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This paper presents a conceptual framework for understanding the uses of research in policy and practice, findings from recent empirical work, and early lessons from the field. The framework describes the ways policymakers and practitioners define, acquire, interpret, and ultimately use research. Relationships are vital conduits for acquiring research. When confronted with questions about a program or reform, agencies and legislators often turn to trusted peers and intermediaries. Translation is also key. Because research does not speak for itself, policymakers and practitioners must always interpret its meaning and implications for their particular problems and circumstances. This means that identifying the right translators and creating productive conditions for translation are critical. Policymakers and practitioners use research in various ways, including instrumental, conceptual, political, imposed, and process uses. Increased knowledge of these nuances should enable researchers to produce more useful work and better engage with policymakers, practitioners, and intermediaries. (Contains 1 table.) [Commentaries from Karen Cadigan, John Q. Easton, and Aletha C. Huston are included. Commentaries are individually referenced.]

Across nations, Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs are of great interest to policymakers, service providers, and families. ECD programs are cross-cutting, often involving the health, education, child welfare, and other sectors, and their emphases shift over the early childhood years. In this paper, the authors propose equity as the construct central to the provision of ECD programs in an international context. Equity can be conceptualized relative to two components, access and quality. In the past there has been greater focus on building access to ECD program services with less emphasis placed on quality, particularly when programs are taken to scale in low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries. Quality is a key feature because when programs of low quality are provided, they are unlikely to generate the child and family outcomes intended. Moreover, quality is a relevant feature across all levels of the ecological system. To effect sustainable and meaningful change in ECD programs in developing countries, features of access and quality, must be addressed at each level of the ecological system. The paper presents a conceptualization of quality across settings and systems and identifies implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers on how they can work together to measure, improve and sustain program quality. (Contains 2 figures and 5 endnotes.) [Commentaries from Linda Biersteker, Belinda J. Hardin and Aisha K. Yousafzai are included. Commentaries are individually referenced.]

"Child Care Health Connections" is a bimonthly newsletter published by the California Childcare Health Program (CCHP), a community-based program of the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing. The goals of the newsletter are to promote and support a healthy and safe environment for all children in child care reflecting the state's diversity; to recreate linkages and promote collaboration among health and safety and child care professionals; and to be guided by the most up-to-date knowledge of the best practices and concepts of health, wellness and safety. Information provided in the newsletter is intended to supplement, not replace, medical advice. Regular features include columns on resources or current information related to infant/toddler care, school-age child care, public health, staff health, nutrition, inclusion, diversity, health consultancy, product information, pending legislation, available resources, and "Ask the Nurse," a Question-Answer column. Lead article of this issue is "Healthy Routines Lead to Healthy Children." Other topics include: Limiting the Use of Triclosan the Chemical in Antibacterial Soap; Problems with Car/Infant Seats and Other Seating Devices in Child Care; Portion Distortion and the Rise in Obesity; Minimizing Exposure to Toxic Flame-Retardants; Folic Acid and Prevention of Neural Tube Defects; Transportation Safety; and Health and Safety Resources. (Individual articles contain references and resources.)

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) CWLA National Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice Position Paper; (2) Director's Message; (3) Interview with Ed Kelley, NACJJ Chair; (4) Research on Pathways to Desistance; and (5) The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention "Model Programs Guide." Individual articles contain figures, footnotes, and references. [For the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of "The Link," see ED507079.]

"Child Care Health Connections" is a bimonthly newsletter published by the California Childcare Health Program (CCHP), a community-based program of the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing. The goals of the newsletter are to promote and support a healthy and safe environment for all children in child care reflecting the state's diversity; to recreate linkages and promote collaboration among health and safety and child care professionals; and to be guided by the most up-to-date knowledge of the best practices and concepts of health, wellness and safety. Information provided in the newsletter is intended to supplement, not replace, medical advice. Regular features include columns on resources or current information related to infant/toddler care, school-age child care, public health, staff health, nutrition, inclusion, diversity, health consultancy, product information, pending legislation, available resources, and "Ask the Nurse," a Question-Answer column. Lead article of this issue is "What is a Child Care Health Consultant and Why are They Important in ECE Settings?." Other topics include: How to Speak to Vaccine Fears; Take a Child's Temperature; Active Commuting and Your Health; Spider Bites; Children with Hemophilia in Child Care Settings; 20 Healthy New Year's Resolutions for Children; and Health and Safety Resources. (Individual articles contain references.)

This paper provides an update on all the new products and projects that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has been working on, in its effort to help schools meet the nutritional needs of the students and to help in the President's challenge to End Childhood Hunger by 2015. This issue includes: (1) Back to School; (2) Commodity Forecast; (3) Bonus Offerings; (4) Fresh Cut Sliced Apple Pilot; (5) DoD Fresh Program; (6) WBSCM; (7) USDA Foods Communication Initiative; (8) Educational Opportunities; (9) Holds and Recalls; (10) Fresh Produce Safety for Schools; (11) Other Resources; (12) Did You Know; (13) Thank You for Your Feedback; and (14) Acronym List.

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) Strong Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) Now in Senate (Tim Briceland-Belts); (2) Director's Message (Janet K. Wiig); (3) Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues in the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act; and (4) Registering Harm: How Sex Offense Registries Fail Youth and Communities. Recommended Reading is also included. Individual articles contain references. [For the Winter 2009 issue of "The Link," see ED504481.]

In the wake of a U.S. Justice Department investigation that found widespread use of excessive force by staff at upstate psychiatric care facilities for mentally ill children, this new edition of Child Welfare Watch identifies shortcomings in mental health services and explores possible solutions, including the expansion of alternatives to incarceration for juvenile delinquents. Contents include: (1) Recommendations and Solutions; (2) Where the Sick get Sicker; (3) Private Institutions, Public Costs; (4) Admissions of Juvenile Delinquents and Juvenile Offenders to Institutions 1998-2008; (5) How New York's Juvenile Justice System Works; (6) Homes for Teens, Not Lock-Ups; (7) Keeping it in the Family; (8) On the Same Page; (9) What are the Alternatives?; (10) Snapshot of Juvenile Justice in NYC 2008; and (11) Watching the Numbers.

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) A Rural Miracle of Adoption (Kathleen Belanger); (2) Exploring Options for Better Visiting (Meghan Williams with Marty Beyer); and (3) With Change Comes Opportunity (Elizabeth Foster). Other items include: (4) Leadership Lens; (5) Spotlight On; (6) National Newswire; (7) Exceptional Children: Navigating Special Education and Learning Disabilities--The Teacher and Learner in All of Us (Ellen Notbohm); (8) Down to Earth Dad--"Clueless" Parents Are Hungry for Good Information (Patrick Mitchell); (9) CWLA Short Takes; (10) End Notes; and (11) One On One: A Conversation with Terri Braxton, Vice President, CWLA Business Development. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 17, Number 6, November/December 2008, see ED504494.]

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) Understanding the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (Lisa Goldblatt Grace); (2) Native American Juvenile Rights: Who Cares? (Terry L. Cross and Kathleen A. Fox); and (3) Strong Juvenile Justice Legislation Passes Senate Committee: Includes Expanded Coordination of JJ and Child Welfare (Tim Briceland-Betts). Director's Message, Policy Update, and Recommended Reading information are also included. (References are included for individual articles.)

"Child Care Health Connections" is a bimonthly newsletter published by the California Childcare Health Program (CCHP), a community-based program of the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing. The goals of the newsletter are to promote and support a healthy and safe environment for all children in child care reflecting the state's diversity; to recreate linkages and promote collaboration among health and safety and child care professionals; and to be guided by the most up-to-date knowledge of the best practices and concepts of health, wellness and safety. Information provided in the newsletter is intended to supplement, not replace, medical advice. Regular features include columns on resources or current information related to infant/toddler care, school-age child care, public health, staff health, nutrition, inclusion, diversity, health consultancy, product information, pending legislation, available resources, and "Ask the Nurse," a Question-Answer column. Lead article of this issue is "Preparing Young Children for Disasters." Other topics include: Emergency Preparedness Plan; Postpartum Depression; Diabetes; Dietary Fat and Healthy Choices; Communication with Parents about Their Child's Developmental Delays; Integrated Pest Management of Rodents in ECE settings; and Health and Safety Resources. [Additional support for this issue was provided by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.]

Although they make up a relatively small proportion of all children in the U.S. foster care system, foster youth approaching adulthood have over the years attracted considerable attention from policymakers. Three times in the past 25 years the Social Security Act has been amended to try to better support the transition to adulthood for foster youth. The new Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act represents a fundamental shift away from the goal of preparing foster youth to be independent of state assistance by the age of majority towards an active engagement by government in parenting foster youth into adulthood. This policy shift reflects an evolving understanding of normative transitions to adulthood and growing knowledge of the particular challenges faced by foster youth in transition. In this report, I briefly describe the U.S. child welfare system, summarize research on the transition to adulthood for foster youth showing that they generally face a very difficult transition, and examine the evolution of U.S. policy towards foster youth using the concept of "corporate parenting." I conclude that recent policy developments provide an excellent opportunity to improve transition outcomes for foster youth, but that lingering challenges still exist including: likely state reluctance to expand the parenting role; a poor knowledge base regarding the effectiveness of independent living services; the lack of established and well-evaluated models of coordination between child welfare agencies and other public institutions in supporting foster youth; the complex nature of "permanency" for foster youth in transition; and the fact that the new law still excludes important populations of foster youth. I argue that policy and program development must be accompanied by strategic use of research and evaluation to maximize the opportunity provided by the new policy regime. (Contains 3 footnotes.) [Commentaries by Jane Waldfogel, Robert Schwartz, and Jennifer Pokempner are included.]

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) Making the Case for Infant Mental Health (Jennifer Michael); (2) Extending Support for Extended Families (Jennifer Miller, Mary Bissell, and Susan Robison); and (3) Survey Says: Birth Parents Are Important (Ada White). Other items include: (4) Leadership Lens; (5) Spotlight On; (6) National Newswire; (7) Exceptional Children: Navigating Special Education and Learning Disabilities; (8) Down to Earth Dad. The Balancing Act: Getting It Right for Children's Sake (Patrick Mitchell); (9) Proving You Make a Difference: Donors Want Accountability with Their Investment, But How Do You Measure Improving an Abused Child's Life? (Vern Rickert and Jim Grote); (10) CWLA Short Takes; (11) End Notes; and (12) One On One: A Conversation with Julie Collins, CWLA Director, Mental Health. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 17, Number 1, January/February 2008, see ED499684.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue: (1) Leadership Lens (Christine James-Brown); (2) Clearing a Path to Higher Ed for Dependent Youth; (3) National NewsWire; (4) Reviving the White House Conference on Children (Jennifer Michael and Madeleine Goldstein); (5) Exceptional Children: Navigating Learning Disabilities & Special Education--The Great Indoors: Classrooms that Inspire Learning (Ellen Notbohm with Veda Nomura); (6) Down to Earth Dad: The Power of Play (Patrick Mitchell); (7) Collaborating in the Classroom (Jennifer Michael); (8) Walking the Walk, Not Just Talking the Talk: Eight Steps Toward Implementing Evidence-Based Practice (Sue D. Stelb and Wendy Whiting Blome); (8) Promoting from the Ranks (Jennifer Michael); (9) CWLA ShortTakes; (10) EndNotes; and (11) OneOnOne: Questions and Answers with CWLA Staff (John Sciamanna).

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) Teens Taking Charge (Jennifer Michael); (2) Serving Youth Through Systems Integration (Sorrel Concodora); and (3) Childhood Obesity: Is It Abuse? (Abigail Darwin). Other items include: (4) Leadership Lens (Christine James-Brown); (5) Spotline On: Combining Art and Mentoring for Pre-Teens; (6) National Newswire: Children's Issues in the News; (7) Exceptional Children: Navigating Learning Disabilities & Special Education (Sheldon H. Horowitz); (8) Down to Dad (Patrick Mitchell); (9) A Little Effort Goes a Long Way: Strategies for Preventing Staff Turnover; (10) CWLA Short Takes; (11) News from the Hill: A White House Conference on Children & Youth Has Liftoff; (12) One On One: Questions and Answers with CWLA Staff; (13) Research Report: Child Maltreatment 2006; and (14) EndNotes. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 17, Number 3, May/June 2008, see ED502251.]

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) Changing a Critical Practice (Meghan Williams); (2) Collaboration: The Road to Success (Susan Soonkeum Cox, Dixie van de Flier Davis, and Ada White); and (3) Improving Response to Critical Situations (Cindy Ryman Yost). Other items include: (4) Leadership Lens; (5) Spotlight On; (6) National Newswire: (7) Exceptional Children: Navigating Special Education and Learning Disabilities--ART-ful Teaching for Different Learners (Ellen Notbohm); (8) Down to Earth Dad--A Father's Role in His Daughter's Body Image (Patrick Mitchell); (9) CWLA Short Takes; (10) End Notes; and (11) One On One: Frequently Asked Questions from CWLA Members. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 17, Number 5, September/October 2008, see ED503378.]

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) Evidence-Based Practice: Developing a New Business Model from the Inside Out (Jeremy Kohomban, Paul Schiller, and Patricia O'Gorman); (2) The School to Prison Pipeline and Criminalizing Youth: Costs, Consequences, and Alternatives (Marsha Weissman); (3) Group Homes Appear to Double Delinquency Risk for Foster Kids, Study Says (Craig Chamberlain); and (4) The Growing Toll: Non-Family Residential Care for Youth Linked to Delinquency; Costing 50 Percent More. Director's Message, Policy Update information, and Juvenile Justice News and Resources are also included. (References, notes, and figures are included for individual articles.)

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) Convention on the Rights of the Child and Juvenile Justice (Jenni Gainborough and Elisabeth Lean); and (2) ABA (American Bar Association) Policy and Report on Crossover and Dual Jurisdiction Youth. Director's Message, Policy Update information and News/Resources are also included. (Notes are included for individual articles.)

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) Potential for Change: Public Attitudes and Policy Preferences for Juvenile Justice Systems Reform; (2) Rehabilitation versus Incarceration of Juvenile Offenders: Public Preferences in Four Models for Change States; and (3) Juvenile Justice Bulletin Brief (John Tuell). Director's Message and Policy Update information are also included. (Individual articles contain figures and endnotes.)

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) Supporting the Nation's Future (Laura Weidner); (2) Helping California's Immigrant Families (Yali Lincroft); (3) Putting Children First (Emily Shenk); and (4) Becoming a Higher Performance Organization (William Atkinson). Other items include: (5) Leadership Lens; (6) Spotlight On; (7) National Newswire; (8) Exceptional Children: Navigating Special Education and Learning Disabilities--Gauging Your Teen's College Readiness (Ellen Notbohm); (9) Down to Earth Dad--A Child Can Change the World...One Dad at a Time (Patrick Mitchell); (10) CWLA Short Takes; (11) End Notes; and (12) One On One: A Conversation with David Roth, CWLA Senior Fellow, Mid-Atlantic Region. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 17, Number 3, May/June 2008, see ED502251.]

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) From Foster Care to Fostering Care (Darrell Armstrong); (2) A Restorative Approach to Residential Care (Patricia Wilcox); (3) Taking a Page from the Book (Jennifer Michael); and (4) Management Matters: From Strategic Planning to Strategic Positioning (Shelli Bischoff-Turner). Other items include: (5) Leadership Lens; (6) Spotlight On; (7) National Newswire; (8) Exceptional Children: Navigating Special Education and Learning Disabilities. Summertime, and the Reading is Easy (Ellen Notholm); (9) Down to Earth Dad. A Space of Their Own (Patrick Mitchell); (10) CWLA Short Takes; (11) End Notes; and (12) One On One: A Conversation with Charlene Ingram, CWLA Senior Program Director. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 17, Number 2, March/April 2008, see ED501164.]

Culture and systemic change are paramount to achieving significant and long-lasting gains in child and youth wellbeing and, in time, securing the future of our nation. This brief, based on a high-level synthesis of eight years of experience and research in place-based family strengthening, makes the case for a national transformation to a society that visibly promotes families, the most important asset shaping outcomes for children and youth. At the individual family level, evidence shows that children and youth thrive when three fundamental elements are present: nurturing relationships, financial stability, and positive connections. Making the family fundamentals a strong reality for the vast majority of Americans will occur only through a shift from a culture that "values" families to a society in which policies and practices reflect that value. What can prompt this cultural transformation? Macro recommendations include leadership from agencies serving children, youth, and families; public will campaigns; and policy and practice changes in multiple community sectors (e.g., youth development, human services, employment, faith, community development). The brief also summarizes promising approaches for creating the conditions for families to develop the three fundamentals. (Contains 63 endnotes and 4 figures.) [Document published by Family Strengthening Policy Center, National Human Services Assembly.]

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Feature articles in this issue of "Children's Voice" include: (1) Change Agents: "Home Visitation Programs Help Parents Play Greater Roles During Their Children's Earliest Years"; (2) Seven Solutions for Fighting Meth, Healing Families; (3) All Alone in the World: Children of the Incarcerated; and (4) Management Matters: "Nailing Jell-O to the Wall." (Individual articles contain references.) [For "Children's Voice" Volume 15, Number 6, November/December 2006, see ED494247.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue of "Children's Voice": (1) Child Welfare and Technology (Technology is only as revolutionary as the plan that drives it.); (2) Child Welfare and the Challenge of New Americans (Growing immigrant populations create questions for child welfare policy and practice); (3) Poisonous Predator (Gone from gasoline and paint, lead continues to pose danger to kids); (4) Management Matters (One Agency's Journey to Developing More Effective Supervisors); (5) Executive Directions; (6) Agency Briefs; (7) National News Roundup; (8) Exceptional Children: Navigating Learning Disabilities and Special Education (Reaching for Resilience); (9) The Down to Earth Dad (Physical Punishment....And Why Kids Are Better Off Without It); (10) Eye on CWLA; (11) Other Voices (Donald T. Floyd Jr., National 4-H Council); and (12) Bulletin Board.

"Residential Group Care Quarterly" is published four times a year by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. It is committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the wellbeing of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every child from harm. This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) CWLA's Position on Residential Care; (2) The JBFCS Institute for Child Care Professionalization and Training (Frank Delano and Jill Shah); and (3) Does the Trend toward Shorter Stays Represent Best Practice? (Point/Counterpoint--Kimberly J. Peacock and James L. Hoel).

"Residential Group Care Quarterly" is published four times a year by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). This issue contains the following articles: (1) Building a Lasting Agency: The Leadership Institute (Letitia Howland); (2) For Our Safety: Examining High-Risk Interventions for Children and Youth (Michael A. Nunno, Lloyd Bullard, and David M. Day); (3) Transforming Mainstream Residential Treatment Programs into Safe Environments for LGBTQ Youth (Caroline Peacock, Randi Anderson, and Lenny Rodriguez); (4) Balancing the Scales: Targeting Disproportionality in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice (Michelle Y. Green); (5) Point/Counterpoint: Can Residential Facilities Adequately Serve Gay, Lesbian, and other Sexual Minority Youth? (James Lasher Murphy and Gerald P. Mallon) [This Point/Counterpoint originally appeared in the Summer 1999 issue of Residential Group Care Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 3.]; (6) Traditions in Residential Programs (Bill Powers). [For the Volume 7, Number 2, Fall 2006 issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly," see ED494664.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. ?By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. This issue of "Children's Voice" includes: (1) Slavery Undercover: An Estimated 14,500--17,500 People--Half of Them Children--Are Trafficked into the United States Every Year; (2) After the Storm: Recovery Has Been Slow, and the Needs Great, in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina; (3) Budgeting Child Welfare: How Will Millions Cut from the Federal Budget Affect the Child Welfare System?; (4) Exceptional Children: Learning Disabilities and Special Education--Making the Most of Homework; and (5) The Down to Earth Dad: A Hole in the Heart... and How Programs Can Help Mend It; (6) Preparing for Natural Disaster: Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Rehearsal Are Critical. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 15, Number 3, see ED492088.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. This issue of "Children's Voice" includes: (1) Turning the Tables: Children Caring for Family; (2) Today's Foster Care Campaign: An Integrated Marketing Approach; (3) Prescription for Disaster: Access to Health Care Is a Problem for Children of Immigrants Nationwide; (4) Health Beat: Snuffing out Secondhand Smoke in Foster Homes; (5) Down to Earth Dad: Men Are Problem Solvers (from Mars); (6) Exceptional Children: Learning Disabilities and Special Education; and (7) Great Boards: How the Board Can Measure It's Own Passion and Commitment. [For "Children's Voice," Volume 15, Number 2, see ED492066. For Volume 15, Number 4, see ED492089.]

"The Link" is a periodical published by the Child Welfare League. The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. They are committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. This issue of "The Link" contains the following articles: (1) The Legal Rights of Young People in State Custody: What Juvenile Justice Professionals Need to Know When Working with LGBT Youth (Rudy Estrada and Jody Marksamer); (2) Director's Message (Christy Sharp); (3) Adolescents, Maturity and the Law (Jeffrey Fagan); (4) Public Policy Update; and (5) Juvenile Justice News and Resources. [For the the Winter 2006 issue of "The Link," see ED489787. For the Summer 2006 issue, see ED492069.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue: (1) From Coast to Coast and in between Child Welfare Leaders Take on the Meth Epidemic; (2) When Children Need a Home in a Hurry: What's the Best Approach to Emergency Care for Abused and Neglected Children?; (3) Help for Children and Youth, Just a Click Away: New Websites Are Expanding the Scope of Child Welfare; (4) The Down to Earth Dad; (5) Exceptional Children: Learning Disabilities and Special Education; and (6) Private Professionals, Public Sector--Does It Work? For-Profit CEOs in Nonprofit Agencies. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 15, Number 1, see ED491151. For Volume 15, Number 3, see ED492088.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue of "Children's Voice": (1) Growing Up with Meth: Meth Addiction is Spreading among American Families, Leaving Thousands of Children Vulnerable and Child Welfare Systems Stretched (Jennifer Micheal); (2) Facility Facelifts: How Courthouses Are Accommodating Children and Youth (Manka Ngwa-Suh); (3) Video Game Violence (Mark Hoerrner and Keisha Hoerrner); (4) The Down to Earth Dad: Make No Mistake about It Dads "Are" Necessary (Patrick Mitchell); (5) Exceptional Children: Navigating Learning Disabilities and Special Education (Ellen Notbohm); (6) Management Matters: Technology Growth in Youth-Serving Organizations (Alexandra Krasne); (7) Executive Directions; (8) Agency Briefs; (9) Other Voices: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (Donna Butts and Brigitte Castellano); (10) National News Roundup; (11) Eye on CWLA; and (12) Bulletin Board.

"The Link" is a periodical published by the Child Welfare League. The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization, committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every child from harm. This issue of "The Link" contains the following: (1) Legal Analysis in Systems Integration (Jessica Heldman); (2) Director's Message (Christy Sharp); (3) African American Males in Foster Care and the Risk of Delinquency: The Value of Social Bonds and Permanence (Joseph P. Ryan); and (4) Public Policy Update; (5) Juvenile Justice News and Resources; and (6) References for African American Males in Foster Care and Risk of Delinquency. [For Volume 4, Number 2, see ED486227.]

"Residential Group Care Quarterly" is published four times a year by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) Whatever Happened to Sound Clinical Reasoning? (Elizabeth Kohlstaedt); (2) Minorities as Majority Disproportionality in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice (Michelle Y. Green); and (3) Point/Counterpoint: Should Residential Services Only Be Used in Emergency Circumstances that Are Time Limited (90 days or less)? (James L. Murphy and Christopher Bellonci). (Individual articles contain references.) [For the Volume 7, Number 1, Summer 2006 issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly," see ED493331.]

The Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue of "Children's Voice": (1) After Adoption--Postadoption services help families cope with issues that arise after the adoption papers are signed.; (2) Answering the Call for Help--CWLA's Katrina Kids Fund has helped child welfare agencies get back on their feet again; (3) Everything is Normal Until Proven Otherwise--Reminisces on wraparound; (4) Exceptional Children--Navigating Learning Disabilities and Special Education; (5) House Rules--Appropriate rules and enforcement help kids become healthy adults; (6) The Down to Earth Dad--The Future of Fatherhood; and (7) Developing the Senior Management Team through Group Leadership. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 15, Number 5, see ED494248.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue of "Children's Voice": (1) Defining Family--Piecing together how two moms or two dads fit into the picture; (2) Saving Babies from Shaking; (3) From Murder to Forgiveness--A father turns tragedy into a message of reconciliation and restoration; (4) Exceptional Children: Learning Disabilities and Special Education--Behavior Is Communication--Yours, Mine, and Ours; (5) Children Who Hurt, Children Who Challenge; (6) Dad Support, and How It Can Pay Dividends; and (7) Understanding and Preventing Worker Burnout. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 15, Number 4, see ED492089.]

"The Link" is a periodical published by the Child Welfare League. The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. They are committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. This issue of "The Link" contains the following articles: (1) Deviant Peer Contagion: Findings from the Duke Executive Sessions on Deviant Peer Contagion (Joel Rosch); (2) Director's Message (John A. Tuell); (3) Bringing Youth Voices into Juvenile Justice Reform (Tina Chiu); (4) Public Policy Update: Update on Federal Funding for Juvenile Justice; and (5) Juvenile Justice News and Resources. [For the Summer 2006 of "The Link," see ED492069.]

"Residential Group Care Quarterly" is published four times a year by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) Building Bridges between Service Delivery Providers, Families, and Youth (Lloyd Bullard); (2) The Promise of Professionalism Arrives in Practice: Progress on the North American Certification Project (Martha A. Mattingly and David Thomas); (3) Preventing Violence in Residential Care: A Public Health Perspective (Brodie Paterson, David Leadbetter, and Gail Miller); (4) Implementing the Teaching Family Model in Day Treatment Programs (Kambi Scott); and (5) Point/Counterpoint: Should States Include Structural or Institutional Racism as a Factor in How They Mitigate Racial Disproportionality and Disparity of Outcomes? (Kathleen Belanger, Deborah K. Green, and Dennette Derezote). Individual articles contain references.

"Residential Group Care Quarterly" is published four times a year by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) Strengthening the Culture of Care in Child Care Agencies (Vonda I. Wallace and Jean Carpenter-Williams); (2) Improving Restraint Monitoring with Pulse Oximetry (Kim J. Masters); (3) Male and Female Brains and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Nick Pidgeon); and (4) Point/Counterpoint: What Is the Best Congregate Care Setting for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth? (Rob Woronoff and Amy R. Rhodes). Individual articles contain references.

By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. "Children's Voice" is published bimonthly by the Child Welfare League of America. This issue of "Children's Voice" includes: (1) Defining Family: Piecing Together How Two Moms or Two Dads Fit into the Picture; (2) Saving Babies from Shaking; (3) From Murder to Forgiveness: A Father Turns Tragedy into a Message of Reconciliation and Restoration; (3) Exceptional Children: Learning Disabilities and Special Education: Behavior Is Communication--Yours, Mine, and Ours; (4) Health Beat: Children Who Hurt, Children Who Challenge; (5) The Down to Earth Dad: Dad Support, and How It Can Pay Dividends; and (6) Management Matters: Understanding and Preventing Worker Burnout. [For "Children's Voice" Volume 15, Number 4, July/August 2006, see ED492089.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, this publication, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. Included in this issue are: (1) From Custody to Career: Young People Leaving Foster Care or Incarceration Often Struggle during the Transition to Work (Jennifer Michael); (2) Other Voices: The Responsibility of the Reconciled (Terry Cross); (3) Survivors, Not Victims: Children of Murdered Parents (Mary Liepold); (4) Fostering Progress: Facts to Move Children and Families Forward (Mary Bissell and Rob Geen); (5) Navigating Special Ed: Working with the Special Education System Can Be Confusing (David Gold and Thomas Stacy); (6) Exceptional Children: Navigating Learning Disabilities and Special Education (Sheldon H. Horowitz); (7) Clear Expectations: How Can CEOs Provide Guidelines without Being Overly Controlling? (Charles L. Baker); (8) Executive Directions; (9) Other Voices; (10) Agency Briefs; (11) State of the States; (12) Eye on CWLA; and (13) Bulletin Board. [For Volume 14, Number 5 of Children's Voice, see ED491149.]

The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families and protecting every child from harm. By publishing a diverse range of views on a wide array of topics, "Children's Voice" seeks to encourage public discussion and debate among those who are committed to helping children and families. The following are included in this issue: (1) Children Missing from Care: How Should Agencies Respond? (Jennifer Michael); (2) Engaging Youth for Youth... A Perfect Match (Mary Lee and Laura Greer); (3) The Down to Earth Dad: Calmness in an Age of Anxiety (Patrick Mitchell); (4) Health Beat: New Legislation Expands the Availability of Meals to School Children; (5) Management Matters: Socially Responsible Investing (Dave Danielson); (6) Executive Directions; (7) Agency Briefs; (8) Other Voices: Truly Equal Education Can Be Challenged by Human Diversity (Sue Stepleton); (9) The Global Village: AIDS and the Millions of Vulnerable Children Left Behind; (10) State of the States; (11) Eye on CWLA; and (12) Bulletin Board. [For Volume 14, Number 6 of Children's Voice, see ED491150.]

"Every Child" is Australia's premier early childhood publication, aimed at anyone involved in the care and education of children from birth to eight years--in particular child care professionals, teachers, child care students and the parents of young children. Published quarterly, it contains informative and entertaining articles on such issues as early childhood curriculum, ethics, health and professional development. This edition of "Every Child" focuses on a range of advocacy, policy and practice issues that promote quality and equity in early childhood services. It also includes the first installment of contemporary research from the National ECA Early Childhood Conference to be held in Brisbane, September 28-October 2, 2005. The main features in this issue are: (1) Toy Libraries; (2) Welfare Reform; (3) National Child Protection Week; (4) Surviving the Bully in Early Childhood; and (5) Code of Ethics Agenda-Special Update. [This document was produced by Early Childhood Australia Inc., formerly known as the Australian Early Childhood Association.]

"Every Child" is Australia's premier early childhood publication, aimed at anyone involved in the care and education of children from birth to eight years--in particular child care professionals, teachers, child care students and the parents of young children. Published quarterly, it contains informative and entertaining articles on such issues as early childhood curriculum, ethics, health and professional development. Throughout the year "Every Child" reports on movements in early childhood education and raises the issues that confront and challenge those who work with young children and their families. In this issue, the articles on tackling childhood obesity, childhood well-being, managing challenging behaviours, mental illness and fathering are all both topical and important. Other topics discussed in this issue include: (1) Fatherhood; (2) Values Education; (3) The "Code of Ethics"; (4) Children of Parents with a Mental Illness; and (5) Teaching at an Indigenous Community School. [This document was produced by Early Childhood Australia Inc., formerly known as the Australian Early Childhood Association.]

"The Link" is a periodical published by the Child Welfare League. The Child Welfare League of America is the nation's oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization, committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every child from harm. This issue of "The Link" contains the following: (1) "Community Interventions Reducing the Overrepresentation in Iowa's Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems" (Brad Richardson); (2) Director's Message (Christy Sharp); (3) "We Are Soldiers" (Elvia Rodriguez); (4) Public Policy Update; (5) Juvenile Justice News and Resources; and (6) References for Community Organizations.

This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) "CWLA's Position on Residential Care"; (2) "The View of Adolescent Life: Perceptions and Realities" ( Lisa Moore Willis); (3) "Assessing Youth Preferences for Adult Behavior in Residential Care: A Replication" (Jack T. Bowers, III, Robert J. Jones, Gary D. Timbers, and Nancy Mamlin); and (4) "Are Behavior Support and Intervention Training Programs the Answer to Reducing and Eventually Eliminating Restraints and Seclusion?" (Point/Counterpoint--Joseph K. Mullen and Keith A. Bailey). Individual articles contain references.

This issue of "Residential Group Care Quarterly" contains the following articles: (1) "Promising Practices for Adequately Funding and Reimbursing Residential Services" (Lloyd Bullard); (2) "Closing the Gender Gap" (Erin Andersen); (3) "Residential Child Care: Guidelines for Physical Techniques, Crisis Prevention, and Management" (Kurk Lalemand); (4) "Therapeutic Coaching: An After Care Model for Youth Exiting Residential Treatment" (Daniel Lyga); (5) "Are point-and-level systems effective in improving outcomes for children and youth in residential treatment?" (Point/Counterpoint--James Murphy and Tamara Ard); and (6) "Beyond Game Boys, Walkmans, and TV: The Significance of Activities and Activity Programming in Group and Residential Care" (Karen VanderVen). Individual articles contain references.

This issue of "The Link" newsletter contains the following articles: (1) "King County System Integration Initiative: Reform to Impact Dual Jurisdiction Youth and Families"; (2) "Children of Prisoners, Children of Promise" (Arlene F. Lee); and (3) "Addressing Child Trauma in Juvenile Justice and Residential Settings" (Christine Siegfried and Susan J. Ko). Juvenile Justice News and Resources section is also included.