best practices for work with youth with disabilities in the u.s. and russia

On child welfare and disability services in RussiaElspeth Slayter, PhDAssociate ProfessorSchool of Social Work

Project description• Eurasia Foundation grant

• Conduct exchange with Russian counterpart

• Provide consultation on youth with disabilities in child welfare system

• Visit centers providing evidence-based practices

Globalization fosters potential for exchange programs

• Common focus is on how global economy benefits

• Can also…– Share ideas about how to

make the world a better place

– Find commonalities that can transcend governmental politics

– Build cross-cultural understanding

Comparison of child welfare policy foci:

Russia• Prevention of child removal

• Placement with families

• Move from large orphanages to small settings

• Support for foster, adoptive parents

United States• Safety, permanency, well-

being

• Differential response

• Transitional-aged youth

Exchange project: Developing disability competence in child welfare

• Created, ran training

• Prepared online training

• Developed resource website, FB page

• Planning on developing “disability empowerment ambassadors” through MSW student exchange

Russian evidence-based practices for children with disabilities and their families

Center for Curative Pedagogy• Founded in1989• Mission: “to demand the right

for people with disabilities to be educated, rehabilitated and to live a full and productive life in which they are fully accepted within their communities”

• Moonberry Jam video

Downside-up• Founded 1990• Mission: “provides support

and advice for families raising children with Down syndrome, develops innovative childrens’ trainings and parent support methods, disseminates knowledge and experience among Russian professionals, and works towards raising public awareness about Down syndrome with the aim of changing attitudes.”

Absolute school• Residential program

• Children with all disabilities

• Animal-assisted therapy for children

Family village• Founded in 2014• “Closed community”• 17 homes for 11

children each• Parents live in homes• Case management,

therapy in-house• School for disabilities

across the street• 10 year incentive

For further information:

Elspeth Slaytereslayter@salemstate.edu