Investing in Families

Join us in imagining bold solutions for investing in and strengthening families in this two-part webinar series.

Putting Theory in Action

Investing in Families two-part webinar series breaks down emerging research, explores economic interventions, and spotlights leaders in the field that are challenging traditional practices and finding innovative methods for investing in families and producing better outcomes.

Join us as we continue unlearning child welfare in this two-part webinar series.

We’re proud to partner with The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Chaplin Hall at the University of Chicago, and Prevent Child Abuse of America.

Episode 1

The Economics of Family Well-Being

Families are struggling, and have been for a long time—are we doing enough to help? More conversations than ever before are taking place about the state of families in the U.S. and the opportunities to make new investments that strengthen families. Discover what emerging research and thinking are telling us about how we can make targeted investments to improve outcomes for children and families.

Click here for on-demand access 

Episode 2

Bold Actions for Big Change

Industry disruptors are moving from conversation to action, making innovative investments in communities to strengthen families. Hear how leaders in the field are disrupting the status quo—with bold actions and prevention-based approaches—to create practical and impactful change.

Click here for on-demand access 

Bring more voices to the conversation

Download the post-webinar conversation guide to facilitate group discussions around action steps toward investing in families. Explore research and resources shared by our team, panelists, and webinar guests in the downloadable resource guide.

Use the pre-read, “Deconstructing the Bird Cage: How Social Entrepreneurs are Catalyzing Systems Change,” to offer meaningful context to conversations with your network of changemakers.

Meet the Panelists

Our inspiring guests with lived expertise →

Shrounda Selivanoff

Director of Public Policy, Children’s Home Society of Washington

Panelist, Episode 1

Selivanoff is a passionate advocate for child welfare involved families driven by her own experience in child welfare system navigation. She brings a birth parent’s perspective to inform policy, practice, and system reform and is dedicated to transforming the system to serve families’ needs equitably.

Clare Anderson

Senior Policy Fellow, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

Panelist, Episode 1

Anderson’s work focuses on using research, policy, and fiscal levers to improve outcomes for vulnerable children, youth, and families, and the systems serving them. She engages state child welfare agencies, communities, stakeholders, and constituents in large-scale system change efforts.

Sixto Cancel

CEO, Think of Us

Panelist, Episode 1

Cancel is the Founder and CEO of Think of Us (TOU), an Action Tank driving systematic change in child welfare. Through focused projects and sweeping initiatives, TOU drives structural changes in child welfare policy and practice. Cancel was named as Forbes Top 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs and is on the 2021 Forbes Under30 Lister Board. Cancel has served as a Young Fellow at Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative since 2010 where he has played a key role in the initiative’s work of extending foster care permanency for older youth.

Katie Albright

CEO, Safe & Sound

Panelist, Episode 2

Albright, JD is an attorney and children’s advocate with more than 25 years of legal and nonprofit experience. She joined Safe & Sound 14 years ago, when it was called San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center, serving as its CEO and President. Expanding its reach and impact under her leadership, the organization co-founded the Children’s Advocacy Center of San Francisco, The Center for Youth Wellness, and Partners in Prevention, and has created strong partnerships in Marin and Sonoma County, as well as other counties throughout the Bay Area and California. 

Brenda Donald

Former Director, DC Child and Family Services

Panelist, Episode 2

Donald returned to the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) as director in January 2017 after serving as Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. From January 2012 to December 2015 Donald served as director of CFSA and early in her tenure established the Four Pillars, a strategic agenda that has focused the District’s child welfare system on improving outcomes for children, youth, and families. Under her leadership CSFA has more effectively addressed reports of child abuse/neglect, increased support for families, and reduced the number of District children in foster care from nearly 1,800 in FY12 to approximately 800 children today. 

Preston Gray

Senior Family Leader, Smart from the Start

Panelist, Episode 2

Gray is a hardworking husband and father of four amazing children. Gray grew up in a large family in SE Washington, D.C., a neighborhood that is often underserved. Even though he is not the oldest, he did what he could to help support his mom and siblings. Gray was always full of potential, but not often afforded the opportunities to actualize it. That is, until he joined Smart from the Start. Over six years ago, Gray joined Smart’s LEAP, Fatherhood Program, and Professional Development and Enrichment Program, where he was able to gain the skills and experiences, he needed to become a better father, man, and community advocate.

Cherie Craft

Founder/CEO and Executive Director, Smart from the Start

Panelist, Episode 2

Smart from the Start, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to promote the physical, mental and developmental health of young children while empowering families living in the underserved communities of Boston and Washington, D.C. Craft studied Sociology and Counseling as an undergrad and holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. Having grown up in an inner-city housing development, and raising five kids of her own, Craft possesses a passionate commitment to working tirelessly, to better the lives of under-served children and families.

What people are saying about The Unlearning of Child Welfare Series

I was very heartened to learn that there are many in the field who align with my beliefs, supported by evidence, that the child welfare system needs serious reforms in order to truly serve the needs of children and families.
The ideas of agencies collaborating with each other for the well-being of all families, are amazing. We all want to do better in our field and are exhausted with the loop holes that don’t allow us to help families until it is too late..
This webinar series keeps drawing me in with their masterful facilitators, exciting topics, engaging panelists, and the energy in the chat. The webinar truly feels like a community of passionate people who share in critiques of the current systems and visions of a better future for families..

Watch the Investing in Families webinar series. Anytime. Anywhere.

On-demand access is only one click away. After you register, we’ll also send on-demand access links to your email so you can watch the webinar series on your time.

Watch Episode 1

Watch Episode 2

Dive Deeper into the Unlearning of Child Welfare

Continuing the Conversation

Sixto Cancel

Sixto Cancel, CEO, Think Of Us, discusses the importance of proximity – getting closer to the people we serve.

Continuing the Conversation

Cherie Craft

Cherie Craft, CEO and Founder at Smart From The Start gives insight into the role of parent success centers and the importance of building grassroots efforts to work with families in their communities.

Continuing the Conversation

Clare Anderson

Clare Anderson, Senior Policy Fellow at Chapin Hall, discusses some eye-opening points found in her recent report, “Family and Child Well-being System: Economic & Concrete Supports as a Core Component.”

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