New grant supports postsecondary outcomes for youth in foster care
Penn State’s Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) has been awarded a three-year, $650,000 Institutional Challenge Grant from the William T. Grant Foundation (WT Grant Foundation) to strengthen research-practice partnerships that focus on improving health and wellbeing outcomes for youth. …
Child Maltreatment Solutions Network announces funding recipients
The Child Maltreatment Solutions Network (CMSN) at Penn State has awarded funding to support six projects through its University-sponsored endowment. “The Network is proud to support Penn State faculty as they lead innovative, interdisciplinary work to better understand and respond to…
Webinar to bring awareness to child abuse
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting a webinar on April 25, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., via Zoom as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The webinar will include three talks to engage agency-level leadership and workforce representatives from children and youth…
Five CMAS students earn scholarships from Child Maltreatment Solutions Network
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network (CMSN) recently awarded scholarships to five students who are minoring in Child Maltreatment Advocacy Studies (CMAS) and are planning to enter the fields of child maltreatment and child advocacy. The de Lissovoy Intern Scholarship…
Fostering Lions program strengthened by gift from dedicated alumni couple
A new $50,000 gift and a $100,000 estate commitment from Penn State alumni and longtime donors and volunteers Alan Bedrick, MD (Science, 1974; Medicine, 1978) and Sally (Pollock) Bedrick (Education, 1975) were inspired by Sally’s simple question: “What does Penn State do for students who have been…
Pinwheels for Prevention events raise awareness
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network (CMSN) is sponsoring “Pinwheels for Prevention PSU” to engage the University community and foster awareness around child abuse during National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month in April. On April 11, 1-3 p.m., the CMSN, along with the…
York student finds support, mentorship in Fostering Lions Program
When filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, Charlie Keller-Golden took special note of box 52 — the box applicants should check indicating whether they are an orphan, foster youth or ward of the court. Keller-Golden, now a third-year student majoring in…
Connell appointed The Ken Young Family Professor for Healthy Children
Christian M. Connell, professor of human development and family studies, was recently named The Ken Young Family Professor for Healthy Children in the College of Health and Human Development. The professorship is part of a $1 million gift to support a faculty member focused on enhancing the health…
Child Maltreatment Solutions Network conference to be held in November
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Social Science Research Institute’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting an in-person conference, “Biological Embedding of Caregiving Adversity,” in 129 HUB (HUB-Robeson Center) at the University Park campus on Friday, November 15 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.…
Penn State Impact Story: Fostering Opportunity
Penn State’s Fostering Lions Program, part of SSRI's Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, expands access to education, providing proactive and comprehensive support for foster youths through a support services network dedicated to their success. To find out more, visit the Penn State Impact Story…
News Topics: Fostering LionsChild Maltreatment Solutions Network
Understanding how behavior problems are related to child abuse and neglect
Do abuse and neglect cause behavior problems among children or do behavior problems among children cause abuse and neglect? A new study from researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development confirmed that the former happens much more often than the latter. Anneke Olson,…
Child Maltreatment Solutions Network call for posters
Penn State's Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Fall 2024 Conference, being held on November 15, has announced a call for posters related to the conference theme "Biological Embedding of Caregiving Adversity". Although child maltreatment will be a central focus of the conference, any work…
News Topics: Child Maltreatment Solutions Network
First Lenfest Immensitas Scholar slated to graduate spring 2024
Three years ago, longtime philanthropist Brook Lenfest was examining the educational outcomes of young people who emerge from the Philadelphia-area foster care system, and he didn’t like what he was seeing. In essence, they were being ushered onto a ladder to higher education that was missing most…
News Topics: Fostering LionsChild Maltreatment Solutions Network
Pinwheels for Prevention event held at the HUB
On April 12, at 12:30 p.m., the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network hosted their Pinwheel Planting in the HUB on the Penn State University Park campus. Given that April is child abuse prevention month, this event served as part of the national “Pinwheels for Prevention” campaign that…
Child Maltreatment Solutions Network hosts April 12 event to raise awareness
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and to draw attention to the issue, the Penn State Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting an event on April 12, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. via Zoom. The event, "Nurturing Healthy Futures: Promoting Effective Safe Care Plans for…
Scholarships in child maltreatment studies awarded
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network recently awarded scholarships to four students planning to enter the fields of child maltreatment and child advocacy. The de Lissovoy Intern Scholarship provides financial support to students in the Child Maltreatment and Advocacy…
Penn State to celebrate “Pinwheels for Prevention”
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month, and Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network (CMSN) is spearheading a campaign, “Pinwheels for Prevention PSU” to engage the university community and foster awareness around child abuse prevention. On April 12, the CMSN…
News Topics: Child AbuseChild Maltreatment Solutions Network
Trauma screening may improve mental health service recommendations for children
Each year between 200,000 and 270,000 children and youth enter foster care placements with child welfare services, and many more children receive child welfare services while remaining in their parent's care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Although many of these…
Connell co-author of award-winning paper
Christian Connell, associate professor of human development and family studies and director of SSRI's Child Maltreatment Solutions Network was part of a group of international child maltreatment researchers who recently received honorable mention for paper of the year by the International…
News Topics: Child Maltreatment Solutions NetworkChild Abuse
Fostering Lions Program mourns loss of supporter Denise Rohrbach
Penn State’s Fostering Lions Program is grieving the loss of Denise (Shuey) Rohrbach, a 1975 graduate of the College of the Liberal Arts, who established the Rohrbach/Shuey Family Scholarship in 2021. Created with a gift of $53,000, the Rohrbach/Shuey Family Scholarship provides…
Newly identified biomarkers may detect early cognitive decline via blood test
For some people, extreme stressors like psychiatric disorders or childhood neglect and abuse can lead to a range of health problems later in life, including depression, anxiety and cardiovascular disease. A new study led by researchers in the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging identified…
Youth in child welfare and juvenile justice systems conference held
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network Conference on supporting crossover youth involved with child welfare and juvenile court systems was recently held at Penn State’s University Park campus in the Hintz Alumni Family Center. The day-long conference showcased national…
New publication on child safety and well-being now available
The new publication, “Strengthening Child Safety and Well-Being Through Integrated Data Solutions,” edited by Christian Connell and Daniel Crowley, directors of Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network and Evidence-to-Impact Collaborative, is now available. This publication is based on a…
News Topics: Child Maltreatment Solutions Network
Conference on supporting youth in child welfare and juvenile court systems
Penn State’s Child Maltreatment Solutions Network is hosting a conference at The Hintz Family Alumni Center on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The conference, “Supporting Crossover Youth Involved with Child Welfare and Juvenile Court Systems”, will feature nationally renowned…
'Fostering Lions' program hosts ‘Little Lions’ camp for high school foster kids
Foster youth can face many challenges, but those who continue into college are better prepared for adulthood and more likely to achieve economic independence and an improved quality of life. The Fostering Lions program, which already supports current Penn State students who were foster youths,…