Thursday, December 12
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Virtual

Join us for a policy briefing to address the ‘invisible crisis’ of family homelessness in the U.S. Typically consisting of a young mother and her young children, unhoused families often suffer from short- and long-term physical and mental effects due to this crisis in their lives.  Shelter conditions are stressful, and daily uncertainty clouds their lives and undermines family well-being and cohesion.  This panel will discuss three important topics:

• Current research findings on family homelessness, including housing programs that work;
• Policies affecting family homelessness and their uncertain future in the current political environment; and,
• Recommendations from an experienced peer educator and consultant with the Family Homelessness Coalition.

Featured Speakers

• Ben Henwood, PhD, professor at the Dworak-Peck University of Southern California School of Social Work
• Deborah Padgett, PhD, professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work
• Samantha Batko, Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute’s Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center
• Rhonda Jackson, Community engagement consultant and Senior Fellow with the Family Homelessness Coalition
• Moderated by Mary McKay, Vice Provost of Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Washington University in St. Louis

Since 2020, a broad array of experts, stakeholders, and people with lived experience have been working collaboratively to develop the 21st Century Research Agenda, which identifies research gaps in community-based family support, child welfare, and early childhood education. This policy briefing will examine the intersection between the 21st Century Research Agenda and policy change.

This event is sponsored by the American Academy for Social Work and Social Welfare with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, Clark-Fox Policy Institute, Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy, and the William T. Grant Foundation.