ASU Center for Child Well-Being

🎉Huge congratulations to Dr. James Herbert Williams, PhD on being named one of PHOENIX magazine’s 2026 Health-Care Heroes! 🏆

As Director of the Center for Child Well-Being at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work, Dr. Williams is a true pioneer—recently honored by the National Association of Social Workers as a Social Work Pioneer for his transformative work shaping child-welfare policy and improving outcomes for foster youth across Arizona.

Through community partnerships, training, technical assistance, and turning research into real-world impact, he and his colleagues are making a profound difference in the lives of Arizona’s children and families. “I have the privilege of working with an amazing group of colleagues whose one mission is improving the lives of Arizona’s children and families.”

So well-deserved! Thank you for your dedication and leadership.

Read the full list: https://www.phoenixmag.com/2026/05/07/2026-health-care-heroes/

It’s time for swimming pool fun! ☀️💦

But here’s the reality in Arizona: Drowning is the #1 cause of injury-related death for children ages 1–4 — and Arizona kids in this age group drown at nearly double the national average, mostly in backyard pools.

A water safety plan can save lives. Follow the ABCs of water safety:
✅ Adult supervision (designate a distraction-free Water Watcher)
✅ Barriers (4-sided isolation fence with self-closing, self-latching gate)
✅ Classes (swim lessons + CPR training)

Here are some free Arizona resources to help you build your plan:
💧 Phoenix Children’s “Playing It Safe” workshops + free water safety kits → https://phoenixchildrens.org/specialties-conditions/injury-prevention-program/programs-services/water-safety-program
💧 SRP Water Safety Checklist, Coloring Book & Water Watcher tags → https://www.srpnet.com/customer-service/safety/water-pool
💧 Swim lessons across the Valley (many free/low-cost options)
https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/parks/classes-programs/aquatics-programs.html
https://www.gomotionapp.com/team/azbest/page/programs/swimming-lessons
https://www.chandleraz.gov/explore/chandler-aquatics/swim-lessons/financial-assistance
https://valleyymca.org/programs/swim/

Do you have a water safety plan? Drop it in the comments or share one tip that keeps your family safe! Resources for other states are welcome and encouraged. Tag a parent or caregiver who needs this.

If you're looking for materials from the National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference (April 2026), we've got you covered.

We've gathered all the key handouts, documents, and resources in one convenient location. Visit the page for the full conference program, useful terminology, organization overviews, and more:
👉https://childwellbeing.asu.edu/conference-resources
Bookmark it and check back often — we’ll be adding more documents as they are available.

Do you have a handout or resource from the conference you'd like to share? Reach out and we’ll add it!

Honoring the past, celebrating the present, and welcoming the future of the ASU Center for Child Well-Being.

Dr. James Herbert Williams (Retiring Director), Dr. Judy Krysik (Founding Director), and Dr. Justin Harty (Incoming Director) gathered together at the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference in Scottsdale.

Continuity and commitment to strengthening families, protecting children, and building safer, more vibrant communities in action! ❤️

Thank you for helping to make the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference a resounding success!

We extend our deepest gratitude to our outstanding Speakers for generously sharing their insights and expertise, our valued Sponsors for their vital support in bringing this event to life, and our dedicated Attendees for creating such a vibrant and meaningful atmosphere throughout the conference. Your collective contributions and participation were truly the driving force behind this year’s success.

We also want to recognize the invaluable guidance and dedication of the Advisory Committee, whose thoughtful input helped shape a conference that was both impactful and responsive to the needs of children and families affected by incarceration.

As Day 1 of the conference is in full-swing, we'd like to send a huge THANK YOU to the U.S. Dream Academy US Dream Academy for sponsoring the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents. We're immensely grateful for their commitment to furthering awareness on the impact of incarceration on children and families and for their commitment to helping our nation's children reach for their dreams.

We'd also like to express our gratitude to MyKayla Searles-Houston for providing wellness check-ins throughout the conference, and to Diane Wallace-Booker for being an instrumental part of the CIP National Advisory Committee.

What an honor it is to have Parenting Inside Out Parenting Inside Out sponsoring the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference. We're immensely grateful for their continued commitment to furthering awareness on the impact of incarceration on children and families.

Don't miss the opportunity to connect with them at the conference next week and discover their exceptional evidence-based parenting skills training program, specifically designed for justice impacted parents. 💙💙💙

We're feeling overwhelmingly grateful for the PATHfinder Club's generous sponsorship of the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference.

Their sustained support for this important event and their commitment to help supporting justice system-impacted teens through art is inspirational. Our hearts are filled with gratitude. 💙💙💙The PATHfinder Club.org

A heartfelt thank you to Desert Diamond Casino West Valley & White Tanks for their generous sponsorship of the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference.

Your continued support helps make this powerful gathering possible, bringing together voices, stories, and solutions. Thank you for helping to standing with us helping to amplify the voice of children, youth and families affected by incarceration, fostering hope and change in our communities. 🔷💙🔷💙

A huge thank you to ASU Watts College of Public Service & Community Solutions for sponsoring the 8th Annual National Children of Incarcerated Parents Conference! ❤️

Your amazing support means the world to our Center and makes this important gathering possible. We're so grateful for your commitment to uplifting the voices and needs of justice impacted children and families.

📆 Important dates for CIP 2026 are here! Registration closes soon — don’t miss out! During the conference we’ll be celebrating Champions for Child Well-Being and packing the days with meaningful sessions.

Key Dates:
✅ April 13 – Last day to register (closes at 5pm MST)
✅ April 20 – Conference begins at 8am. Over a dozen sessions and TWO Plenaries!
✅ April 21 – Day 2 with over 20 sessions + optional afternoon hike
✅ April 22 – Final day with 11 sessions, and an amazing closing Plenary.

Church World Service (CWS) & Plataforma NNAPEs (a network of children’s rights organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean) for a conversation with youth advocates (Vocerías) from across Latin America and the Caribbean. The Vocerías and members of Plataforma NNAPes will present on their recent advocacy efforts that led to the passage of Resolution 2/25 by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in a special session immediately following the conference. (12pm - 2pm)

Who’s joining us? Drop a in the comments if you’re registered or planning to attend! Register now before it’s too late! Check out the link in the comments below.