A debate raging in Washington state captures in microcosm the controversy throughout the country about the child welfare system can balance the safety of children against the trauma of unnecessary removals. In 2021, Washington state lawmakers passed the Keeping Families Together Act, with the goal of reducing unnecessary removals of children from their homes and…

In two weeks, I’ll be speaking at an Adventist Attorney’s Conference and Retreat in Victoria, BC, Canada. My topic will be “Safeguarding the Vulnerable: Avoiding and Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse.” I have always enjoyed attending these conferences and forging friendships, even though I’m not Adventist. This year’s conference promises the usual outstanding legal…

A new study shines a spotlight on something we might not always think about: how unpredictable environments in childhood can have lasting effects on mental health, behavior, and even physical health by the time kids hit adolescence. There are some good pointers in the results for those of us who work with kids in chaotic…

One of the most common mistakes I see my youth-serving clients make is having written child protection policies that they don’t adequately explain to on-the-ground staff. The case I highlighted last week may be an example of that problem. Having written policies that your staff members either don’t know about or don’t follow can set…

A recent article highlights the unintended consequences of extending the statute of limitations for abuse claims. In 2020, California made important changes to its statute of limitations, with the noble goal of allowing survivors to hold institutions accountable. The unintended effect, however, has been to harm current students and institutions. AB 218, which took effect…

Today is Wrong Way Corrigan Day, and it has a lot of great lessons for those of us who work in youth-serving organizations. Douglas Corrigan, a 1930s pilot, became famous for flying from New York to Ireland instead of California, claiming it was a navigational error. The tale offers an interesting case study in dealing…

The reports about a district attorney’s recent press conference in Massachusetts contain some important lessons for youth-serving organizations.  The DA in Pittsfield, MA has charged two middle school educators with involuntary manslaughter and related crimes after the 2024 drowning death of a young teen during a school field trip.  We are seeing more frequent criminal…

The reports about a district attorney’s recent press conference in Massachusetts contain some important lessons for youth-serving organizations. The DA in Pittsfield, MA has charged two middle school educators with involuntary manslaughter and related crimes after the 2024 drowning death of a young teen during a school field trip. We are seeing more frequent criminal…

A new study of the effects of cyberbullying is getting a lot of attention, but its results may not match the press reports. Researchers pulled data from a survey of almost 2700 teens between the age of 13 and 17. The survey asked the minors to respond to an 18-item scale measuring types and instances…

National Take a Chance Day — April 23, 2026 National Take a Chance Day, observed every April 23, celebrates stepping outside your comfort zone. Try something new. Take a leap. Embrace the unfamiliar. For most people, the invitation feels exciting, even liberating—a nudge toward the adventures and opportunities that caution has kept at arm’s length….