Papers by Berenice Rushovich
Public child welfare agencies are ultimately responsible for making the difficult decision of whe... more Public child welfare agencies are ultimately responsible for making the difficult decision of whether to remove a child from their home due to suspected abuse or neglect. Team Decision Making (TDM) is a model developed by agency staff to inform decision making in these situations. TDM values serving families in a culturally sensitive, community-based, and minimally disruptive way by considering the needs and strengths of each child and family.TDM is comprised of five key elements, of which the main component is a consistently held meeting between extended family members, formal and informal community agency representatives, and other supportive individuals to determine which services and assistance to offer to the family. A trained TDM facilitator guides meeting participants toward consensus on the least restrictive way to keep the child safe, with an emphasis on preventing removal of the child from home.This fact sheet provides an overview of key findings from a Child Trends evalua...
Children and Youth Services Review
Abstract Nationally, nearly half (49%) of all children removed from their parents’ home due to ma... more Abstract Nationally, nearly half (49%) of all children removed from their parents’ home due to maltreatment subsequently return to live with their parents. However, families struggle to stay together after reunification, with between 20% and 40% of children re-entering foster care within 5 years (Font et al., 2018; Lee et al., 2012). Catawba County in North Carolina, recognizing that families often face multiple challenges and can benefit from an advocate and coach to help them build internal capacity and resilience, developed the Success Coach post-reunification program. Success Coaches work with families after a child is reunified with their family to help stabilize, build resiliency, and other protective factors within the family. In 2015 Catawba County expanded this service to five additional counties and initiated a randomized, controlled study, using a mixed-methods design, including both outcome and implementation components. Research questions focused on: 1) if children in families that received Success Coach services are less likely to be reported for subsequent maltreatment; 2) if children in families that received Success Coach services are less likely to re-enter care/return to agency custody; 3) if children in families that received Success Coach services are more likely to experience positive well-being; 4) factors that play a role in families’ decisions to participate in Success Coach services; and 5) other contextual factors, such as other services available in the community, that might affect outcomes. Referrals to the study, as well as enrollment in and uptake of services, were lower than anticipated, resulting in a smaller than expected sample with not enough power to detect statistically significant differences between treatment and control groups. This article presents descriptive information on the 25 families that enrolled and received Success Coach services and 38 families in a control group using data from baseline and follow-up surveys and administrative data to examine safety, placement stability, and well-being. In addition, information gathered from focus groups and interviews with program staff and families enrolled in the study was used to understand perceptions of the service, as well as facilitators and barriers to implementation. Nine children (45%) in the treatment group and 21 children (60%) in the control group were the alleged victim of a maltreatment allegation made after the family agreed to participate in the study. One child in the treatment group (5%) and two children in the control group (6%) re-entered care during the study period, with the rest remaining at home. Approximately half the families in both groups reported similar or improved protective factors from baseline to follow-up. Parents were reluctant to engage with Success Coach partly due to prior negative experiences with child welfare services. Parents who did choose to work with a Success Coach were overwhelmingly positive about the service they received. Success Coaches reported high levels of need among families and low levels of community and natural supports. Lessons learned are presented and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Children and Youth Services Review, 2022
The 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First Act) provides funding for kinship nav... more The 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First Act) provides funding for kinship navigator programs that demonstrate evidence of effectiveness. Many agencies believe their kinship navigator programs (see text box) benefit kinship caregivers and their families; however, to qualify for Family First Act funding, stronger research evidence is needed to understand whether and how families benefit. This brief identifies common challenges agencies face in building this evidence and suggests ways to address these challenges, including defining the program model; selecting a comparison group; ensuring an adequate sample size; selecting appropriate outcomes and reliable and valid measures; and collecting data.
Children and Youth Services Review, 2021
Advances in Social Work, 2017
Title IV-E Education for Public Child Welfare training programs are designed to build knowledge a... more Title IV-E Education for Public Child Welfare training programs are designed to build knowledge and practice skills among students and current child welfare workers in efforts to build a competent and highly trained workforce. A mixed methods study was conducted to: 1) measure changes in MSW Title IV-E students' perceived confidence to perform skills across 13 practice content areas for public child welfare practice, and 2) to explore students’ perceptions of their competency for child welfare practice. This study also focused on the impact of prior child welfare experiences on perceived child welfare knowledge and skills among Title IV-E students. A total of 224 Title IV-E MSW students over the course of five academic cohorts participated in this study. Surveys were conducted at three time points: pretest, posttest, and retrospective pretest. Twenty focus groups were conducted during the study time period. Findings indicate gains across all practice content areas with the large...
Children and Youth Services Review, 2018
Trauma exposure is pervasive among children living in foster care, and yet most resource parents ... more Trauma exposure is pervasive among children living in foster care, and yet most resource parents (foster parents and kinship caregivers), child welfare staff, and others in the child welfare system are not adequately prepared to recognize and respond effectively when children exhibit trauma symptoms. Trauma-systems Therapy-Foster Care (TST-FC) is a systemwide model of trauma-informed care focused on meeting the emotional needs of children in foster care who have experienced traumatic events. This study evaluated the implementation of TST-FC in two state child welfare agencies that included training for staff (n = 123) and resource parents (n = 111). Study findings show training participants had positive perceptions of TST-FC and found it useful. TST-FC also was associated with significant increases in trauma-informed parenting and tolerance of children's misbehavior by resource parents, as well as more trauma-informed policies and practices in the child welfare agencies. Training participants reported that TST-FC provided useful tools and a common language about trauma that enhanced their capacity to collaborate with one another and manage children's difficult behavior. An exploratory study of resource home retention and children's placement stability revealed fewer foster home closures and placement disruptions when resource parents were trained in TST-FC compared to homes not trained in the model. The results of this study suggest that TST-FC is a promising model for increasing the capacity of child welfare agencies to provide trauma-informed care to children and families in the foster care system.
International Social Work, 2017
The purpose of this mixed methods study was to assess the experiences of child welfare workers tr... more The purpose of this mixed methods study was to assess the experiences of child welfare workers trained in Family Finding and to assess the experiences of the youth who participated in Family Finding. Findings from this study suggest the efficacy of Family Finding in establishing relational permanence for youth. Findings from qualitative analyses indicate that Family Finders modified the actual steps of the model. Both youth-recommended and Family Finders-recommended Family Finding services begin when children and youth enter child welfare. However, quantitative findings suggest there is not any significant difference in Family Finding outcomes for younger and older youth.
Child & Family Social Work, 2017
This study examines changes in MSW students' perceived cultural competence across 11 child welfar... more This study examines changes in MSW students' perceived cultural competence across 11 child welfare practice skills before and after participation in a University's Title IV-E program and explores students' perceptions of cultural competency and cultural humility. The findings indicate modest gains across all 11 practice skills; however, focus group interviews revealed that students do not necessarily feel prepared to conduct culturally competent practice with children and families. A culturally informed practice in public child welfare is discussed and includes training implications for Title IV-E programs. KEYWORDS child welfare knowledge, child welfare practice, child welfare training, cultural competence, cultural humility, Title IV-E 1 | INTRODUCTION The U.S. Census Bureau has predicted that by 2042, more than half of the population in the United States (54%) will be composed of ethnic minorities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, 2013). Additionally, in 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identified that between 2008 and 2011, a sizeable increase in child welfare service provision had occurred for racial and ethnic minority children and families. Currently, children and youth of color are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system in the United States. Twenty-four percent of all children in foster care are African-American (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children's Bureau, 2015), yet African-American children make up only 15%
Purpose. Family Finders work to establish supportive relationships between youth in foster care a... more Purpose. Family Finders work to establish supportive relationships between youth in foster care and family members. While the program works with a wide age range, the majority of participants are older youth (Child Trends, 2011) and there is a high need for programs that work with this population in the child welfare system. Despite the difficulty with placing older youth, proponents of Family Finding (FF) assert that this service produces an array of positive outcomes for these adolescents. Few studies have examined the process of FF and ways FF impacts youth. Moreover, the perspectives of Family Finders have been largely overlooked. Using data from seven counties in one state, this study examines 1) the extent to which older youth who receive FF services experience increased commitments from relatives to be involved in their lives and, 2) FF workers perceptions of FF practice and enhanced youth well-being. Methods. This study employs a mixed methods research design to describe the...
Child welfare, 2013
Few studies have included fidelity monitoring and critical approaches to the evaluation of family... more Few studies have included fidelity monitoring and critical approaches to the evaluation of family decision meetings. The current study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine the implementation and fidelity adherence of one state's family decision meeting model. Main findings indicate that while individuals facilitating the meetings perceive their fidelity to the model is strong, the observation data suggest that model adherence is inconsistent among those facilitating the meetings. Practice implications are discussed.
Social Work in Public Health, 2014
Young mothers in foster care face considerable challenges above and beyond that of their non-fost... more Young mothers in foster care face considerable challenges above and beyond that of their non-foster care peers. Child welfare workers have few resources to guide them in the selection of evidence-informed programs, models, and strategies that address the unique risk factors and needs of youth in foster care who are at risk for rapid repeat pregnancy and inadequate parenting practices. Workers need knowledge of the evidence about which programs are most likely to improve key health and well-being outcomes. The article assesses the evidence-based programs identified and yields a list that reflects the best evidence for efficacy and effectiveness.
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2006
Background: Rising obesity and declining physical activity levels are of great concern because of... more Background: Rising obesity and declining physical activity levels are of great concern because of the associated health risks. Many children are left unsupervised after the school day ends, but little is known about the association between unsupervised time and physical activity levels. This paper seeks to determine whether adolescent girls who are without adult supervision after school are more or less active than their peers who have a caregiver at home. Methods: A random sample of girls from 36 middle schools at 6 field sites across the U.S. was selected during the fall of the 2002-2003 school year to participate in the baseline measurement activities of the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG). Information was collected using sixday objectively measured physical activity, self-reported physical activity using a three-day recall, and socioeconomic and psychosocial measures. Complete information was available for 1422 out of a total of 1596 respondents. Categorical variables were analyzed using chi square and continuous variables were analyzed by ttests. The four categories of time alone were compared using a mixed linear model controlling for clustering effects by study center. Results: Girls who spent more time after school (≥2 hours per day, ≥2 days per week) without adult supervision were more active than those with adult supervision (p = 0.01). Girls alone for ≥2 hours after school, ≥2 days a week, on average accrue 7.55 minutes more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day than do girls who are supervised (95% confidence interval ([C.I]). These results adjusted for ethnicity, parent's education, participation in the free/reduced lunch program, neighborhood resources, or available transportation. Unsupervised girls (n = 279) did less homework (53.1% vs. 63.3%), spent less time riding in a car or bus (48.0% vs. 56.6%), talked on the phone more (35.5% vs. 21.1%), and watched more television (59.9% vs. 52.6%) than supervised girls
Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 2015
Background: Research exists on youth employment and its impact on overall health and well being. ... more Background: Research exists on youth employment and its impact on overall health and well being. Results are mixed: Some studies indicate that <20 hours per week of after school employment can have a beneficial impact on students' grades and peer interaction. Other studies indicate that as the number of hours a student works increases (>20 hours per week), so do risky behaviors, such as sexual activity, smoking and drug taking, sleeping in class and lower grades. Little is known about the impacts of types and amounts of employment on physical activity. Objectives: Examine the association between after school employment and levels of physical activity among city high school students. This will include the association between type of employment and physical activity. Also examine the role of after school activity and risky behaviors such as smoking. Methods: Out of school employment, risky behaviors, attitudes and practices of physical activity were measured using a web base...
Purpose. Family Finders work to establish supportive relationships between youth in foster care a... more Purpose. Family Finders work to establish supportive relationships between youth in foster care and family members. While the program works with a wide age range, the majority of participants are older youth (Child Trends, 2011) and there is a high need for programs that work with this population in the child welfare system. Despite the difficulty with placing older youth, proponents of Family Finding (FF) assert that this service produces an array of positive outcomes for these adolescents. Few studies have examined the process of FF and ways FF impacts youth. Moreover, the perspectives of Family Finders have been largely overlooked. Using data from seven counties in one state, this study examines 1) the extent to which older youth who receive FF services experience increased commitments from relatives to be involved in their lives and, 2) FF workers perceptions of FF practice and enhanced youth well-being. Methods. This study employs a mixed methods research design to describe the...
Child welfare, 2013
Few studies have included fidelity monitoring and critical approaches to the evaluation of family... more Few studies have included fidelity monitoring and critical approaches to the evaluation of family decision meetings. The current study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine the implementation and fidelity adherence of one state's family decision meeting model. Main findings indicate that while individuals facilitating the meetings perceive their fidelity to the model is strong, the observation data suggest that model adherence is inconsistent among those facilitating the meetings. Practice implications are discussed.
Journal of obesity, 2015
Objective. A pediatric office-based intervention was implemented following a randomized, controll... more Objective. A pediatric office-based intervention was implemented following a randomized, controlled design, aimed at improving child feeding practices and growth patterns and ultimately reducing risk for overweight and obesity later in life. Methods. Four clinics (232 infants) were randomized to control or intervention (I), the latter delivered by health care provider at each of 7-9 well-baby visits over 2 years, using a previously developed program (Growing Leaps and Bounds) that included verbal, visual, and text advice and information for parents. Results. The I group offered significantly less soda (p = 0.006), sweetened tea (p = 0.01), punch (p = 0.02) and/or cow's milk (p = 0.001) to infants and delayed the introduction of drink/food other than breast milk (p < 0.05). Parents in the I group had a higher perceived parental monitoring (p = 0.05) and restriction (p = 0.01) on infant feeding. While the I group exhibited at baseline more adverse socioeconomic indicators than ...
Nutrition Journal, 2013
Objective: To characterize food and nutrient intake and develop a population-specific food list t... more Objective: To characterize food and nutrient intake and develop a population-specific food list to be used as a comprehensive dietary assessment tool for Baltimore infants and toddlers aged 0-24 months. The data were used to inform the Growing Leaps and Bounds (GLB) program, which promotes early obesity prevention among Baltimore infants and toddlers.
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Papers by Berenice Rushovich