Think of Us

Join us and national partners tomorrow, Oct. 23rd at 3PM ET, for the Forward for Families virtual rally to learn about exciting new legislation to help children avoid foster care and thrive with their families. You'll learn how you can make a difference in the lives of countless children and families and get ready for a Day of Action on Thursday. For background, the U.S. House has approved the Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 9076) with overwhelming bipartisan support. This legislation would reauthorize title IV-B of the Social Security Act. The legislation would: ? Increase investment in families. The bill permanently increases yearly funding for the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program by $75 million, providing more resources for family preservation, family support, family reunification, and adoption promotion and support. ? Center lived expertise in shaping a better system. For the first time, federal law will require states to consult with youth, parents, kinship caregivers, and foster and adoptive parents as they create their child welfare plans. ? Prevent entries due to poverty. The bill grants new flexibility to states to provide short-term support for housing, utilities, transportation, food, and other basic needs to address a specific crisis so that children are able to remain at home. RSVP today!

Our new report, "Kin, First and Foremost," elevates the voices of 500+ youth, families & professionals with kinship care experience. Learn how we can better support kinship families: https://bit.ly/3ZIBc5b

As CEO of @Think of Us, @Sixto Cancel champions #kinship care, advocating for youth in foster care to be placed with relatives or in family-based settings. Think of Us, led by those with firsthand foster care experience, is a pioneering lab creating transformative policies and programs to uplift youth and families in the child welfare system.? We're excited to hear his session at the 2024 Hilton Humanitarian Symposium and Prize Ceremony! Sign up for the #HiltonPrize livestream and join @Conrad N. Hilton Foundation on Oct. 9 at https://lnkd.in/gEDjYK-N??

?? We're excited to announce the release of our new report, "Kin, First and Foremost: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Path Forward for Kinship Care." This comprehensive study, based on research across three states, provides critical insights into kinship care experiences and offers concrete recommendations for improvement. ?? Key findings include: ? The need for a more expansive definition of "kin" ? Systemic barriers preventing suitable kin from becoming caregivers ? Support disparities between kinship and non-kin foster families Explore the full report to help us build a more supportive, family-centered child welfare system: https://bit.ly/3ZIBc5b?

?? Attention researchers, policymakers, and child welfare professionals! ?? Our new literature review on kinship care calls for more research into uncharted territory. We recommend: 1. Exploring and comparing different kinship arrangements 2. Examining experiences across diverse types of kin caregivers 3. Investigating outcomes across various demographics 4. Developing new measures for assessing whole-family outcomes 5. Uncovering cultural and contextual factors influencing kinship experiences We also call for more mixed-methods and participatory research that centers lived experience and is trauma-informed. Read the full report to understand how we can advance kinship care research and practice: https://bit.ly/4gOAlpC

We're thrilled to announce that our founder & CEO, Sixto Cancel, has been selected as a 2024 Ascend at the Aspen Institute Fellow! Sixto will join a cohort of diverse leaders working to transform systems and create new possibilities for children and families across the U.S. At Think of Us, we're focused on reimagining the child welfare system - shifting from family separation to family support and centering lived experts. As an Ascend Fellow, Sixto will further our work to: ? Design early support systems for families in need ? Enhance kinship care processes? ? Conduct research on birth parents' needs ? Leverage tech and innovation to improve child welfare systems Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8U8Kkdv

Recently, the House Committee on Ways and Means introduced the?Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act.?The bill would reauthorize and reform title IV-B programs and lay the groundwork for the transformational change that is needed in child welfare. Think of Us applauds the House Committee on Ways and Means, particularly Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Chairman Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL) of the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare for their work on this bill. We have been proud to partner with the Committee to inform and shape several of these provisions and are proud to endorse the bill. https://lnkd.in/gbU_eSbZ

On July 11, we'll be joining We Are For Good for a day of conversations, experiences and insights around the topic of power at the intersection of social impact. From stepping into our personal and collective power to the power dynamics around partnership and funding relationships, and stepping into the power of our stories and narratives. Join us! It's free:

It's time to shift towards a comprehensive approach that prioritizes keeping youth with their families and loved ones whenever possible. This means investing in in-home mental health services and providing the necessary support for caregivers. Many group home providers have already begun shifting their models towards in-home services, demonstrating that change is possible. Learn more from our founder and CEO Sixto Cancel via The Hill:

Think of Us is enhancing our leadership team with the addition of Robert L. Matthews as our new chief program officer, starting July 15th. Robert brings over two decades of experience in the child welfare field, most recently serving as the Director of the D.C. Child and Family Services Agency. His robust background in public administration and implementing family-centered initiatives will be instrumental as we drive systemic improvements. "I'm honored to join the Think of Us team and work alongside inspiring changemakers who are putting the lived experience of those impacted by child welfare at the forefront of driving systemic transformation," Robert shared. "This role allows me to build upon my prior work in expanding kinship care, strengthening prevention services, and improving outcomes for families and youth." In this role, Robert will unify and lead our initiatives to create better outcomes for youth and families. Leave a ?? to welcome him to the team! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eY7aUzw7