Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)

08/21/2026

Subscribe to Child Welfare Journal this fall!

As the new academic year begins, now is a great time to subscribe—or renew your subscription—and make Child Welfare part of your professional and scholarly reading for the year ahead.

Learn more and subscribe today: https://tinyurl.com/y9e3rfss

As a committed professional, you know the value of receiving CWLA’s Child Welfare journal. Our regular and special-themed issues provide a fresh approach to problem solving and proven, practical ideas that work. You get comprehensive coverage of the latest research, practice issues, program developments, and more—all vital for informed, thoughtful decision-making.

Published since 1922, Child Welfare sheds light on important topics like child abuse and neglect, immigration, racial equity, out-of-home care and family reunification, kinship care, adoptive parenting, research evidence, substance use, and more.

08/18/2026

Submit to Children’s Voice’s “Kids Helping Kids” Column!

Do you know a young person who's making a difference for peers in their community? CWLA's Children’s Voice magazine (https://www.cwla.org/childrens-voice/) is seeking article proposals for our new “Kids Helping Kids” column, which will highlight youth-led programs and projects that uplift other children and teens.

If you’re passionate about amplifying youth voices and showcasing the power of peer-driven support, we’d love to hear from you.

Send your article proposal to Rachel Adams, Children's Voice editor, at [email protected].

08/11/2026

CWLA is pleased to present a three-part virtual training series that features our CWLA Press publication, "Working with Traumatized Children – A Handbook for Healing, Fourth Edition," newly released in 2026.

Working with Traumatized Children
Virtual Training
Mondays, August 17, 24 & 31
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time

Purchase a hard copy of the book: https://tinyurl.com/wjefu5vx

Register for the training series: https://tinyurl.com/hmzf9m66

As reflected by evolving research, this edition includes new information on trauma’s impact on the brain, essential practices for providers, an expanded chapter on trauma symptoms, and practical suggestions for creating safety. The training reflects these new additions and gives an overview of the first five chapters of "Working with Traumatized Children."

Participants will gain a strengthened capacity to:
1. Define what trauma is and differentiate it from stress
2. Name the three essential practices of providers necessary for healing trauma in children.
3. Give four examples of trauma symptoms in adults and children.
4. Describe two ways trauma can impact the brains of children.
5. Explain the importance of providing for safety in working with adults and children who have been traumatized.
6. Provide several examples of how systems can be traumatizing or retraumatizing to individuals.
7. Articulate how knowledge about the Vagus Nerve can be helpful in working with families and children who have been traumatized.
8. Express why self-reflective practices and supervision are important when working with adults and children who have been traumatized.

Join us!

08/05/2026

Send us your CWLA 2027 conference proposal by Friday, August 7th!

Details below!

Call for Workshop Proposals:
CWLA's 2027 National Conference, "Shaping Child Welfare's Next Chapter through Innovation and Resilience"
April 5-7, 2027, in Arlington, VA

Submit your workshop by Friday, August 7!
https://tinyurl.com/2rpbzzm4

The theme of CWLA's 2027 Conference, Shaping Child Welfare's Next Chapter through Innovation and Resilience, is rooted in the belief that moments of transition can become moments of transformation. The question before us is not only how to navigate change, but how to use it—to build on the field's strengths, reconsider long-held approaches, and create better pathways for children and families to flourish.

CWLA is seeking workshop proposals that will help inform the field‘s next chapter. We welcome sessions that explore how innovation, workforce transformation, policy development, technology, and community partnerships can contribute to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. We are especially interested in proposals that move beyond identifying challenges and focus on what comes next: new ideas, practical solutions, lessons from implementation, and opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

08/04/2026

CWLA Press Summer Sale! Save today with 40% off!

Use the discount code Pubs40 at checkout: https://community.cwla.org/store/

Browse the latest child welfare titles ranging from wonderful Children’s books to must-have publications related to residential care, child neglect, poverty, parenting, trauma, and CWLA’s jam-packed Compendium of Policy and Practice.

Sale ends August 21st.

☀️

07/24/2026

🌞CWLA Press Summer Sale!🌞

Save today with 40% off! Use the discount code Pubs40 when you check out from our bookstore: https://community.cwla.org/store/

Browse our latest child welfare titles, ranging from children’s books to must-have publications related to residential care, child neglect, poverty, parenting, trauma, and the jam-packed Compendium of Policy and Practice.

Sale ends August 21st.

07/18/2026

The new Pathways to Organizational Excellence Certification, from CWLA, the Association Of Children's Residential Centers, and the Center for Youth Justice, Georgetown University at the McCourt School of Public Policy - Georgetown University, helps youth- and family-serving organizations strengthen their culture, improve teamwork, and build stronger connections with the communities they serve.

This year-long certification program supports organizations in becoming fair, community-centered and responsive—so they can meet the real needs of their staff, youth, and families. Through hands-on training, personalized coaching, and practical tools, your team will be equipped with the knowledge, systems, and confidence to thrive—no matter what challenges arise.

Learn more on the Pathways Hub: https://togetherthevoice.org/organizational-excellence/

The Family Needs & Strengths (FANS) assessment and outcome tool for Family Peer Support

07/15/2026

Call for Workshop Proposals:
CWLA's 2027 National Conference, "Shaping Child Welfare's Next Chapter through Innovation and Resilience"
April 5-7, 2027, in Arlington, VA

Submit your workshop by Friday, August 7!
https://tinyurl.com/2rpbzzm4

The theme of CWLA's 2027 Conference, Shaping Child Welfare's Next Chapter through Innovation and Resilience, is rooted in the belief that moments of transition can become moments of transformation. The question before us is not only how to navigate change, but how to use it—to build on the field's strengths, reconsider long-held approaches, and create better pathways for children and families to flourish.

CWLA is seeking workshop proposals that will help inform the field‘s next chapter. We welcome sessions that explore how innovation, workforce transformation, policy development, technology, and community partnerships can contribute to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. We are especially interested in proposals that move beyond identifying challenges and focus on what comes next: new ideas, practical solutions, lessons from implementation, and opportunities for meaningful dialogue.

07/14/2026

CWLA partner the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, along with The Harris Poll, an independent research company, is gathering the perspectives of child welfare professionals across the United States about best practices and any perceived barriers to achieving legal permanency for children waiting in foster care.

From now until July 31, access the survey at https://surveys.harrisinsights.com/survey/selfserve/53b/2606126?list=opn&srce=19

All responses are strictly confidential.

Your participation in this important research will inform campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of permanency for every waiting child and the creation of resources to support child welfare professionals in this life-changing work.

06/27/2026

Child Welfare journal is pleased to announce publication of our latest special issue, “Supporting Students Experiencing Foster Care in Higher Education.”

This issue, developed in partnership with the Embark Georgia Center at the University of Georgia, brings together scholarship and perspectives from across disciplines and sectors to explore how students experiencing foster care (SEFC) are supported through campus initiatives, community partnerships, state networks, and federal programs. The issue centers innovative practices, highlights effective policies, and amplifies the voices of youth and community partners. Lori Tiller, Katherine Rose Adams, Grace Bagwell Adams, and Imani N. Callan have served as special issue guest editors.

To find out more, and to download and purchase: https://www.cwla.org/cwj-special-issues/