Much like other governmental agencies, child welfare systems are long overdue for a digital upgrade. But how can we ensure the technological tools implemented truly equip caseworkers and supervisors to meet the needs of children and families?

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Sixto Cancel, the founder and CEO of Think of Us, a tech nonprofit working to reform the child welfare system in the US. Inspired by his own story in foster care, where one, outdated sentence in his case file determined the trajectory of his time in the system, Sixto founded Think of Us to improve the tech landscape of the foster care system. From the need to incorporate assistive AI into case management to improving federal incentives to encourage innovation, Sixto discusses the key areas in need of reform.

Resources

• Taking Child Welfare into the 21st Century | Naomi Schaefer Riley, Ian Rowe, and Greg McKay

• Big Data Can Save Kids | Naomi Schaefer Riley

• Think of Us | Sixto Cancel

Show Notes

• 00:52 | What is the technology landscape of child welfare, and are the systems being used up to date?

• 03:07 | What is the origin of your name, Sixto Cancel?

• 04:06 | What about your story led you down this path to work toward better experiences for youth in foster care?

• 06:38 | What could systems be doing differently to take into account all of the options for foster youth?

• 09:28 | How are you now using virtual support services for youth getting ready to age out of the system?

• 12:15 | Many child welfare agencies contract with different providers to meet their needs. How is this currently working, and could it be more efficient?

• 15:32 | Why was the federal funding you secured ineffective to upgrade the technology systems within child welfare agencies?

• 17:08 | What would be the better approach? Should the federal government still be involved, or would that run the same risk of having just one large entity dominating the space and discouraging innovation?

• 20:05 | Are you planning to expand the direct service component of your organization?

• 21:22 | Thinking about the data you’ve collected so far, what would say is the biggest mismatch between what people need and what is being offered to them?

Because of the Family First Prevention Services Act passed in 2017, residential care facilities, or “group homes,” for foster youth have lost significant funding—leading to the closure of many residential treatment options. Many advocates of the policy believe that placement with families are always the best option for kids. But what about the numerous foster youth who report immense benefits from their time in residential care?

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Bruce Henderson, a former professor of psychology at Western Carolina University for over 40 years. Drawing on his background in child psychology, Bruce conducted a comprehensive review of the research on residential care facilities to understand how time spent in these homes affects foster youth. This research led to the publishing of his recent book, Challenging the Conventional Wisdom about Residential Care for Children and Youth. In this episode, Bruce explains the findings of his research and why he believes residential care must continue to be supported as an option for foster youth. Lastly, he shares a way to support The Black Mountain Home for Children and Families, a very impactful residential care home for foster youth in Black Mountain, North Carolina, that has suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene. We encourage our listeners to give as they are able.

Resources

• Challenging the Conventional Wisdom about Residential Care for Children and Youth | Bruce B. Henderson

• A Critical Dialogue on Residential Care for Children and Youth: What We Really Know and Questions of Quality | Bruce B. Henderson and James P. Anglin

• Why Foster Children Are Sleeping in Offices and What We Can Do About It | Naomi Schaefer Riley et al.

Show Notes

• 00:54 | What motivated your interest in this research topic?

• 02:32 | What is the Family First Prevention Services Act?

• 05:44 | Why does residential care carry so much stigma today?

• 07:09 | What were your findings when you looked at residential care facilities in other countries?

• 09:06 | Is there a version of Family First that you would have supported?

• 10:51 | What are the circumstances that make it possible for residential care to have a positive impact on a child’s life?

• 13:17 | Do attitudes around race play a role in the policy conversation around residential care?

• 13:51 | How do you make appropriate comparisons when you look at this research and what studies have you found helpful when evaluating the effects of residential care on foster youth?

• 17:14 | Does research show if the type of organization plays a role in the success of the residential home (i.e., faith-based, etc.)?

• 18:21 | Do you envision a situation where we start to rethink whether we can really do without residential care? Can we go back?

• 21:06 | Where does the financing come from for these facilities and programs?

• 24:10 | How to Help The Black Mountain Home for Children and Families

Technological innovations are often sold to the public as ways to make life easier. But what if the increasing prevalence of technology in our lives is actually crowding out human experiences that are integral to children’s development and well-being?

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by AEI Senior Fellow Christine Rosen to discuss her new book, The Extinction of Experience. Christine argues that the unmitigated push to integrate technology into all areas of life can be particularly harmful for children, who could be missing out on fundamental human experiences that help them grow. She highlights how even simple practices like learning cursive, or more significant milestones like dating—without the medium of screens—play a fundamental role in shaping who children become as adults. Contrary to tech moguls like Elon Musk who want to form new human communities on other planets, Christine believes we have a responsibility to find solutions that make life on earth a good one for children. Making the active choice to cut out technology from certain areas of our lives could be a good place to start.

Resources

• The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World | Christine Rosen

• The Lost Art of Waiting | Christine Rosen

• Katharine Birbalsingh on Banning Smartphones from Schools | Naomi Schaefer Riley, Ian Rowe, and Katharine Birbalsingh

Show Notes:

• 01:13 | When did you first start noticing the negative impacts screens were having on kids?

• 03:11 | Does it bring you some comfort that there is a growing movement to remove cell phones from schools?

• 05:14 | What are some of the individual experiences we are losing because of technology? Are there some experiences that are alright to replace?

• 08:00 | How has technology affected dating and the romantic lives of young people?

• 10:03 | Can we recapture the tradition of having ‘forced’ human interaction in spaces like churches, schools, and homes?

• 12:36 | What can you tell us about the individuals and companies who are making these technologies?

• 15:19 | Figures like Elon Musk have resorted to colonizing new planets as a solution to some of our human problems. Is this the right response? How would you respond?

• 18:08 | What are the chances that a child who has been raised with so much technology will be able to dig themselves out of this?

• 20:55 | Is there a role for faith and religious institutions in all of this?