Silhouettes of a family with two adults and one child.

Seeking Stories About Childhood Trauma

Aces and Trauma, Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, KARA News and Events, LGBTQ, Their stories

KARA’s next book will be the gathered wisdom from those of us with stories about child abuse, child protection, and childhood trauma. Do you have a story you want to tell?

We invite writers to submit original work of 300-400 words for consideration in our upcoming book, (working title), CHILD ABUSE IN THE MIRROR.

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Children holding signs advocating for children's rights and voices.

Vulnerabilities in the Foster Care System (podcast)

Adoption, Foster and Kinship Care, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Featured Articles, PODCAST & STREAMING, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

In this episode of Kids at Risk Action, hosts Ashley and Alex discuss a heartbreaking case in which a 7-week-old infant suffered 13 fractures while in foster care, allegedly inflicted by the foster mother. This case highlights the systemic issues within the foster care system, including inadequate resources, lack of oversight, and insufficient training and support for foster parents.

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Sign advocating for social justice and children's rights.

Links to Facts and Happenings in Child Protection and Public Health

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Juvenile + Criminal Justice, KARA News and Events, Reporting and News - US Based

This is a snapshot of changes being made to the safety net for child protection, public health and education. Please take a few minutes and show your support for those programs and policies you know to be of value to the weakest and most vulnerable among us.

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Logo for Invisible Children, focusing on kids at risk.

The Critical Need for Child Advocacy Centers (podcast)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Education, Featured Articles, KARA News and Events, PODCAST & STREAMING, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Kids at Risk Action, the hosts discuss the critical issue of funding cuts to Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Minnesota, which are essential in providing support for abused and neglected children. CACs offer services like forensic interviews, victim advocacy, and medical exams, but with the loss of 80% of their federal funding, these centers could be forced to close, leaving thousands of children without protection.

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Close-up of a child's face with braided hair and intense eyes.

Best and Worst Practices in Minnesota CPS (part 4 of 4)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, KARA News and Events, Media, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific

Jessie Van Berkel wrote a very strong piece about the CASA Guardian ad Litem program in the Star Tribune recently. She brought attention to how a few bad decisions from new management can almost end a community volunteer institution at a time when it is most needed.

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Logo of Invisible Children, advocating for at-risk youth.

Best and Worst Practices in Minnesota CPS (part 3 of 4)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, KARA News and Events, Reporting and News - International, Reporting and News - MN Specific

If you ran an institution that found it hard to keep up with the demands being met in it you would most likely have only one or two choices to meet those demands. Find ways to do the work by simply making people do more with less, or, find more people to provide the service you have been mandated to provide. 

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A woman with a serious expression holds up her hand as a stop gesture.

Best and Worst Practices in Minnesota CPS (part 2 of 4)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, KARA News and Events, Public Policy, Reporting and News - MN Specific

Imagine you ran an office full of Guardians ad Litem with different talents and these people worked hard to fix the problems of people with a wide range of complex problems.

It would be useful to allow your talented worker bees to select those cases that fit their requests and talents

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Logo for Invisible Children, raising awareness for abducted kids.

Doing the Math in Child Protective Services (podcast)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Protection, Education, Featured Articles, invisible children, Juvenile + Criminal Justice, PODCAST & STREAMING, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Statistics

Kids at Risk Action, Michael and John examine the staggering costs and human impact of child protective services (CPS) and the interconnected child welfare and juvenile justice systems. They highlight troubling statistics, such as the high number of children reported to CPS each year, the underreporting of abuse, and the alarming link between CPS involvement and later incarceration.

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Young girl with red hair in a white dress, surrounded by darkness.

77 Years of Child Abuse (podcast)

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, Child Protection, Mental Health + Over Medication, PODCAST & STREAMING, Reporting and News - US Based

Kids at Risk Action, Katie and Jenna explore the deep, lasting effects of childhood trauma through the lens of a survivor’s 77-year journey. They discuss how childhood abuse, often unrecognized, rewires the brain and shapes a lifetime of emotional struggles, relationships, and self-worth issues.

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Two hands gently holding each other in a comforting gesture.

Tip of the Mental Health Iceberg (podcast)

Aces and Trauma, All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Mental Health + Over Medication, PODCAST & STREAMING, Reporting and News - US Based

Kids at Risk Action, the hosts address the growing mental health crisis in child welfare, particularly in emergency rooms and foster care systems. They reveal alarming statistics, such as the significant rise in ER visits for children’s mental health crises and the systemic failures that leave many without proper care.

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Logo of Invisible Children with a brick wall and child illustration.

Child Endangerment (Star Tribune “IN HARM’S WAY”)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child self harm and suicide, Children's Rights, Reporting and News - MN Specific

The Star Tribune’s investigative report titled “IN HARM’S WAY” provides a rare glimpse into the world of Child Protective Services. This report illuminates the disheartening fact that children often do not have a right to safety.

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Green and white capsules spilling out of a white bottle.

Parental Drug Use Killing Children in Pennsylvania at High Rates (investigative report)

Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, KARA News and Events, Reporting and News - US Based, Stunning Statistics

KARA follows investigative reporting on child death and near death by caregivers while the children are known to CPS (Child Protective Services). Please send us links to the reports in your state and we will make them available to a larger audience.Parental Drug Use Killing Children in Pennsylvania at High Rates (investigative report)

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Children holding signs advocating for children's rights and voices.

(CASA Guardian ad Litem) Be a Voice For Abused Children Where You Live

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Child Protection, Guest Posts, Reporting and News - MN Specific

Spotify Episode # 30 Click Here For the Audio: What it’s like Being a CASA Child Advocate Summary: This is a short description of one Community CASA Guardian ad Litem’s experience being a child advocate in the Child Protection System.

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A hand pressed against a dark background with 'Domestic Violence' text.

There Is No Constituency For Abused & Neglected Children

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Reporting and News - MN Specific

how 13 Minnesota Child Advocacy Centers (CAC’s) are losing 80% of their Federal funding. If this happens they will likely disappear or become a shell of what they were in a very short time.

CAC’s keep safe and provide services to children and families who have reported abuse and provide services to help them live through and recover from child abuse, domestic violence, and the traumas that come from it.

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Close-up of a child's face with braided hair against a dark background.

Child Death and Public Non Disclosure (thank you Marie Cohen)

All Posts from Kids at Risk Action, CASA, GAL and Child Protection, Child Abuse and Deaths, Reporting and News - MN Specific, Reporting and News - US Based

Much of this article is taken from Marie Cohen’s remarkable research at the American Enterprise Institute. For those of you concerned with Child Protective Services in your community, Marie’s article is detailed and powerful. It could change your State Representative’s mind about transparency in CPS (Child Protective Services) where you live (share this state rep…

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