April 2025 Newsletter
This April, the Social Policy Institute is celebrating exciting milestones , including the announcement of our San Diego HOPE Training Hub, upcoming CEAL Spring Symposium and Webinars, and a new Service, Access, and Equity (SAE) project through the California Department of Developmental Services. We also join partners and communities in the national recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month by highlighting…
February 2025 Newsletter
With the new year in full swing, our team at the Social Policy Institute is steadfast in continuing to uphold pillars of collaboration and community-centered care through all we do. We are deeply committed to identifying solutions to the challenges faced by communities with the greatest need. Encouraging resiliency in the face of adversity is part of the work we…
Black Emerging Adults and Protective Community Resources – Child Trends
Young adults ages 18-25 experience a significant period of identity development and expression that is either nurtured or hindered by their proximity to positive community resources (PCRs) (Child Trends, 2025). For young Black individuals, new research has highlighted the effects of racial inequities on their ability to reliably access these PCRs. Within the broader context of positive experiences for young…
Wellness Lenses for the Child and Family Workforce
Throughout our work with children and families, the approach to caring for and understanding a family’s situation can often times be vague. In order to deliver the best outcomes for our community, there are several best practice lenses that should be used. The Social Policy Institute prioritizes uses of these lenses in all work we do to increase the effectiveness…
Don’t Just Report—Think! How Mandated Reporters Can Make a Real Impact Today
Reasonable Suspicion Requires Reasonable Action: The Courage to Think Critically Before You Report In a LinkedIn article, SPI Director Lori Clarke shared insights on how to interpret mandated reporting laws accurately and responsibly through “reasonable action.” “The Prevention Early Intervention Committee of the California Child Welfare Council is poised to lead comprehensive change in the reporting of child abuse and…
HOPE In the Workplace: How Non-Profit Organizations Can Help Offset the Impact of Rising Student Loan Debt
Financial worries are a potential hindrance to full engagement of staff and students in the workforce. Children, youth and families served by the nonprofit sector are counting on a fully engaged, authentic, centered, and innovative approach to receiving needed services and support. The Social Policy Institute is working to address barriers and strengthen the nonprofit sector workforce by helping organizations…
December 2024 Newsletter
This holiday season, SPI is grateful for the chance to pause, reflect on progress, and look forward to the future alongside our partners and community. This year, we have made incredible strides collectively both locally and statewide, and we are excited to continue to make a lasting impact in the lives of children, families, and older adults throughout 2025. View…
October 2024 Newsletter
This October, SPI celebrates the strides towards system alignment locally and across California stemming from recent work, including the statewide Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting Task Force Recommendations. Also, the SPI Wellness System team shares new details for the Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) training in Ventura County, and our CEAL Aging team have developed a new Issue Brief about…
Parents Under Pressure – U.S. Surgeon General Advisory
In a new advisory, U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek H. Murthy discusses the state of parent stress and wellbeing, and the impact on children and family units across the nation. Parents are raising our future leaders, community members, and professionals, so it is crucial to support their wellbeing in order to ensure sustainability of family health and growth. This issue transcends…
A Milestone For California’s Children, Youth, And Families
The Social Policy Institute is thrilled to share this celebratory announcement from the Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting (MRCS) Task Force: On September 4, 2024, the voting members of the California Child Welfare Council (CWC) unanimously approved the MRCS Task Force Report, and also requested that an implementation strategy to advance the Recommendations of the Task Force be created in…