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Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated Reporter: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Shanelle Dupree
Are you struggling to keep good child welfare staff and volunteers? Are they drowning in alphabet soup, unclear timelines, fuzzy roles, and “who does what” confusion? Does attending court hearings cause anxiety in staff and families? You are not by yourself. When people talk about the foster care system they often describe it as broken, confusing, and frustrating. It’s why I’m so excited to introduce a podcast that will help staff and volunteers see the big picture of child welfare, lessen anxiety, and provide tips on how to connect with partners in the child welfare system. I’m Shanelle Dupree and I’ve been working in the child welfare system for 20 years as an attorney, a social service administrator, a non-profit leader, and now as a consultant. I have experienced first hand that knowing how to do your job is not enough to be successful in serving families. We need to connect better and see the big picture. When I was representing families in court, I finally realized that to have families reach their goal, it requires connection and collaboration with the others involved in the child welfare ecosystem. I’ve created a 360º view of the child welfare system that will eliminate confusion, build relationships, and develop trust with families. If this sounds like the natural but missing piece in your work with vulnerable families—this podcast is for you. So hug your loved ones a little bit tighter, and let's connect.
Latest Episodes
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- 2 days ago18 min
Episode 37: Foster Care and Homelessness: Why Connection Matters in the Child Welfare System
In this episode, I’m talking about the deep connection between foster care and homelessness, especially for youth who age out of the child welfare and foster care system without a plan or without supportive family to lean on. I share why this should be a shared sorrow for all of us, and what shared success can look like when a community wraps support around families early and consistently. I also break down what the data tells us about foster youth and homelessness and incarceration, highlight a few federal and state programs that matter, and share a local example of what it looks like when systems actually connect and build a “one front door” approach for families. Call to Action: If you know a youth who has been involved in foster care, encourage them to ask about FYI vouchers and Chafee supports and to connect with local agencies that can help them navigate eligibility. And if you’re a leader, partner, or helper in the family and child welfare system, let’s talk about what intentional connection could look like across your local ecosystem. Email: info@dupreeperspective.com
- 2 weeks ago14 min
Episode 36: Shame in Foster Care
In this episode, I’m talking about shame in foster care and how powerful it is. Shame can stop people from getting help when they need it, and sometimes it keeps families quiet until a situation becomes an emergency. I share a moment from court that stuck with me, a grandmother in tears saying, “If I would’ve known, I would’ve done something.” That’s the thing about shame. People can be drowning and no one knows. I also talk about how mandated reporting fits into this, why two things can be true at the same time (reporting can save lives and reporting can also pull families into deeper system involvement than they actually needed), and what I believe we have to focus on instead: protecting families, connecting systems, and making the process simple enough that people can actually succeed. If you’re a helper, a mandated reporter, or a leader in the family and child welfare system: is our process simple enough that someone new can understand it without feeling ashamed or lost? Click the link below and grab the child welfare confusion audit. Newsletter signup with free gift- access the Child Welfare Confusion Audit HERE.
- 4 weeks ago10 min
Episode 35: Encouragement for Helpers
Helpers need encouragement too. In this episode, I’m talking directly to the people who carry heavy things for a living: child welfare professionals, social services staff, foster care partners, advocates, and anyone doing complex work with families. I share a few reminders I’ve had to learn the hard way: rest has to be built in, reflection keeps you honest about your pace and your impact, and remembering matters because gratitude can be fuel. If you’re tired, questioning whether you can keep going, or feeling like the work is swallowing your life, this one is for you. Newsletter signup with free gift- access the Child Welfare Confusion Audit HERE.
- Apr 23, 20268 min
Episode 34: Burnout is Loud in Child Welfare, Let's Make Connection Louder
A few years ago I made a post about motherhood, the Proverbs 31 woman, and the truth we forget: she had help. That same principle applies in foster care. No one can do this work alone, and pretending we can is a fast track to burnout. In this episode, I share what I learned leading a region of 400+ employees across five counties, why staffing challenges become a predictable burnout cycle, and what it actually takes for people to stay: fair compensation, meaningful impact, and real support. I also talk about how mandated reporting works in practice, why poverty and neglect get blurred, and why the real fix is connection across the 10 systems in the family and child welfare ecosystem. This is the heart of what I teach through SYNCing Child Welfare: moving organizations from isolation to connected, and making joy part of the process again. Register for SYNCing Child Welfare session on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 @ 11am CT : https://syncingchildwelfare.webinarninja.com/live-webinars/10808511/register #burnout #isolation #connection #fostercare #childwelfare #mandatedreporter #proverbs31woman
- Apr 15, 202633 min
Episode 33: Communication Solutions for Foster Care
"One of the biggest threats to good outcomes in child welfare is not bad intentions…it is the broken or inconsistent communication between all the folks involved in a child's life." — Kellie Green A true quote from our guest on the podcast today and it frames our discussion so well. In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I’m talking with colleague Kellie Green, who’s worked across child welfare, Medicaid, and behavioral health for over 20 years. We get real about why the child welfare system and foster care can feel so complicated, even for people who do this work for a living. And we focus on one of the biggest issues that quietly wrecks outcomes: broken and inconsistent communication. Then we talk solutions, specifically a coordination platform called Sunlight that’s built to connect everyone on a child’s team in one place. Solutions exist- we have to brave enough to keep looking. #FosterCare #ChildWelfareSystem #ChildWelfare #FamilyAndChildWelfareSystem #CaseManagement #ParentRepresentation #CASA #Permanency #SystemsChange Kellie & Sunlight contact info: www.getsunlight.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliehansreid/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunlighthq/ Check out SYNCing Child Welfare: www.syncingchildwelfare.com
- Apr 7, 20268 min
Episode 32: Can we go DEEP Together? Race, History, and Foster Care
Race has always mattered in America. The family and child welfare system is not exempt from history. In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I'm sharing what I've learned from creating Skin Deep and leading the Going Deep Together workshop, and why these discussions are essential for anyone serving families in the foster care and child welfare system and how to equip the next generation of family helpers through connection and humanity. Below are a few lessons I've learned: Lesson #1: Sometimes organizations are not ready to discuss race, bias, and it impacts the families they are serving. Takeway- leaders can begin preparing staff to have uncomfortable discussions. Lesson #2: The Going DEEP Together Workshop I lead is only facilitated in person. Takeaway- race is difficult to talk about and escapism is real! Lesson #3: The Skin DEEP online course & webinar is accredited for Missouri and Kansas CEU’s and CLE’s. Takeaway- not only are you learning and applying, social workers and attorneys in Kansas and Missouri can also receive credit for their attendance! Lesson #4: Connecting with people and their experiences is what keeps us grounded and connected to humanity. Takeaway- it matters what happened to families and communities and Skin DEEP provides a way for individuals and organizations to have a nuanced discussion that is helpful. If you're responsible for training staff or students in a child and family serving organization, this episode is for you. The history is worth understanding. What's happening now has happened before, and there is power in knowing that. 🎧 Listen: Going Deep Together: Race, History, and the Family and Child Welfare System 📲 Six months of Skin Deep access for $200- www.skindeepcw.com. Use the coupon code: CLECEU. #ChildWelfare #FosterCare #FamilyAndChildWelfareSystem #RacialEquity #CulturalCompetency #SkinDeep #RaceAndLaw #FamiliesInAmerica #Leadership #SystemsChange
- Mar 26, 202632 min
Episode 31:Collaboration in the Child Welfare System: Lessons from a Foster Care Judge
On this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I’m talking with Judge Karen Braxton and honestly… I loved this conversation. She describes judges as a catalyst for collaboration, and she actually shows up that way. We talk about the role a judge can play in reducing confusion in the family and child welfare system, why acronyms leave parents glassy-eyed, and what it looks like to lead a courtroom with dignity, humanity, and real clarity. Moments you’ll remember: The phrase that stayed with me: “catalyst for collaboration.” The reality check about court language and acronyms and how easy it is for families to leave confused My takeaway: Court is already intimidating. When families don’t understand what’s happening, they can’t fully participate. What I heard in this conversation is that judges can reduce confusion and increase trust without giving up authority. They can lead like humans, and that leadership changes the whole tone of the child welfare system in the courtroom. Be sure to share this episode, and check out www.syncingchildwelfare.com if you are looking to bring training, collaboration, and connection to your organization. Follow Judge KB’s on any of the platforms below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudgeKBraxton/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judgekbraxton IG: https://www.instagram.com/judgekbraxton/
- Mar 19, 202612 min
Episode 30: Frustrated in foster care...who is in the room?
Episode summary I want you to sit with a real question: when are you ever in the room with the people who impact your work and the environment is actually collaborative? Not a courtroom. Not a crisis case. Just a room where everyone is trying to understand each other and work better together. In this episode, I talk about how easy it is for foster care and child welfare work to turn into assumptions and side conversations when there’s miscommunication. And honestly, I get it. When we don’t understand what another person does, it’s tempting to label them as incompetent or uncaring. But most of the time, we’re judging people we’ve never actually talked to. I share what I learned as an attorney, then later as a social service administrator: relationships change outcomes. When we intentionally get court partners, attorneys, guardian ad litems, caseworkers, and community organizations in the room (outside of adversarial spaces), skepticism can turn into buy-in, and chaos can turn into clarity. What I cover Leadership requires understanding how families are impacted How frustration and miscommunication are often signals that connection is needed Why the “big agency” can’t act like it does & knows everything How inviting community orgs to share what they do changes everything SYNCing Child Welfare is a solution and helps organizations see the 10 systems in the family and child welfare system and learn practical ways to connect across them Key takeaways If there’s consistent frustration, there’s probably a missing relationship or missing understanding If we don’t create a feedback loop, people end up “suffering in silence” while things stay absurdly unwell The people who do well in this work are usually the ones who see the big picture and build connection on purpose What’s next & call to action If you’re ready to bring more connection, collaboration, and real partnership into your foster care or child welfare work, reach out. My email is info@dupreeperspective.com. Reach out today!
About Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated Reporter
Are you struggling to keep good child welfare staff and volunteers? Are they drowning in alphabet soup, unclear timelines, fuzzy roles, and “who does what” confusion? Does attending court hearings cause anxiety in staff and families? You are not by yourself. When people talk about the foster care system they often describe it as broken, confusing, and frustrating. It’s why I’m so excited to introduce a podcast that will help staff and volunteers see the big picture of child welfare, lessen anxiety, and provide tips on how to connect with partners in the child welfare system. I’m Shanelle Dupree and I’ve been working in the child welfare system for 20 years as an attorney, a social service administrator, a non-profit leader, and now as a consultant. I have experienced first hand that knowing how to do your job is not enough to be successful in serving families. We need to connect better and see the big picture. When I was representing families in court, I finally realized that to have families reach their goal, it requires connection and collaboration with the others involved in the child welfare ecosystem. I’ve created a 360º view of the child welfare system that will eliminate confusion, build relationships, and develop trust with families. If this sounds like the natural but missing piece in your work with vulnerable families—this podcast is for you. So hug your loved ones a little bit tighter, and let's connect.
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