Schubert Center for Child Studies

10/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Schubert Center for Child Studies Open House last week! We loved seeing so many students, faculty, researchers, and community partners come together to kick off the new academic year.

Whether you stopped by to explore the Child Studies Minor, learn about policy pathways, or catch up over refreshments, your energy set the stage for an amazing year ahead! 🤝💡

👉 Missed out? Click the link in our bio to learn how you can get involved with research, experiential learning, and center programs!

10/06/2026

What does it mean to feel a true sense of belonging within an adoptive family? Join us for the next installment of our Childhood Matters Conversations Series, "Family Belonging: Perspectives of Young Adult Adoptees," featuring guest speaker Professor Nancy Rolock, PhD (she/her).
Drawing on extensive research with young adults who were adopted, Dr. Rolock will explore adoptees' perspectives on family relationships, belonging, and overall well-being as they navigate the transition into adulthood. As the Henry L. Zucker Professor of Social Work Practice at Case Western Reserve University’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Dr. Rolock brings nearly three decades of child welfare research committed to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice.
This in-person conversation takes place on October 23rd from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM in Community Room #150, located at 11635 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106. Light refreshments will be served.
Please register in advance to reserve your seat at https://case.edu/schubertcenter/node/3093

09/28/2026

Last call to help us kick off the new academic year!
Join us this Wednesday, September 30th, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM for the Schubert Center Welcome Back Open House. We are bringing together faculty, fellows, students, and community partners dedicated to advancing child studies and child well-being for an afternoon of connection and collaboration. Undergraduate students can drop in to learn about the Child Studies Minor, research opportunities, and policy pathways, while faculty and community members can connect with our students and broader programs. Refreshments will be provided, so come grab a bite, say hi, and find out how you can get involved this year. Head to our website to RSVP and add the event to your calendar today! https://case.edu/schubertcenter/node/3089

09/28/2026

We are thrilled to be a community partner on The City Club of Cleveland's upcoming forum, The AI Generation: Healthy Early Childhood Development in a Tech World, which will explore the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence in child-rearing and early childhood education. Local leaders from the Gund Foundation, Starting Point, and Invest in Children will discuss efforts underway across Northeast Ohio to support healthy early childhood development.

📅 October 6th | 11:30 - 1:00 pm
💻 Livestream starts at noon
🎫 Tickets available at the link!

For many caregivers and early childhood educators, raising and teaching children in an increasingly tech-dependent world can be daunting. Now, the advent of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has further complicated an already vulnerable and challenging time of life for both caregivers and children ali...

09/24/2026

The Schubert Center for Child Studies is grateful to Dr. Wilson Brown of Case Western Reserve University and discussant Dr. Emily Cao of Bellefaire JCB for their insightful Pediatrics Grand Rounds presentation, co-sponsored by the center and UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. The presentation shed vital light on the realities within Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) where over 500,000 youth are placed annually. Up to 98% of these young people have experienced prior trauma and 40% suffer from PTSD, yet PRTFs yield the poorest long-term outcomes compared to foster or home-based care. Systemic challenges significantly drive these outcomes. Direct care staff face a 50% annual turnover rate while earning just $18 to $22 per hour for their urgent work. Meanwhile, physical restraints are used in about 76% of facilities, but tracking and oversight remain difficult because data are non-standardized and self-reported. Moving forward, facilities should adopt trauma-informed alternatives like the Ukeru philosophy, which centers on “comfort rather than control.” By prioritizing relationship-building, de-escalation, and protective equipment, providers can handle acute frustration safely without re-traumatizing youth. Advancing effective pediatric mental health care requires supporting the direct care workforce, standardizing facility reporting, and committing to restraint-free practice.

09/22/2026

Reminder! Tune in from 8 to 9 AM this Thursday, September 24th, for "The Science of Physical Restraints in Youth in Psychiatric Residential Treatment: Implications for Trauma-Informed Practice." Dr. Wilson Brown of Case Western Reserve University will discuss the latest research on restraint use and its impact on trauma-informed clinical care, with insights from discussant Dr. Emily Cao, Chief Medical Officer at Bellefaire JCB. This session is co-sponsored by the Schubert Center for Child Studies and UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. Find the livestream link to watch and add it to your calendar before Thursday morning at https://case.edu/schubertcenter/node/3085.

09/16/2026

One week away! Join us for a compelling lecture on how maternal exposures — from vital antibodies to environmental toxins — shape infant health through human milk.
Featured speaker Shannon Conrey, Assistant Professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, will share her research on the inter-generational transfer of maternal environmental, nutritional, and biological factors.
"Mom as the Infant's Environment" streams live online next Tuesday, September 22nd, from noon to 1 p.m. Save your spot and add the event to your calendar at https://case.edu/schubertcenter/node/3086

09/11/2026

How do physical restraints impact youth in psychiatric care, and how can trauma-informed care offer a better path forward?
Join Case Western Reserve University’s Dr. Wilson Brown from 8 to 9 a.m. on September 24th for Pediatrics Grand Rounds as he breaks down the science behind physical restraints in residential treatment settings. A licensed clinical psychologist specializing in traumatic stress disorders, Dr. Brown will share crucial insights on improving treatment for kids and teens with complex mental health needs, particularly in underserved communities.
Co-sponsored by the Schubert Center for Child Studies and UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s, this free livestream is a must-watch for healthcare professionals, advocates, and anyone passionate about youth mental health. Mark your calendar and tune in to be part of this vital conversation!
More information, including the livestream link, is available at https://case.edu/schubertcenter/node/3085

09/09/2026

Heard at the Associate's Dinner:

"We rely on our partners to provide child welfare - that is a community value. We either believe in it or we don't," said David Merriman, director of Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services. "The system is under threat. These dramatic changes are occurring throughout every one of the human service programs that I represent whether it's homeless services, senior services, child support. It goes across the entire network."..
"I believe the future lies in front of us and I think that future is partnership. I believe we're having a positive impact and I hope the Schubert Center proves it. And I hope Case and all of the other aligned partners will be part of the period in which we watch what is occurring right now and we ask is that making a difference? And I think being accountable, are we making a difference? Are we making things better or are we making things possible? Those are going to be the challenges of right now and I know that the Schubert Center will step up and know that we will be partners of theirs and I hope you will be as well."

09/09/2026

Connecting research to real-world impact for children and youth. ✨

Gearing up for a great evening at the annual Associates Dinner hosted by the Schubert Center for Child Studies! CWRU faculty, administrators, and community partners have come together to share ideas, network, and highlight their latest research, key findings, and policy implications.

Grateful for this vibrant community driving meaningful collaboration for our youth! 👥💡