unprecedented national source of data that describe the developmental status and functional characteristics of children who come to the attention of child protective services. Much more than a simple history of placements or length of stay in foster care, NSCAW data chart the trajectory of families across service pathways for a multi-dimensional view of their specific needs. The NSCAW survey is longitudinal, contains direct assessments and reports about each child from multiple sources, and is designed to address questions of relations among children's characteristics and experiences, their development, their pathways through the child welfare service system, their service needs, their service receipt, and, ultimately, their well-being over time.
The chapters in this rich synthesis of NSCAW data represent thoughtful and increasingly sophisticated approaches to the problems highlighted in the study and in child welfare research in general. The authors capitalize on the longitudinal, multidimensional data to capture the experiences of children and families from the time they are investigated by CPS though multiple follow-up points, and to consider the interdependent nature of the traditional child welfare outcomes of safety, permanence, and well-being. The topics covered not only are critical to child welfare practice and policy, but also are of compelling interest to other child service sectors such as health, mental health, education, and juvenile justice. The authors of chapters in this volume are esteemed researchers within psychology, social work, economics, and public health. Together they represent the future of child welfare research, showcasing the potential of NSCAW as a valuable resource to the research community and providing glimpses of how the data can be used to inform practice and policy.

Helping vulnerable children develop their full potential is an attractive idea with broad common-sense appeal. However, child well-being is a broad concept, and the legislative mandate for addressing well-being in the context of the current child welfare system is not particularly clear. This volume asserts that finding a place for well-being on the list of outcomes established to manage the child welfare system is not as easy as it first appears. The overall thrust of this argument is that policy should be evidence-based, and the available evidence is a primary focus of the book. Because policymakers have to make decisions that allocate resources, a basic understanding of incidence in the public health tradition is important, as is evidence that speaks to the question of what works clinically. The rest of the book addresses the evidence. Chapter 2 integrates bio-ecological and public health perspectives to give the evidence base coherence. Chapters 3 and 4 combine evidence from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, the Multistate Foster Care Data Archive, and the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being to offer an unprecedented profile of children as they enter the child welfare system. Chapters 5 and 6 address the broad question of what works. A concluding chapter focuses on policy and future directions, suggesting that children starting out, children starting school, and children starting adolescence are high-risk populations for which explicit strategies have to be formed. This timely volume offers useful insights into the child welfare system and will be of particular interest to policymakers, academics with an interest in Child Welfare Policy, Social Work educators, and Child Advocates. Fred Wulczyn is a research fellow at Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago. Richard P. Barth is the Frank A. Daniels Distinguished Professor, School of Social Work, University of North Carolina. Ying-Ying T. Yuan is senior vice president at Walter R. McDonald & Associates, Inc. Brenda Jones Harden is associate professor at the Institute for Child Study at the University of Maryland. John Landsverk is director of the NIMH-funded Child and Adolescent Services Research Center at Children's Hospital, San Diego.

A riveting and illuminating exploration of the transatlantic slave trade by an intrepid team of divers seeking to reclaim the stories of their ancestors. “For me, Enslaved is an attempt to give a voice to the millions whose voices were silenced.�—Samuel L. Jackson, human rights activist and Hollywood icon From the writers behind the acclaimed documentary series Enslaved (starring Samuel L. Jackson), comes a rich and revealing narrative of the true global and human scope of the transatlantic slave trade. The trade existed for 400 years, during which 12 million people were trafficked, and 2 million would die en route. In these pages we meet the remarkable group, Diving with a Purpose (DWP), as they dive sunken slave ships all around the world. They search for remains and artifacts testifying to the millions of kidnapped Africans that were transported to Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. From manilla bracelets to shackles, cargo, and other possessions, the finds from these wrecks bring the stories of lost lives back to the surface. As we follow the men and women of DWP across eleven countries, Jacobovici and Kingsley’s rich research puts the archaeology and history of these wrecks that lost between 1670 to 1858 in vivid context. From the ports of Gold Coast Africa, to the corporate hubs of trading companies of England, Portugal and the Netherlands, and the final destinations in the New World, Jacobovici and Kingsley show how the slave trade touched every nation and every society on earth. Though global in scope, Enslaved makes history personal as we experience the divers’ sadness, anger, reverence, and awe as they hold tangible pieces of their ancestors’ world in their hands. What those people suffered on board those ships can never be forgiven. Enslaved works to ensure that it will always be remembered and understood, and is the first book to tell the story of the transatlantic slave trade from the bottom of the sea.

TORMENTED BY YEARS OF ADDICTION, SLEEPING IN ABANDONED HOUSES AND SELLING MY SOUL FOR THE NEXT ONE. Numerous prison terms, my home a tiny cell. Alone with only bare walls to reflect on my many failures. One abusive relationship after another, because of feeling unworthy. Drowning spiritually in confusion and the illusion that my life wasn't that bad. Through the Forever Free substance abuse program in Chino prison, I began to grasp the concept of freedom and hope for a brighter future.

My journey into self evolved. I was able to uncover pieces of the puzzle, which had eluded me for years. Feeling confident, I started exploring my fears, disappointments and betrayals. Emerging with a new found sense of clarity, I felt compelled to share my quest out of darkness with you. My hope is that you learn to take the fragments of a broken existence and re-assemble them into the life you have always envisioned for yourself. Experience a new world filled with personal enlightenment and self discovery.

In the lush jungles of Africa lives Larry the lion, King of the Jungle. Larry thinks that he is the best animal ever! Not only does he boast to himself about how great he is, but he points out what's wrong with everyone else. He tells Kenny the kangaroo, a very shy and sweet animal, that he has funny feet. He calls Patti the parrot stupid. He often bullies Zella the zebra just for fun! All of his friends decide that Larry is just not nice to be around anymore and they don't want to play with him. Jill the jaguar is a wise and kind animal. Jill knows that all everyone has to do is understand each other and realize that each one is a very important part of the group for their very own special reasons. How can she convince Larry that in order to earn respect he has to show respect to others? This entertaining children's story teaches the importance of kindness, tolerance, and friendship. Brenda Jones is a writer and elementary school teacher. She published Standing Up, a book about bullying geared toward teenagers, and is currently writing two other books: a children's story, and a historical romance for young readers. She lives with her family in Destin, Florida. Publisher's website: http: //www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/NoIDontWantToPlayToday.html

This the first text to fully integrate the developmental, systemic, multicultural, and relational elements of child and adolescent counseling. This unique approach emphasizes the powerful interconnections supporting effective child and adolescent counseling with creative and time-efficient methods. Supported by CACREP standards, competencies, and outcomes, this book features best practice strategies and techniques to aid counselors-in-training who will be assisting children, adolescents, and their families in developing transformative coping methods while navigating contemporary issues. This textbook is distinguished by its broad and holistic focus as a means of increasing counseling efficacy and applies to a range of therapeutic modalities.The text advocates for a multisensory approach, using creative props, expressive arts, and interactive activities that helps to foster change by harnessing the learning styles best suited to individual children and adolescents. Based in theory yet highly practical, time-efficient, real-world counseling methods are illustrated through case studies, vignettes, and verbatim counseling sessions that are tailored to the needs of today's child and adolescent counselor. The book presents a comprehensive toolkit to foster engagement and assist the future counselor in grasping key concepts. Pedagogical aids include learning objectives, key terms, learning activities, case studies, points to remember, chapter summaries, and questions for further study. Abundant instructor resources include sample syllabi, an instructor's manual with experiential activities and assessment rubrics, additional chapter discussion questions and resources, a test bank, and PowerPoint slides. Purchase includes digital access for use on most mobile devices or computers. Key Features: Grounded in a unique integrated approach encompassing developmental, systemic, multicultural, and relational elements and innovative and time-efficient practices Applies to a range of therapeutic modalities including school, marriage, couples and family, clinical mental health, clinical rehabilitation counseling, and more Illustrates time-efficient counseling methods through case studies, vignettes, and examples from actual client and counselors-in-training sessions Highlights contemporary issues including incarcerated parents, sexual minorities, military influences and same-sex parents. Infused with CACREP standards, competencies and outcomes to help with accreditation and prepare students for exams Edited and authored by educators and authors with a wealth of professional expertise Includes learning objectives, key terms, charts, tables and figure, questions for further study and chapter summaries