Understanding Child Protection Systems: Metrics and Politics

Providing learners with a comprehensive understanding of the metrics, politics, and issues surrounding child protection systems and child abuse. Equipping future politicians and policymakers with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions in this critical area. Exploring complexities of child protection systems, including the various metrics used to assess their effectiveness and the political challenges that influence policy decisions.

Engage with KARA to create/execute a strong social media strategy across multiple platforms

The Kids At Risk Action (KARA) organization seeks to enhance its social media presence by effectively distributing its extensive content library, which includes books, videos, research, and writings on child abuse and trauma, mental health, and child protection. The goal of this project is to develop a systematic approach to sharing this valuable content with a broader audience, thereby increasing awareness and engagement. The project will involve analyzing KARA's current social media strategies, identifying areas for improvement, and designing a streamlined content distribution system. This system should be user-friendly and adaptable, allowing KARA to efficiently manage and update their social media content. The project will provide learners with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of social media management, digital marketing, and content strategy in a real-world context.

Voices for Change: Child Protection Podcast

The project aims to create a compelling podcast series engaging the community in meaningful conversations about child abuse and child protection in America. The goal is to raise awareness, educate listeners, and inspire action by sharing stories, expert insights, and resources. The podcast will serve as a platform for discussing the realities, challenges and solutions related to child protection, fostering a more informed and proactive community. Students will apply their knowledge of media production, communication, and social issues to develop content that resonates with a diverse audience. By engaging a community of child friendly constituents in a conversation about the needs of abused and neglected children will help find a path to supporting the people, programs and policies that will heal children and give them the skills they need to succeed in life. By starting conversations about how communities are succeeding and failing in keeping children safe we will build understanding and advocacy for ways to improve their lives. KARA seeks help identifying process, pitfalls, and best practices in podcasting and finding support to make this a success on a larger scale.

Media Engagement (child abuse, child protection, child welfare)

The goal of project is to increase KARA's social media engagement around child protection, child abuse prevention, child advocacy. 1) Comment, find and share child abuse/child protection content through KARA's social media. 2) Interacting with other child advocacy groups on social media from KARA's account. 3) Report out monthly social media engagement metrics to KARA, communications data reporting data research site evaluation data analysis machine learning data visualization

National Child Incident Database Development

Project Goal: Develop a Comprehensive National Child Welfare DatabaseObjective: To create a centralized, user-friendly, and secure national database that consolidates information on child abuse, neglect, and child protection practices across the United States, building upon existing systems like the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).Key Components: 1. Data Integration: Combine data from various sources, including state-level child protective services, the NCANDS Child File, and Kids At Risk Action (KARA) reports on child deaths and egregious incidents. 2. Comprehensive Coverage: Include data on child maltreatment types, victim demographics, perpetrator information, child fatalities, CPS responses, and prevention services. 3. User Interface Design: Develop an intuitive interface for easy data input, retrieval, and analysis by policymakers, social workers, and researchers. 4. Data Security and Privacy: Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive information, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. 5. Scalable Infrastructure: Design a backend system capable of handling large volumes of data and supporting annual updates from all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico. 6. Analytical Tools: Incorporate features for trend analysis, statistical reporting, and data visualization to aid in identifying patterns and informing policy decisions. 7. Interagency Collaboration: Facilitate data sharing and collaboration between child welfare agencies, law enforcement, and other relevant stakeholders. 8. Longitudinal Tracking: Enable tracking of long-term outcomes for children involved in the child welfare system. 9. Resource Allocation Support: Provide data-driven insights to help in the effective allocation of resources for child protection and prevention services. 10. Public Awareness: Generate annual reports and public-facing dashboards to increase awareness of child welfare issues and progress. Expected Outcomes: • A unified, national database that provides a comprehensive view of child welfare in the United States • Improved data-driven decision-making in child protection policies and practices • Enhanced ability to identify trends, assess the effectiveness of interventions, and implement preventive measures • Increased collaboration and information sharing among child welfare stakeholders • Better resource allocation and targeted support for vulnerable children and families This project will serve as a critical tool in the ongoing effort to protect children from abuse and neglect, while providing valuable insights to improve the child welfare system across the nation.

Child Advocate Training Program

The main goal for the project is to build and launch a program to train child advocates. This program will aim to educate and empower individuals to support abused and neglected children, create awareness, and involve the community in ending childhood trauma and generational child abuse. Students will study the landscape of child abuse in America today, strengths and weaknesses of our institutions, learn about the available legal and social support systems for children, and develop effective advocacy strategies.

Theta/CASA/KARA/Google Community Outreach Project

Connecting Thetas to a project their sorority supports (nationally) to the CASA organizations in their community. Theta learners will help their community CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) organizations find more volunteers and support for abused and neglected children where they live. KARA is looking for Theta sorority members to connect with CASAs in their state to help CASA programs connect to free Google ad Programs, build their social media, and coach individual advocacy that will improve community awareness and participation. Child Protection in the U.S. is struggling to keep abused children safe in every state. All CASAs need more community support, volunteers and public awareness for the children they serve. Learners will be made aware of their community's Child Protection System and help grow awareness, volunteerism, and support for their state's CASA organization and the children it serves. Kids At Risk Action is funding and delivering programs that help CASAs gain access to Google's Ad Grant program, connect to their community and increase the level of care abused and neglected children receive.

TikTok Video Presence Project

The main goal for the project is to build a presence for Kids At Risk Action (KARA) nonprofit's videos on TikTok and work with the Executive Director to select and manage the TikTok videos. This will involve several different steps for the students, including: - Researching the target audience on TikTok and understanding the type of content that resonates with them. - Creating a content strategy for KARA's TikTok videos that aligns with the organization's mission and goals. - Collaborating with the Executive Director to select and curate existing videos for TikTok and potentially create new content. - Managing the posting schedule and engagement with the TikTok audience. - Analyzing the performance of the TikTok videos and making adjustments based on the data.

Nonprofit Advocacy Project

The main goal for the project is to discover contact information for U.S. nonprofits advocating for abused and neglected children and provide them with free Google Ad Grants. This will involve several different steps for the students, including: - Researching and identifying U.S. nonprofits advocating for abused and neglected children. - Collecting contact information for the identified nonprofits. -If it fits, working with KARA to create a proposal for providing free Google Ad Grants to the identified nonprofits and contacting them is also possible.

DATA MAPPING

Improving the lives of abused and neglected children in the U.S. by compiling and visualizing important data and text information from states and counties in the U.S. to demonstrate to the public and policy makers current conditions and performance in CPS (Child Protective Services) in the nation today.

WIKIPEDIA Writer/Researcher

KARA has decades of experience and information gathering in the areas of child abuse, child protection, childhood trauma and related subjects. We want to grow KARA presence at WIKI and update what appears currently on these topics (it needs updating).

America's Children in 100 Charts

The project name is "Enhancing Impactful Content for KARA's Next Book". The main goal for the project is to use predictive modelling and data mining to make the next book by Kids At Risk Action (KARA) more impactful in creating awareness, initiating conversations, and involving the community in ending childhood trauma and generational child abuse. This will involve several different steps for the students, including: - Analyzing the existing content and data related to abused and neglected children. - Developing predictive models to identify patterns and trends in the data. - Mining the data for insights and correlations that can be used to create impactful content. - Collaborating with KARA's team to incorporate the predictive modelling and data mining results into the next book.

Data Visualization for Kids At Risk Action (KARA)

The main goal for the project is to create superior visualization of complex data for KARA's book and social media. This will involve several different steps for the students, including: - Understanding the complex data related to abused and neglected children. - Identifying the key points and statistics that need to be visualized. - Creating visually appealing and easy-to-understand graphics and charts. - Collaborating with the KARA team to ensure the visualizations align with their mission and goals. - Incorporating the visualizations into the book and social media platforms.

Researching and presenting data about child abuse, childhood trauma and child protection

Gather and present compelling information about the conditions facing at risk children in America post COVID. Through our social media and new book; AMERICAN CHILDREN IN 100 CHARTS. This will be used to inform the public and policy makers, administrators and others involved in the lives of abused and neglected children and the adults they become.

KARA's Childhood Trauma and Abuse Book

The main goal of this project is to complete a complex book on childhood trauma and abuse and get it published. This will involve several different steps for the learners, including: - Researching and gathering information on childhood trauma and abuse. - Writing and editing the half finished book. - Working with KARA to ensure the book is in line with their mission and goals. - Working with a publisher to get the book published.

Tracking Child Abuse, Trauma and Self-Harm In The Medical Field

Through KARA's social media, media outreach and next book, gather and present to the public and professionals (lawmakers, administrators & policy makers) healthcare data, interviews and articles outlining the underreported reality of child abuse, trauma and self-harm in the U.S.

Researching and Submitting KARA's Reporting on At Risk Children

Broaden Kids At Risk Action's exposure on social and print media for the writing and research we do.

WordPress Website Design Help for Kids At Risk Action Nonprofit

Improve the look and function of KARA's WordPress website.

INVISIBLE CHILDREN Campus Conversations

Creating a digital rendition of KARA's INVISIBLE CHILDREN Campus Conversations.

Nonprofit Grant Writing and Fundraising

Work with nonprofit Executive Director to build and Execute a grant writing and fundraising program for one of our child advocacy projects.

The COVID Pandemic Impact on Juvenile Crime & Data in the U.S.

Research and writing for this project will be used for KARA's social media as well as the publication of KARA's next book. Law enforcement has few tools beyond a punishment model that treats disturbed 12 & 14 year olds like criminals instead of damaged youth that need coping skills and mental health services. The challenge for our project is to find and present information that demonstrate trends due to COVID both the social and financial costs of a broken child protection system dumping foster children into juvenile justice and then a criminal justice system that is reaching a 9 year recidivism rate of 90%. The lack of institutional transparency, media attention and public awareness of the exponential growth in generational child abuse, school failure and resulting crime & prison growth are contributing a misinformed and confused public that has become unwilling to support people and programs to improve the lives of these children.

Presenting Data that Builds Understanding and Action

Through KARA's next book and ongoing social media, our nonprofit is focused on growing public and institutional understanding of the quality of life and financial costs generational child abuse is having on communities in the United States. With greater understanding will come support for more and better solutions for solving this pervasive and growing problem.

Google Ads, SEO Help For Child Advocacy NonProfit

Grow KARA's messaging and problem solving for issues facing abused and neglected children and building a following of KARA's next book.

Book Project Manager

Kids At Risk Action is writing our next book. It is a comprehensive review of COVID impacting child abuse issues. We are seeking advanced students to help us sort through stories and data that will become a book targeted to both a general readership and professionals that need to know.

Digital Marketing Internship for At-Risk Youth Advocacy Group

We are looking to collaborate with students that are interested in applying their social media skills to help us improve our online presence at our not-for-profit, KARA. We are looking to achieve a net increase of 25% per month of a metric which comprises website visits, social media followers and engagement. We will work with the student to determine the best way to approach this metric. KARA has a number of assets which the students will be able to use in their efforts such as: - A monthly $10,000 Google Ads Grant - Facebook page followed by 825 people - Twitter page followed by 4,269 people - Instagram followed by 73 people - YouTube page with 13 videos - LinkedIn page followed by 374 people - Overall follower count of 5,541 This project has two milestones, the first being a strategic analysis which will then be followed by execution of the strategy. This is a unique opportunity to put into practice theory learned in class and apply it to a real world problem, at-risk youth. Strategy: We want students to help us develop a digital marketing strategy to grow and engage our followers as well as attract new ones. We’d like to know how we can maximize different channels and what will work best for us. The main questions we’d like students to help us answer are the following: How should we promote our non-profit? What social media channels should we utilize most based on our mission and goals? How can we maximize use of our Google Ads Grant? What messaging should we use and how should we post this content? Execution: We have outlined our digital assets above and with the help of the strategy you will put in place, we will discuss metrics to improve follow counts, engagement and organic growth.

Data collection about underage youth suicide and self harm in the U.S

We are writing a book about at risk youth in the U.S and are looking for academic level collaborators. KARA is a non-profit led by advocates with experience working with at risk youth, we know what is wrong, we know how to fix it and the book will let us demonstrate to a path to better answers. The book is a method of creating individual and institutional change. It will be used to speak to legislators, administrators and others working with youth, with the ultimate goal to change minds and change policy in the right direction. We want to positively interrupt generational child abuse which is costing 10x more money than we are currently spending on it. These are two of KARA’s primary areas of interest for at risk children; 1. Mental health conditions of and services for at risk youth 2. Data from health care and child protection systems According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019 suicide was the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 13 to 19 — and the leading cause of death among 13-year-olds. How many of them had been State Ward children? Hospitals see many instances of child self-harm but information about it is almost impossible to find. Post COVID, it appears that hospitals are suffering staff shortages and overloaded psych visits by children that have been locked in toxic homes without access to mandated reporters. Significant staff shortages in many areas of healthcare and an exodus of their deep knowledge talent. The stress is terrific and those that are able to retire are leaving the field – this is a growing concern. The following are some of the preliminary questions we have for data gathering for the book, but are open to others: 1. What is it like for children with mental health issues in rural America?  In urban America? What are the numbers? 2. For each successful very young child suicide, at least 150 to 200 children fail.  What populations did these children come from (foster care, LGBTQ, homeless, minority...)? 3. How many were or had been State Ward Children? There is almost no information about self-harm and failed suicides by children under 13. This information should be available through the healthcare system and State and County child protection services data. 4. What are underlying causes and long term effects of attempted suicide on very young children? 5. What happens to these 150 to 200 children as they age? The fiscal impact of underserving state ward children is exponentially more expensive than any amount of money we are currently spending, such as time in prison, jail, damage to society. 6. Is there meaningful tracking/information out of child protection systems about success or failure over time of the 1/3 of State Ward youth required to take psychotropic medications? 7. What other tracking information exists for State Ward Children (from early childhood, elementary and high school) such as reading at grade level, absenteeism, expulsions, behavior issues and involvement in the juvenile justice system? Looking backwards, most felons (90% recidivism at 9 years) came from dysfunctional families and foster care. KARA wants to know how psychotropic medications are being used on all children and specific breakdowns of certain populations such as homeless, LGBTQ, adopted/fostered, immigrants and children in child protection systems. 8. What can be discovered about the ending of mental health services in rural hospitals and group homes, and why are they closing or ending mental health services, and how many have closed or ended those services? 9. What happens to children when there are no services? Shortage of emergency psych beds and suicide aid. Child and youth group home closings and fines (for regulatory failures). Deliverables for this project will become part of a book and social media for KARA, an organization advocating for these at risk youth. Write ups, reports and discussions with the executive director during set milestone meetings throughout the project.

Book Editor

KARA is writing a comprehensive book about child abuse and trauma in America today . It's goal is to become a crossover book to provide awareness and understanding to the general public and also to serve as a resource to people in our institutions (education, healthcare, law enforcement, social work, courts etc,). KARA's team of volunteers & interns are gathering data, stories and multiple perspectives to make this a deep dive into childhood trauma and its impact on children and its consequent impact on communities. It will be a call to action for adopting best practices and discarding counterproductive models. Multiple editors will be engaged editing individual chapters. The book outline and progress will be provided upon request.

The COVID Pandemic Impact on Juvenile Crime & Data in the U.S.

Research and writing for this project will be used for KARA's social media as well as the publication of KARA's next book. American institutions of child protection and education are unable to provide the level of involvement and support for at risk youth they were providing pre COVID. Law enforcement has few tools beyond a punishment model that treats disturbed 12 & 14 year olds like criminals instead of damaged youth that need coping skills and mental health services. The challenge for our project is to find and present information that demonstrate trends due to COVID both the social and financial costs of a broken child protection system dumping foster children into juvenile justice and then a criminal justice system that is reaching a 9 year recidivism rate of 90%. The lack of institutional transparency, media attention and public awareness of the exponential growth in generational child abuse, school failure and resulting crime & prison growth are contributing a misinformed and confused public that has become unwilling to support people and programs to improve the lives of these children. There is a growing body of stories and data demonstrating real damage to American institutions and communities. University studies have been done and are being done that show these trends and costs. Media has sporadically done powerful reporting on stories and data that if presented in a more structured and cogent fashion could bring a level of awareness that could changes these trends. Without better understanding of the damage dysfunctional youth bring with them into adulthood, there is little hope for better schools, less crime and a return to more acceptable quality of life indices. It is KARA's mission to find and present this information on as broad a scale as possible.

Researching Child Abuse During Covid

Our team is looking for a group of students to do research on child abuse topic during Covid. The project should include: domestic violence child protection systems police response to domestic violence psychotropic medication of young children foster care and day care during Covid Students will not only research these topics but come up with recommendations on how to protect kids during these challenging times. We can discuss opportunities for students to interact with populations that we support.

Research & Writing Internship Opportunity: At Risk Youth

Our organization, Kids at Risk Action is able to offer a virtual internship opportunity for multiple students or teams. Kids at Risk Action’s (KARA) mission is to support the people, policies, and programs that make life better for abused and neglected children by creating awareness, initiating conversations, and involving the community in discussing childhood trauma and generational child abuse. KARA advocates for at risk children through education and public discussion to discover better answers for improving the lives of at risk children. The primary focus for the students will be: Research, writing, creation of library of resources, and an opportunity to move our Invisible Children Program to a virtual environment Research and present current information about child abuse and neglect. The research will be compiled into a collaborative book, online training sessions, our website, and social media platforms. Write articles on child abuse and child protection in Minnesota, as well as on states and countries using more effective programs. Organize an up-to-date library of resources on the national level and state level to be easily distributed to specific populations in need of assistance. KARA’s Invisible Children Program elevates understanding about child trauma, establishes partnerships with child advocacy organizations to secure volunteers, donations, and equips people with resources to take action to better protect children. Create a strategy and implement a process to take the current in-person Invisible Children Program into a virtual environment. We will communicate with our virtual interns using these communication tools: Riipen messaging, Slack, Email, and Zoom. Other duties the student may complete could include : Content development, including social posts, blog posts, LinkedIn articles, and website copy. Anything, within your bandwidth, that would assist in the completion of the project! Primary contact : Alyssa Valdez Secondary contact: Mike Tikkanen