Understanding the Child Welfare Experience from the Birth Parent’s Perspective

We talk a lot about the child’s experience in foster care, but what is the child’s birth parents child welfare experience? You may be surprised! Join our conversation with Dr. Darcey Merritt, a professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Work who researches this topic.


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In this episode, we cover:

  • What is a typical scenario, if there is such a thing, of how a parent finds themselves connecting with the child welfare system?
  • What rights do birth parents have within the system?
  • What are some of the challenges families face before the child is taken into custody?
  • What are some of the challenges that they face once the child is in foster care?
  • How can you become an ally to the child’s parents?
  • How does poverty factor in?
  • Who most commonly reports birth parents to child welfare?
  • How does race factor in?
  • Research in the area of working memory on parental decision-making.

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Music Credit: Michael Ashworth; Podcast Producer: megownsoundworks.com; https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-brother-and-sister-fixing-a-broken-vase-6685536/