Partnership Connections

Restoration in Progress: Healing Families and the Child Welfare Workforce

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Jessica Pryce, Research Faculty member at Florida State University College of Social Work, a former Child Protective Services investigator in Florida, and author of Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services—Notes of a Former Caseworker.
 
Throughout the conversation, we cover her experiences of challenges in child protective services—including worker burnout, power imbalances, racial disparities, and the gap between training and real‑world practice. Through personal stories, research insights, and reflections from her book, she highlights the need for more humane, collaborative, and data‑informed approaches to supporting both families and frontline workers. The conversation also explores evolving case practice in Rhode Island and emphasizes the importance of self‑care, distributive leadership, and elevating the voices of parents with lived and living experience.
 

From Data to Impact: How Evidence Shapes Better Outcomes for Kids and Families with Elizabeth Burke Bryant

In this episode, we sit down with renowned child advocate Elizabeth Burke Bryant, Professor of the Practice of Health Services, Policy and PracticeHassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute Brown University School of Public Health and former longtime Executive Director of Rhode Island Kids Count. With more than 30 years of experience shaping equitable policies for children and families, Elizabeth reflects on her personal journey from a civic‑minded upbringing in Providence to becoming one of Rhode Island’s most influential voices in child well‑being.
Our discussion explores the critical role of data‑driven advocacy, the persistent challenges of affordable housing, the deep connections between poverty, education, and child welfare, and the growing urgency around children’s behavioral health. 
 

Brains Under Pressure: Neuroscience Insights for the Child Welfare Professional

Join us as we chat with Dr. Kristin Scaplen and Dr. Victoria Heimer-McGinn as they help us explore how chronic stress affects the brain. They focus on key regions like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, and what that means for child welfare professionals working in high‑pressure environments. They also break down the science behind stress, memory, addiction, and neuroplasticity in accessible terms while offering practical, evidence‑based strategies for building resilience and supporting well-being. The conversation also highlights community neuroscience outreach efforts aimed at increasing public understanding of brain health.
 
Check out Brainwaves RI! 
 

Safe Sleep, Real Conversations: Supporting Families with Empathy

In this episode, we sit down with Brandi Didino of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) and Margo Katz of the Rhode Island Department of Health to unpack the evolving guidance around infant safe sleep. We explore the emotional, cultural, and practical challenges families face, how professionals can meet parents with empathy, and what evidence‑based support really looks like in child welfare.
 

Can We Really Prevent Child Maltreatment Without Fighting Poverty?

Join us as we chat with Dr. Kristen Slack, Senior Scientist at Research Triangle Institute and a leading expert on poverty and child welfare; to explore the complex relationship between socioeconomic factors and child maltreatment. We discuss how economic hardship influences family involvement with child welfare systems, the role of safety nets, and what can be done to better support families before crises occur.
 

Voices of Open Adoption: Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, and the children they help

This episode dives into the complexities of adoption, exploring open adoption, birth family involvement, and the lifelong impact on adoptees and parents. Guest Deborah Siegel shares her personal and professional journey, insights from decades of research, and practical advice for child welfare professionals on supporting families with empathy and transparency
 

The Unseen Goodbyes: Navigating Ambiguous Loss for Ourselves and the Families We Serve

In this episode of the Partnership Connections Podcast, hosts Stan Brajer and Holly Pacheco explore the concept of ambiguous loss with guest Kate Tetuan Parent, Associate Director at Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnership Program. Together, they discuss the two types of ambiguous loss, its impact on youth and families, and practical strategies for supporting those navigating grief and uncertainty. The conversation emphasizes honesty, storytelling, and building resilience in the face of complex, ongoing loss.
 

Youth Corrections Reimagined: Breaking Barriers & Building Bridges

Join us as we chat with Rhode Island Training School Executive Director Larome Myrick and Senior Community Development Specialist John Scott. They share powerful personal stories, challenge misconceptions, and highlight innovative community partnerships that support youth rehabilitation at the Rhode Island Training School. From urban gardens to historical cemetery projects, this conversation sheds light on how purpose-driven programs are transforming lives and building bridges between systems.

Setting the P.A.C.E: Charting the Future of Child and Family Well-Being in Rhode Island.

Join us as we sit down with Melissa Aguiar-Rivard, Chief of Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), to unpack the agency’s five-year strategic plan. Melissa shares insights from DCYF's Listening & Learning Tour, revealing how staff, families, partners, and youth shaped the plan’s core pillars: Prevention, Accountability, Collaboration, and Engagement (PACE).
Here is the Stategic Plan in its entirety!

Substance Use in Transition: Myths, Facts, and the New Reality

Join us as we welcome back Ocean State Recovery Executive Director Chris Dorval and MADD Rhode Island Program Director Jennifer O’Neil to explore the evolving landscape of substance use and impaired driving in Rhode Island. The conversation covers rising trends in alcohol and cannabis use, the impact of fentanyl and xylazine, and the challenges of prevention, treatment, and harm reduction. With a focus on child welfare, the guests emphasize the importance of honest dialogue, myth-busting, and supporting recovery to protect families and communities.