Portfolio
Kin-Specific Foster Home Approval: Recommended Standards of National Organizations
I co-authored the first ever national model licensing standards specific to kin-caregivers in response to new flexibilities provided by the Administration for Children and Families. The standards were grounded in interviews with more than 100 kin caregivers and staff in 45 child welfare jurisdictions.
This project was a partnership of a coalition of national nonprofit organizations: A Second Chance, Inc.; American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law; Children’s Rights; CWPolicy; Generations United and its Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center; National Association for Regulatory Administration; New America’s Resource Family Working Group; National Indian Child Welfare Association; and Think of Us.
Implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act: A Technical Guide for Agencies, Policymakers, and Other Stakeholders
I coordinated and co-authored this 200-page implementation guide for the Family First Prevention Services Act—the most comprehensive resource available to support the rollout of this landmark law. The guide has been referenced tens of thousands of times by policymakers and advocates nationwide.
Structured as an extensive Q&A, the guide parses the nuances of statutory language and federal guidance, translating it into clear, practical direction for implementation. Developed in partnership with ChildFocus, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Generations United, FosterClub, the Juvenile Law Center, and the National Indian Child Welfare Association, it remains the definitive resource for child welfare stakeholders on Family First.
Exploring Federal Supports for
Transition-Age Youth
In February 2023, I organized a two-day convening with the Children’s Bureau and 20 young people with lived experience in foster care. During this convening, federal child welfare policymakers worked alongside individuals impacted by the system to devise a workplan to support transition-age youth.
The convening was intentionally designed to recognize young people not simply as experts in their own stories, but in the system itself and to push toward true integration of lived expertise in policymaking.
Funding Kinship Services: A Primer on Federal Funding Sources
I authored a comprehensive primer on federal funding sources for the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, designed to serve professionals in public agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations supporting kinship families.
The primer breaks down complex federal statutes, regulations, and guidance into accessible overviews of 45 distinct funding streams. It highlights practical applications—showcasing how organizations are leveraging these funds to serve kinship families—and provides actionable tips to help smaller kinship-serving organizations pursue federal support.
Kin, First and Foremost: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Path Forward for Kinship Care
I co-authored this report with the Think of Us Research team, drawing on research sprints conducted across three states. The report identifies barriers and opportunities for strengthening kinship practice in five key domains: cross-cutting practices, kin search and engagement, placement and licensing, caregiver support, and permanency.
We conducted and analyzed interviews with 255 youth, parents, and kin caregivers, along with 140 agency staff, 93 service providers, and 41 legal professionals. I led the team in ensuring these perspectives were translated into actionable insights tailored for policymakers, so the report could drive concrete steps toward building a kin-first child welfare system.
Family First for Kinship Care Series
In collaboration with Generations United and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, I co-authored a three-part series of briefs examining opportunities created by the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 to strengthen support for kinship families, supported by Casey Family Programs.
Designed for state and tribal child welfare agencies, the briefs translate complex policy into clear, actionable guidance. They outline strategies to expand support for kinship caregivers, streamline licensure and placement processes, strengthen permanency pathways, and enhance the care of children living with kin.
Kinship Caregiving Options: Considerations for Caregivers
In partnership with Generations United and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, and with support from Casey Family Programs, I co-developed a practical tool to help kinship families—and the professionals who assist them—compare caregiving options.
Created to address the fact that kin caregivers are often asked to make life-altering decisions without full information, the tool offers a broad, national overview of the different caregiving pathways available to them. It equips caregivers with clear comparisons and key considerations so they can make informed choices best suited to their family’s needs.