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This study aims to examine the (1) prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among children in kinship care; (2) relationships between the number and type of ACEs and children's internalizing and externalizing problems; and (3) moderating role of kinship caregivers' mental health on the relationships between ACEs and children's internalizing and externalizing problems. A sample of children in kinship care (N = 224) obtained from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II was used. Ordinary least squares regression models were conducted. Results indicated that neglect followed by parental substance abuse were found to be the most prevalent of the ACEs. Child neglect, sexual and emotional abuse, and parental substance abuse were significantly associated with child internalizing problems, whereas sexual and emotional abuse were significantly associated with child externalizing problems. The total number of ACEs and experiencing three or more ACEs were significantly associated with child externalizing problems. Kinship caregivers' mental health significantly moderated the relationships between neglect, sexual abuse, and child internalizing problems. Caregiver's mental health also moderated the relationships between emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, and children's externalizing problems. Findings suggest the importance of addressing ACEs and the need for mental health services to both kinship caregivers and children in kinship care.

Grandparent kinship caregivers may experience increased parenting stress and mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may lead to risky parenting behaviors, such as psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and neglectful behaviors towards their grandchildren. This study aims to examine (1) the relationships between parenting stress, mental health, and grandparent kinship caregivers' risky parenting practices, such as psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and neglectful behaviors towards their grandchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) whether grandparent kinship caregivers' mental health is a potential mediator between parenting stress and caregivers' psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and neglectful behaviors. A cross-sectional survey among grandparent kinship caregivers (N = 362) was conducted in June 2020 in the United States. Descriptive analyses, negative binomial regression analyses, and mediation analyses were conducted using STATA 15.0. We found that (1) grandparent kinship caregivers' high parenting stress and low mental health were associated with more psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and neglectful parenting behaviors during COVID-19; and (2) grandparent kinship caregivers' mental health partially mediated the relationships between parenting stress and their psychological aggression, corporal punishment, and neglectful behaviors. Results suggest that decreasing grandparent kinship caregivers' parenting stress and improving their mental health are important for reducing child maltreatment risk during COVID-19., Author(s): Yanfeng Xu [sup.1] , Qi Wu [sup.2] , Merav Jedwab [sup.3] , Sue E. Levkoff [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.254567.7, 0000 0000 9075 106X, University of South Carolina College [...]

The Arab population in Israel is an ethnic, national, Indigenous minority experiencing discrimination and inequality, especially in education, health and welfare. This population's constant societal change is coupled with social problems such as violence, crime, unemployment and poverty. These characteristics pose many challenges to social workers, particularly those empowered by the Youth Law (Care and Supervision), 1960, known as child protection officers (CPOs). Besides the usual challenges CPOs face, additional challenges stem from the Arab population's being a traditional, collective society with a mistaken view of the CPO's role and also from the state's discriminatory policy. This exploratory qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, of thirty Arab CPOs in Israel revealed challenges related to the role and to CPOs' representation in the Arab population, namely, as having power backed by the law and being closely linked to the national establishment and institutions. Additional challenges include the lack of community-based treatment facilities, the absence of Indigenous knowledge in training and treatment and the lack of a mechanism to protect Arab CPOs from burnout and dropout. The findings are relevant to societies with minority populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine factors associated with secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout and test the direct effect of resilience and the indirect effect of resilience via social support on STS and burnout among child welfare social workers in Southern China. Results indicated that higher levels of resilience and social support were significantly associated with lower odds of STS and burnout, and there was a significant indirect effect of resilience via social support on STS and burnout. Results imply that it is critical to facilitate positive effects of resilience on decreasing STS and burnout via providing social support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with mental health (MH) services, the use of school-based, medical-based, and specialty MH services, and the use of ≥2 MH services among children in kinship care. We analyzed a sample of children in kinship care (N = 718) selected from wave II of the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being II. Results indicated that child's age, gender, ethnicity (being Hispanic) and clinically significant internalizing and externalizing problems were associated with their use of MH services. Furthermore, results indicated being Hispanic, older children, living in poverty primarily with male caregivers, and having clinically significant externalizing problems were associated with higher odds of receiving school-based MH services, while being a girl and living with caregivers with better physical health were associated with lower odds of receiving medical-based MH services. Experiencing household challenges and living with caregivers with better MH were associated with the odds of receiving specialty MH services. Experiencing household challenges, being Hispanic and older children, and living in formal kinship care were associated with higher odds of receiving ≥2 MH services. These findings suggest the importance of providing accessible and diverse MH services to children in kinship care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 and its related policy measures have increased the psychological distress of individuals, including grandparent kinship caregivers. Guided by the Resilience Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation, this study examines relationships between material hardship, parenting stress, social support, resilience and psychological distress of grandparent kinship caregivers during the COVID‐19 pandemic, as well as the moderating role of kinship license status on these relationships. Kinship care licensing is a prerequisite to receiving financial assistance and other supporting services from the government. We administered a cross‐sectional survey of grandparent kinship caregivers (N = 362) in the United States. Logistic regression results indicated that material hardship was associated with higher odds of experiencing psychological distress, whereas resilience and social support were associated with lower odds. Kinship license status moderated the relationships of social support and resilience with psychological distress. Results suggest that additional emergency funds and more tailored financial services should be provided to meet material needs, and interventions with a focus on resilience and social support are particularly needed. The moderating effects of license status indicate that some interventions should be specifically implemented among licensed kinship caregivers, whereas parallel services should be provided to kinship caregivers regardless of their license status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foster parents are required to learn and to navigate a range of policies and regulations in order to make decisions that are in the best interest of the foster child. This paper reviews four policies and regulations (foster parent handbooks, pre-service and in-service training, respite care, and information on points of contact) intended to support family foster homes and examines whether these policies and regulations are available and accessible to the foster parents. Data were collected using a mixed methods research design, including an online search and a survey for child welfare administrators. Findings and implications for policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For health professionals who interact professionally with children, adequate awareness and training regarding the clinical indicators of child abuse and neglect, as well as subsequent reporting and procedures, are essential., Objectives: To study Israeli health professionals experiences with identification and reporting of suspected cases of child abuse and neglect, and their perceived training needs in this area., Methods: The study group was a convenience sample comprising 95 Israeli health professionals (physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, etc.) attending workshops on medical aspects at a national conference on child abuse and neglect. In this cross-sectional survey, the health professionals were asked to complete an anonymous structured questionnaire on their experience with child abuse and neglect and on their training needs., Results: The participants in the survey had relatively high levels of involvement with child protection. Nevertheless, they strongly expressed their need for training, especially in mastering practice skills. The need for training was greater for professionals with less experience in child protection, and there were different needs according to profession., Conclusions: Despite their prior extensive experience in dealing with child abuse and neglect, most of the health professionals participating in the conference reported the need for training in certain areas.