Issue Brief

As a member of the Executive Team for an organization serving vulnerable children, you have been tasked to prepare a report summarizing the development of a program to support these children. Your task as an experienced manager hoping to convince others to address the problem is to prepare an Issue Brief that includes the following:

• Nature of the Problem
  • presents facts on the nature of this problem, (incidence, prevalence, special needs of this population)
• Risk Factors
  • identifies the individual, familial and community risks that have contributed to the problem
• Protective Factors
  • identifies the protective factors that may be lacking in the families of these children
• Policies
  • discusses relevant policy initiatives or laws around the problem
• Current Resources
  • presents resources already available to address the issue and support the population
• Collaborating Systems
  • notes other systems that may also be serving these children
• Program Models
  • highlights existing program models or evidence-based interventions to improve the outcomes for these specific children and families in the child welfare system
• Prevention
  • discusses ways that the problem could be prevented from affecting children altogether
• Case for Support
  • explores why it makes sense (and cents) for the community to support this population and fund programs to support the problem

The brief should be about 3-5 pages in length (not including bibliography); single spaced with one-inch margins using Times New Roman 12-point font. It is to be presented in a format that clearly outlines content marked with headings for the following sections:

• Nature of the Problem
• Risk Factors
• Protective Factors
• Policies
• Current Resources
• Collaborating Systems
• Program Models
• Prevention
• Case for Support
• Bibliography for Issue Brief (Use APA guidelines for preparing your bibliography.)

Students will request a topic affecting youth in the context of child welfare in New Jersey. Examples include:

Children Exposed to Community Violence / Gangs