The Social Work Lens

Child Welfare with Justice as the Throughline, Part 2

Join Janine Beaudry as she continues her conversation with Corey B. Best, in Part 2, of our 3-part mini-series on racial justice in child welfare. In part 2, Corey & Janine focus on how the legacy of chattel slavery underpins the current child welfare system, and the current push to abolish racist practices to build a just child and family support system.

Transcript & Show notes available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

Announcement- We have a new name!

The Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership (VT-CWTP) is proud to announce that we are changing the name of our podcast to THE SOCIAL WORK LENS.  

Child Welfare with Justice as the Throughline Part 1

Most of us are having uncomfortable conversations about racism these days. Join Janine Beaudry as she talks with Corey B. Best about the origins and impacts of white supremacy in our country, and how authentic connection and belonging can help us all see the malady for what it is and move toward healing.     

 

Transcript, Bios, and Show notes available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

A Reflective Approach to Uncomfortable Conversations

We all have Uncomfortable Conversations sometimes... join host Cassie Gillespie as she talks with Jan Fook, PhD about her work on using a Reflective Approach, and how this approach can transform tough conversations. 

Transcript, Bios, and Show notes available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

 

Harnessing Courage in Conversations to Keep Kids Safe

“She said that the only thing that made this thing (a child being removed from their home) even a teenier bit more bearable, was that she saw tears in the social worker’s eyes” – Dr. Nicki Weld describing compassionate courage.

Join host Kate Cunningham as she talks with Dr. Nicki Weld about the concept of courage, and the importance of caregivers and child welfare workers being authoritative and compassionate in their relationships with children and families.

Show notes and Transcripts available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

 

 

The Team as a Secure Base with Dr. Laura Biggart

Join Cassie as she talks with Dr. Laura Biggart about The Team as Secure Base Model.  The Team as a Secure Base model is an adapted version of Gillian Schofield and Mary Beek’s Secure Base model (we have an episode on this- check it out!) used in foster care, adoption, residential care and schools; and draws from social workers’ experiences and their articulation of what helps create trust as a foundation for effective teamworking.

Show notes and transcripts available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/lens-podcast/

The Secure Base Model with Dr. Gillian Schofield

Safety and Security are at the heart of any meaningful relationship, especially the relationship between caregiver and child. In this episode, Cassie talks with Professor Gillian Schofield PhD about the Secure Base model, which provides a framework for building positive relationships and promoting security and resilience, not only in foster care, adoption, and residential care, but also in schools, workplace teams and a range of diverse settings. The Secure Base model, used widely in the United Kingdom and abroad, draws from attachment theory and proposes five dimensions of caregiving, each of which is associated with a corresponding developmental benefit for the child.

 

Show notes and transcripts available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/lens-podcast/

Part 2: Navigating Uncomfortable Conversations about Normative Child Sexual Development and Behavior

Talking with kids about their sexual development can certainly be uncomfortable. When you are a caregiver or a Family Services worker, having those conversations with a child you barely know might feel doubly uncomfortable. Add to that a limited knowledge of normative sexual development; maybe sprinkle in some myths, values, and a healthy sense of shame instilled upon you in your own upbringing, and you’ve got yourself one heck of an uncomfortable conversation. 

 

In today's episode Tammy Leombruno will continue talking about using a continuum of behavior to help us identify when sexual behavior is normative, of concern or potentially problematic; how to respond in the moment; when to reach out for help and she’ll suggest some resources to support you in your own learning. Show notes and transcripts available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

Part 1: Navigating Uncomfortable Conversations about Normative Child Sexual Development and Behavior

Talking with kids about their sexual development can certainly be uncomfortable.
When you are a caregiver or a Family Services worker, having those conversations with a child you barely know might feel doubly uncomfortable. Add to that a limited knowledge of normative sexual development; maybe sprinkle in some myths, values, and a healthy sense of shame instilled upon you in your own upbringing, and you’ve got yourself one heck of an uncomfortable conversation.

In this episode Tammy Leombruno will talk about using a continuum of behavior to help us identify when sexual behavior is normative, of concern or potentially problematic; how to respond in the moment; when to reach out for help and she’ll suggest some resources to support you in your own learning. Show notes and transcripts available at: https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/

 

Adoption is Uncomfortable

Join host Pete Cudney and guest Nam Holtz as they explore some of the complexity of adoption and transracial adoption. Adoption is complicated, transracial adoption even more so. In this conversation Nam highlights the importance of examining some of our taken for granted assumptions, and the need to have open and sometimes uncomfortable conversations to best support children and families involved in adoptions.

Show notes and transcripts available at https://vermontcwtp.org/podcast/