Parenting Archives - National Wraparound Initiative (NWI)
Implementing Kin-Specific Licensing Standards in Foster Care
September 14, 2025 | NWI
Children placed with relatives and kin experience greater placement stability and well-being than those in regular foster care, yet many state licensing standards can create barriers to these placements. In response, a new federal rule from the Administration for Children and Families now allows Title IV-E agencies to create separate licensing or approval standards for kinship caregivers. These standards can reduce unnecessary barriers and support access to foster care maintenance payments that help families meet the unique demands of kinship care. Chapin Hall has created a phased framework to help agencies implement kin-specific licensing standards.
Childhood Verbal and Physical Abuse Leave Similar Impacts
September 14, 2025 | NWI
Cruel words can leave a mark on a child – and may have as much of an impact as physical abuse, new research has found.
Study Explores Relationship Between Stigma and Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Health
May 30, 2025 | NWI
A recent study investigates how stigma experienced by parents in sexual and gender minority (SGM) families relates to their children’s emotional and behavioral health. The study shows a clear link between the stigma faced by parents and their children’s mental health in SGM families.
Father’s Mental Health Can Impact Children for Years
May 30, 2025 | NWI
New research reveals that when paternal depression goes undiagnosed or unaddressed, the negative social and behavioral effects on children can persist for years. The study reports that children exposed to paternal depression when entering kindergarten are far more likely to have teacher-reported behavioral difficulties and poor social skills at age 9.
Do Smartphones and Social Media Really Harm Teens’ Mental Health?
April 27, 2025 | NWI
Researchers are debating the strength of evidence connecting technology to surging rates of adolescent mental illness. But they have some clear advice for parents.
How to Find a Therapist for Your LGBTQ+ Child
March 22, 2025 | NWI
Being LGBTQ+ is not a mental disorder, but LGBTQ+ young people are at higher risk for anxiety, depression and suicide due to the stigma, shame and discrimination they often face. Working with an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist can help young people explore their identities. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of mental health professionals trained to understand the issues facing LGBTQ+ young people. This brief examines how to find an appropriate therapist.
Stories of Navigating Youth and Family Systems
January 13, 2025 | NWI
This podcast series features authentic stories shared by individuals who have navigated various youth and family systems. Each episode offers a unique perspective on their encounters within these systems and solutions to the challenges they faced.
Living with a Parent in Prison
December 7, 2024 | NWI
A new study from Australia highlights the experiences of children of incarcerated parents. The study confirms that it falls primarily to the extended family to manage the fallout when a parent is incarcerated, and that many families do not have the support they need.
Preventing Infant and Toddler Maltreatment: A Toolkit
December 7, 2024 | NWI
This toolkit aims to facilitate collaboration among state-level policymakers, agency leaders, administrators, and other partners to pinpoint the connections between policies that promote family well-being and those that prevent child maltreatment. The resources in this toolkit are intended to inform and encourage dialogue, collaboration, and action among state leaders responsible for promoting positive outcomes among children, families, and communities in their states.
How Inequality Messes With Teenagers’ Minds
November 3, 2024 | NWI
This essay combines personal reflection with data about the impact that economic inequality has on the mental health and well being of young people.