Session: Perspectives from individuals with lived experiences with child welfare services (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

Schedule:

Thursday, January 15, 2026: 1:30 PM-3:00 PM

Marquis BR 8, ML 2 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)

Cluster: Child Welfare

Moderator:

Nathanael Okpych, PhD, University of Connecticut

* noted as presenting author

Beyond the Binary: Rethinking Shared Parenting in Kinship Care
Kathryn Wright, PHD, Wayne State University; Kess Ballentine, PhD, Wayne State University; Noor Jassim, BS, Wayne State University; Lindsey Brock, MSW, Spaulding for Children; Ebony Lucas, MSW, Spaulding for Children; Kris Henneman, Spaulding; Melissa Jenovai, LMSW, Spaulding for Children

Effects of the Title IV-E Waiver Program in Reducing Child Maltreatment and Foster Care Entry in the United States, 2012-2019
Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, PhD, Ohio State University; Donna Ginther, Ph.D., University of Kansas; Megan Allbright-Campos, MS IMFT, Ohio State University

Exploring How Kinship Caregivers Experience Policy and Practice in Child Welfare at the Systems, Provider, and Family Levels
Erin Gulledge, MSW, University of Kansas; Vickie McArthur, LCMFT, University of Kansas; Brennan Miller, PhD, University of Kansas; Kim Harsch, MSW, The Children's Alliance of Kansas; Becci Akin, PhD, University of Kansas

Investing in Education for Transition-Age Youth with Experiences of Foster Care: A Cost-Benefit Analysis
Megan Piel, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio; Deaven Greenberg, LMSW, University of Texas at San Antonio; Chien-jen Chiang, PhD, The University of Texas at San Antonio

Mending Broken Bridges: How College Students with Foster Care Backgrounds Transition to a Campus Support Program: The Role of Attachment Styles
Nathanael Okpych, PhD, University of Connecticut; Lori Gray, PhD, Western Michigan University

Partnering for Change: How Lived Experience Is Reshaping Reunification Practices and Fostering Culture Transformation in Child Welfare
Marina Lalayants, PhD, Hunter College, CUNY

Transition Age Youth with Foster Care Experience: Capability, Functioning and Educational Well-Being
Solomon Hadi Achulo, MSW, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; David Ansong, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Jamal Appiah-Kubi, PhD, California State University, San Bernardino; Emmanuel Amoako, MSW, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Session: Perspectives from individuals with lived experiences with child welfare services (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

03 Perspectives from individuals with lived experiences with child welfare services