Policy & Practice | Winter 2025

8.Summary of Recently Published Studies in the 23 High-Priority Gap Areas. This forthcoming summary compiles findings from studies that have been published since 2020 on the high-priority research gaps. The implementation of the National Research Agenda has only just begun. To access our resources and additional information, visit our website: https://nationalresearchagenda.org/. Final Thoughts The work over the past decade has been designed to address key knowl edge gaps in child welfare and lay the groundwork for a transformative approach to research. The findings from the new studies are critical in helping create a more in-depth view to improve policy and achieve better practice outcomes for youth, families, and communities. References Brewsaugh, K., Holmes, A. Richardson, A., Barnard, S., Weaver, C., O’Brien, K., Parker, E., Pecora, P. J., DuMont, K., Munson, S., & Smith, J. (2022). Research and knowledge gaps in child welfare in

the United States: A national survey of agency staff, allied disciplines, tribal leaders, and people who have experienced child welfare. Children and Youth Services Review, 138 , 10496. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106496 Casey Family Programs. (2023). What is a well-functioning child protection agency? https://www.casey.org/what-is-well functioning-child-protection-agency Dettlaff, A. J., Weber, K., Pendleton, M., Boyd, R., Bettencourt, B., & Burton, L. (2020). It is not a broken system, it is a system that needs to be broken: The upEND movement to abolish the child welfare system. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 14 (5), 500-517. https://doi.org/10.1080/15 548732.2020.1814542 Palmer, L., Font, S., Eastman, A. L., Guo, L., & Putnam-Hornstein, E. (2022). What does child protective services investigate as neglect? A population-based study. Child Maltreatment, 29 (1), 96-105 https://doi .org/10.1177/10775595221114144 Pecora, P. J., Maldonado, A., DuMont, K., Weaver, C., & O’Brien, K. (2025). Strategies for utilizing research findings for policy, program design and practice in child and family social services: A synthesis of the literature. Journal of Public Child Welfare , 1–37. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/15548732.2025.2538016 Roberts, D. (2022). Torn apart: How the child welfare system destroys Black

families—and how abolition can build a safer world. Basic Books.

Alexandria Maldonado is a Project Coordinator and Data Analyst for the 21st Century Research Agenda. She is a licensed therapist who specializes in trauma healing in child psychology, and the educational laws affecting youth in the child welfare system.

Kirk O’Brien is a Consultant with Casey Family Programs.

Peter Pecora is a Managing Director of Research Services at Casey Family Programs and a Professor for the School of Social Work at the University of Washington. Kimberley DuMont is the Senior Vice President of Program at the WilliamT. Grant Foundation. Cynthia Weaver is a Senior Associate with the Evidence-based Practice Group at the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Brittany Mihalec-Adkins is a Research Scientist II on the Child Welfare team at ChildTrends.

APHSA’s blog, The Catalyst , encourages the exchange of creative ideas and promising initiatives to strengthen the human services sector and accelerate our collective impact. Featuring content from members, partners, and staff, our blog posts focus on what it takes to build well-being from the ground up. Organized around areas of impact as well as a variety of special series, our goal is to spark new ideas and accelerate the spread of promising approaches that help realize our shared vision for thriving communities built on human potential.

Read the Latest Post, Visit https://aphsa.org/the-catalyst/

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