BONUS: Rise Up / CWEL Episode

In this bonus episode DCF on the Air talks with casework employees at various levels of their career about how they support their sense of safety and wellbeing in the workplace. This episode is produced in collaboration with the Rise Up fellows through CWEL (Child Welfare Education Leaders).

This conversation explores the various aspects of kinship care within child welfare, focusing on the definitions, programs, and benefits associated with kinship relationships. Jason Butkowski interviewed Takysha Livingston with the Kinship Navigator Program, Kimyatta Larmore with Kinship Resource Families, and Felice Elam with the Kinship Legal Guardianship program. These experts discuss their roles, the importance of maintaining family connections, and the positive outcomes for children placed in kinship care. The dialogue emphasizes the collaborative efforts among programs to support families and improve the overall welfare of children in the system within the Kinship Care continuum.

Men of Courage is a beautiful expression and counter to the prevailing “man-o-sphere” concept of masculinity. The short film takes audiences on a journey inside the Garden State for a fly-on-the-wall experience as five Black and Latino men share their personal experiences witnessing domestic abuseinside their homes. Led by Wil DuBose of the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJEDV), these men use their influence as community leaders to engage boys and men in compelling conversations about the roles they play in ending men's violence against women.

This conversation focuses on the various initiatives and programs aimed at ensuring child safety in New Jersey. The discussion highlights the roles of the Department of Children and Families, particularly the Safety Subcommittee and the Institutional Abuse Investigations Unit (IAIU). It addresses the increase in referrals for institutional abuse, legislative efforts to improve child safety, and the importance of training and education for both educators and students. Additionally, the conversation explores the issue of problematic sexual behavior in children and the development of support structures to address these concerns.

In this episode of DCF On The Air, host Jason Butkowski discusses the vital role of Family Support Organizations (FSOs) in supporting youth mental health and the entire family unit. Joined by guests Rachel Helt, Richard Dodd, and Jennifer Edwards, the conversation explores how FSOs provide comprehensive support to families, emphasizing the importance of lived experience, community collaboration, and addressing mental health stigma. The episode highlights the positive outcomes for families involved with FSOs and New Jersey's leadership in integrating these services into a cohesive system of care.

What is reunification? What steps are taken to prioritize reunification with a family? In this episode, we are talking with our staff at CP&P and a resource family to talk about the importance of reunification and what supports are available.

This conversation explores the transformation of NewJersey's child welfare system through a data-driven approach. The discussion highlights the historical context of data utilization, the importance of evidence-based practices, and the state's leadership in national child welfare data initiatives. Key case studies, such as kinship placement and the NJ4S program, illustrate the practical application of data in improving outcomes for families. The conversation also addresses innovative strategies for disseminating data and the implications of the Family First Prevention ServicesAct.

In this episode, we sit with the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect to discuss the importance of creating a statewide system to address child maltreatment and its decades of continuing progress in helping children across New Jersey.More Information on NJTFCAN -https://www.nj.gov/dcf/providers/boards/njtfcan/

In this episode we are discussing the collaborative efforts of DCF (I/DD) & DHS (DDD) around how to support youth with developmental disabilities to transition into the adult care system. We talk about what supports are available and what resources families can utilize to help with this transition. Need to learn more about the I/DD [email protected] – answers general questions about [email protected] –for questions aboutguardianship of youth 18-21 with  I/DD. [email protected] – for questions about the transition process to the adult developmental disability system.General CSOC Helpline🔗 https://www.PerformcareNJ.org/📲 1-877-652-7624 24/7/365 days a year🔗 Find more about other services at the NJDisability Information Hub: www.NJ.gov/Disabilities

In this month's edition of On the Air, we are joined by NJ211, who are an information-based organization with the purpose of providing resources in times of crisis to residents of New Jersey.