Hosted by Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, Associate Professor of the School of Social Welfare, and Donna Ginther, Professor of Economics and Director of the Center for Science Technology and Economic Policy, University of Kansas, with support from The Commons, the KU School of Social Welfare’s Center for Children and Families (CCF), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
CHILDHOOD POVERTY AND THE KANSAS CHILD WELFARE CRISIS:
MAKING CONNECTIONS TO INFORM PREVENTION Over the past decade, the childhood poverty rate in Kansas has increased by 20 percent while policy changes in Kansas have increasingly prevented vulnerable families from accessing critical programs designed to help them meet their children’s basic needs. Over the same period, reports of child abuse and neglect to the Kansas Department of Children and Families have risen exponentially, and the number of children in foster care has reached an all-time high. Join us to discuss the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect, and to brainstorm with community leaders and KU faculty and researchers about potential avenues for prevention.
9:30 A.M. Friday, Dec. 15 The Commons, Spooner Hall Free includes lunch, parking & four CEUs. RSVP required by Dec. 8 to ccf@ku.edu 9:30 a.m.
Welcome & Introductions
Dean Michelle Mohr Carney & Associate Professor Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, KU School of Social Welfare
9:45 to 10:45 a.m.
Keynote: “Can We Prevent Child Maltreatment by Addressing Poverty? On the Cusp of an Answer.” Kristin Slack, professor, School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Slack researches strategies to prevent child maltreatment and interventions to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children involved with the child welfare system. She oversees the School of Social Work’s Public Child Welfare Title IV-E Training Program, and the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System. She is a research affiliate of the Institute for Research on Poverty, and teaches courses in child abuse and neglect, child welfare systems, program evaluation, and social policy.
10:45 to 11 a.m.
Break
11 to 11:45 a.m.
“Do TANF Policies Affect Child Abuse & Neglect? Findings from Kansas”
Donna Ginther, professor, KU Economics & director, Center for Science Technology & Economic Policy
Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, associate professor, KU School of Social Welfare
11:45 to 12:30 p.m.
Panel Response
Representative Linda Gallagher Senator Laura Kelly
Annie McKay, Kansas Action for Children
Jeffrey Colvin, MD, JD, Children’s Mercy Hospital Department of Pediatrics
Lindsey Stephenson, vice president, KVC
Jackie Counts, director, KU Center for Public Partnerships & Research
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Lunch (included)
1:45 to 2:20 p.m.
Breakout Discussions
2:20 to 3:10 p.m.
Report Back from Breakout Discussions
3:10 to 3:30 p.m.
Wrap Up & Next Steps
Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, professor, KU School of Social Welfare
KU is an EO/AA institution.