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.
Episode 45: Connecting Before the Crisis: A Better Way to Navigate Child Welfare
What happens when we bring together the people and organizations involved in foster care and child welfare before there's a crisis?
In this episode, I'm sharing a behind-the-scenes look at my upcoming presentation at the 50th Annual Kansas Governor's Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. I'll be introducing participants to SYNCing Child Welfare, an interactive experience designed to help us better understand the different systems involved in serving families and how we can connect more effectively.
I also talk about something that's becoming increasingly important to me: planning for joy and longevity in the helping professions. We spend so much time thinking about how to help families, but are we creating environments where the people doing this work can thrive, too?
In this episode
- Why connecting across the family and child welfare system should happen before problems arise.
- The importance of bringing multiple systems and perspectives into the same room.
- A preview of the interactive activities in my 360° Workshop.
- How authentic conversations can help strengthen collaboration and understanding.
- Why planning for joy and longevity deserves more attention in the helping professions.
Why this matters
The family and child welfare system is made up of people working across different organizations, responsibilities, and communities. Yet too often, we're expecting a handful of professionals to carry an enormous amount of responsibility.
I believe there's a better way, and it starts with understanding the bigger picture, creating meaningful connections, and recognizing that supporting our workforce is also part of supporting families. Episode 45 Kansas Governor's Conference- SYNCing Child Welfare.docx
Join me at the Kansas Governor's Conference
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM CT
SYNCing Child Welfare Interactive Workshop
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | 10:00–11:30 AM CT
Raising Engagement Data Dashboard Presentation
Sign up for the SYNCing Child Welfare newsletter so you can stay connected and receive tools that simplify navigation and reduce confusion in the family and child welfare system. Click HERE.
17 Sept 2026
Episode 44: You don't have to be a foster parent to help families...
The foster care system should not be the first or only place families find support. When families have help early, through neighbors, relatives, churches, community organizations, and basic-needs support, some crises can be reduced or avoided altogether. Helping families does not always require a formal title. Sometimes it starts with noticing a need and responding with care.
Who in your circle, neighborhood, church, or community may need support before a crisis becomes system involvement?
If this episode helped you think differently about the family and child welfare system, stay connected by signing up for the SYNCing Child Welfare Newsletter. You’ll receive tools, insights, and practical support to reduce confusion, isolation, and burnout in foster care. Sign up HERE.
27 Aug 2026
Episode 43: Mandated Reporters: What Happens after CPS is Called?
Mandated reporters…you have a power that must be wielded responsibly.
A knock on the door from CPS can change everything for a family. Mandated reporters are in a special position where they are required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect. But what happens when training is sporadic, there is no real understanding or grappling of poverty versus neglect, and the policy is “when in doubt report?” Families become unnecessarily involved in a system that was never designed to care for children or families who only needed support. But let me be clear-I am not a proponent of abolishing or ending the family and child welfare system. I’ve represented hundreds of families and there are legitimate situations where the state should be involved, but that’s not all or even most foster care cases. As I think about my time in courtroom, with the agency, and now I see opportunities to change how we work with families.
What about you?
Check out the YouTube video as well: https://youtu.be/JpbX9jE1a9s
#mandatedreporter #cps #fostercare #poverty #neglect
Thank you for watching! My hope is that these conversations make us think deeper about ways to serve families better.
📬 Join the SYNCing Child Welfare Newsletter for practical tools, encouragement, and resources:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gsyfk6n/syncpodcast
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Host of Skin DEEP: Child Welfare?
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