What does science tell us about the impact of trauma on young children? How can we use the science of early childhood development to inform child welfare policies and practices?

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Illinois Governor's Office of Early Childhood Development partnered with Casey Family Programs to explore these questions at a forum held October 13, 2011, in Springfield, Illinois.

The forum engaged national and state experts in helping Illinois' leaders and legislative staff to explore scientific research and the implications of the research on state child welfare policy. The featured speaker was Katherine Magnuson, Ph.D., an associate professor at the School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison.