Connect (Events)

• New 2/11: Racism, Racist Inequities and the Child Welfare System: Implications for Prevention. Alan J. Dettlaff serves as Dean of the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston and the inaugural Maconda Brown O’Connor Endowed Dean’s Chair. Dean Dettlaff’s work focuses on improving outcomes for children and youth in the child welfare system through examining the factors contributing to racial disparities and improving cultural responsiveness. His research and consultation with state child welfare systems has led to significant policy and practice improvements that have resulted in reductions in the overrepresentation of African American and Latino children in these systems. Registration link. (2/16)
• New 2/11: Developing and Sustaining Effective Parent Advisory Committees Training by National Family Support Network.
• Dads Connect from the Interagency Fatherhood Council. Come join to add your voice, meet other dads, form relationships, and make connections. Sessions held every other month through August.
• National Family Support Network is offering virtual workshops including Developing and Sustaining Effective Parent Advisory Committees and Standards of Quality Certification Training in January and February.
• The Benefits of Cash During Baby’s First Years: A Look at New National Research and New State Policy. “Poverty in the US has plummeted lately thanks to a robust, pandemic-era federal Child Tax Credit, and now it looks like that assistance might end abruptly. What could that mean for families and young children, and what can be done about it at the state level? Join us to hear from two sets of researchers who asked what happens when you give cash to families with newborns – and are finding answers using very different approaches.” (2/16)
• Birth Parent National Network presents Celebrating Parent Leadership: Tools, Resources and Exciting Updates. “The Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) will kick off 2022 by celebrating National Parent Leadership Month” (2/17, 10 am PT)
• Promoting the Positive Racial Identity of Black Infants and Toddlers in Early Childhood Programs, by Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D. and Kamye Hugley. “We will explore how to play a part in racial justice reform at the ground level by protecting babies and their families from harm, promoting their health, wealth, and educational access.” (2/24, 11 PST)
• 2022 Substance use disorder family navigator training schedule from Washington State Community Connectors and the Healthcare Authority. “This full 16-hour training is led by family members with lived experience for parents, caregivers, and/or family members who are interested in learning how to support their loved ones with substance use disorder. These trainings are also open to our system partners who have lived experience or want to learn more about the content the families they serve are learning.” Training schedule: 2/28-3/3, 3/14-3/17, 4/4-4/7, 5/9-5/12, 6/6-6/9.
• Building a National Movement to Prevent Trauma and Foster Resilience. An 8-week workshop series. Friday, 2/4: Building Movement with Child Welfare and Justice Systems. (series runs through 4/15)
• Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence presents Bite-Sized Prevention. “Focused on root causes, shifting culture, building skills, and promoting thriving communities – what it takes to prevent domestic and sexual violence in your community.” Upcoming dates: May 3.

Learn (Educational Resources)

• Pathways to Prosperity: Report from a Convening on Economic Security for Families With Infants and Toddlers. In October 2021, ZERO TO THREE and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) convened a group of state leaders and national experts to discuss strategies to promote the economic security of families with infants and toddlers. Four policy areas were addressed: cash assistance and tax credits, paid family and medical leave, housing, and education and training. Together, panelists and participants discussed the history of support in each of these areas, recent laws and legislative proposals, and examples of innovative practices.

Innovate (News and New Insights)

• The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is seeking new members for the School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee’s Youth Advisory Council (SS-SWAC-YAC). SS-SWAC-YAC membership is open to youth between the ages of 13-19 who have attended a public school in the past two years, and is comprised of youth with diverse backgrounds and experiences from across Washington State. To ensure the inclusion of youth voice, the SS-SWAC-YAC was created in the fall of 2019 to convene youth perspective and voice from students across the state and demographic groups. SS-SWAC-YAC members are also considered members of the School Safety and Student Well-Being Advisory Committee (SS-SWAC). “The purpose of this committee is to advise on all matters related to comprehensive school safety and student well-being.” (SSHB 1216).
• Health Care Authority and Washington State University is hiring a Youth Liaison Program Manager. This position provides leadership in the areas of youth leadership, youth voice and engagement, and acts as a liaison among/between Health Care Authority staff, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), transition age youth (16-25 years old) and youth professionals in Washington State. This position will also manage programs within the Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) focused on increasing youth engagement, leadership, and networking connected to the quality and service delivery of Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe), Family Youth System Partner Round Tables (FYSPRT) and other P-25 section programs.

Grow (Funding and Resources)

• Waashington Department of Commerce Housing Trust Fund NOFA #HFU-2021-06. The Department of Commerce is pleased to announce a new solicitation for projects seeking capital funding to develop affordable housing for people with low incomes in Washington state.  Applications will be considered for multifamily/rental housing projects utilizing capital financing from the Washington State Housing Trust Fund and the Bond/4% Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. See the bulletin with more information here and the Notice of Funding here. (Due 2/16)
• Request for Proposal – Community-Law Enforcement Partnership. The Washington Department of Commerce is implementing the Community-Law Enforcement Partnership program under RCW 43.330.545 to foster community engagement through neighborhood organizing, law enforcement and community partnerships, youth mobilization, and business engagement. The program is intended to foster equitable and accountable practices resulting in community participation in public safety and establish cooperative lines of communication between community members and law enforcement. (LOI due 2/18)
• New Notice of Funding Opportunity for Tribal Home Visiting: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is now soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2022 Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program: Development and Implementation Grants. This funding is intended for tribal entities that do not have prior experience with implementing evidence-based home visiting models, performance measurement systems, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities. See the bulletin from the Children’s Bureau here| See the notice of funding here. (Due 4/15)
• Rigorous Evaluation of Community-Level Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Frameworks that Incorporate ACEs-Related Prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is soliciting investigator-initiated research to conduct rigorous evaluation (including both a process and outcome evaluation) of prevention approaches implemented within communities that incorporate efforts to mitigate the harms of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and prevent future ACEs, while simultaneously aiming to prevent substance use and overdose. View in grants.gov. (Due 4/17)
• HHS Announces Availability of $13 Million to Increase Behavioral Health Care Access in Rural Communities: Read the bulletin here. HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy will make awards through the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) - Behavioral Health Care Support. Eligible applicants include entities such as Rural Health Clinics, federally recognized tribes, tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations. (Due 4/19)

If you have suggestions for what to include in this newsletter, email Joy Lile.