Lisa Merkel-Holguin, MSW

Publications

• Lalayants, M. & Merkel-Holguin, L. (2024). Navigating the child welfare system: the role of enhanced parent advocacy supports in child protection, Journal of Public Child Welfare, DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2024.2315133
• Lalayants, M. & Merkel-Holguin, L. (in press, 2023). Adapting Private Family Time in Child Protective Services Decision-Making Processes. Child and Family Social Work.
• Allan, H., Merkel-Holguin, L., Drury, I., and Winokur, M. (in press, 2023). Working Towards Prevention for Families At-Risk of Child Maltreatment - Meeting Families' Needs through Community Response in Colorado. International Journal on Child Maltreatment.
• Lalayants, M. & Merkel-Holguin, L. (2023). Adapting Private Family Time in Child Protective Services Decision-Making Processes. Child & Family Social Work. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12999
• Allan, H., Merkel-Holguin, L., Drury, I., and Winokur, M. (2023). Working Towards Prevention for Families At-Risk of Child Maltreatment - Meeting Families' Needs through Community Response in Colorado. International Journal on Child Maltreatment. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42448-022-00145-6.
• Merkel-Holguin, L. (Summer 2023). Re-imagining Child Welfare. Child Maltreatment in Japan.
• Hansen, K., Fluke, J., Gesink, D., Friborg, O., Sørlie, T., Merkel-Holguin, L., & Martinussen, M. (May 2023). Study Protocol: The Arctic Childhood Study: A Study of Violence and Health in Indigenous Sámi and Non-Sámi Children and Youth in Arctic Norway—a Mixed Methods Cohort Study Design. International Journal on Child Maltreatment. DOI: 10.1007/s42448-023-00165-w
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Drury, I. and 5 others. Structures of Oppression in the U.S. Child Welfare System: Reflections on Administrative Barriers to Equity. To be published in the journal Societies in 2022.
• Johnson-Motoyama, M., Ginther, D., Phillips, R., Beer, O., Merkel-Holguin, L., and Fluke, J. Differential response and the reduction of child maltreatment and foster care services utilization in the U.S. from 2004 to 2017. Child Maltreatment 0(0)-1-11. DOI: 10.1177/10775595211065761
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Drury, I., Gibley-Reed, C., Lara, A., Jihad, M, Grint K, and Marlowe K. (2022). Structures of oppression in the U.S. child Welfare System: Reflections on Administrative Barriers to Equity. Societies 12(1):26. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12010026.
• Robert M. Ortega, PhD, MSW Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, PhD, MSW Lisa Merkel-Holguin, MSW Christina M. Rodriguez, PhD Shawna J. Lee, PhD, MSW Kathryn Maguire-Jack, PhD, MSW, MPA Todd I. Herrenkohl, PhD, MSW. Fedele F. and Iris M. Fauri 2020 Memorial Lecture: Child Welfare and the COVID-19 Pandemic. APSAC Advisor.
• Differential Response and the Reduction of Child Maltreatment Substantiated Reports and Foster Care Services Utilization in the U.S. from 2004 to 2017. Lead author: Michelle Johnson-Motomaya. Accepted and will be published in Child Maltreatment.
• Merkel-Holguin, L. (2022). Book Review of Deanna Edwards and Kate Parkinson (eds.), Family group conferences in social work: involving families in social care decision making. Bristol: Policy Press, 2018, 282 pp., ISBN: 978-14473-3580-1. The International Journal of Restorative Justice 2021 vol. 4(2) pp. 358-362 doi: 10.5553/TIJRJ.000087
• Building evidence for family group decision-making in child welfare: operationalizing the intervention Marina Lalayants PhDa , Diane DePanfilis PhDa , Lisa Merkel-Holguin MSWb , Melinda Baldwin PhDc , Michele Schmidt MPAd , Julie Treinen MA, LPC, LISACe , Danielle Zuñiga MSf , Casey Mackereth MSg , and Taylor Anderson BAh JOURNAL OF PUBLIC CHILD WELFARE https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2021.1891185
• A review of differential response. Prepared for the Stand Together Foundation.
• Allan, H., Rauktis, MB, Pennell, J. Merkel-Holguin, L and Crampton, D. (2020). Family Meetings as a System Reform to Address Disproportionality and Disparities. In an edited book by A. Detlaff. Published by Springer.
• Supervising Teleworkers. Prepared for the QIC-WD and NCWWI COVID-19 child welfare series.
• Merkel-Holguin L., Fuller T., Winokur M., Drury I., Lonne B. (2019) How Can Differential Response Inform a Public Health Approach to Child Maltreatment Prevention?. In: Lonne B., Scott D., Higgins D., Herrenkohl T. (eds) Re-Visioning Public Health Approaches for Protecting Children. Child Maltreatment (Contemporary Issues in Research and Policy), vol 9. Springer, Cham
• Corwin, T. W., Maher, E. J., Merkel-Holguin, L., Allan, H., Hollinshead, D. M., & Fluke, J. D. (2019). Increasing social support for child welfare-involved families through family group conferencing. The British Journal of Social Work. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz036
• Fluke, J., Harlaar, N., Brown, B., Heisler, K., Merkel-Holguin, L., and Darnell, A. (2019). Differential Response and Children Re-Reported to Child Protective Services: Analysis of County National Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Data (NCANDS). The Journal of Child Maltreatment.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Schwab-Reese, L., Drury, I., Allan, H., and Hollinshead, D. (2019). Nothing About Me, Without Me: Children’s Experiences with Family Group Conferences. Child and Family Social Work.
• Merkel-Holguin, L, Fluke, J., and Krugman, R. (Eds). (under contract 2017). National Systems of Child Protection. Springer Press.
• Lonne, B., Fuller, T., Winokur, M., Drury, I., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (chapter under contract 2017). Differential Response as a Public Health Approach in Re-Visioning Public Health Approaches for Protecting Children. Springer Press
• Merkel-Holguin, L, Fluke, J., and Krugman, R. (Eds). (2018). National Systems of Child Protection: Understanding the International Variability and Context for Developing Policy and Practice. Springer Press.
• Lonne, B., Fuller, T., Winokur, M., Drury, I., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (chapter under contract 2018). Differential Response as a Public Health Approach in Re-Visioning Public Health Approaches for Protecting Children. Springer Press
• Fluke, J., Harlaar, N., Brown, B., Heisler, K., Merkel-Holguin, L., and Darnell, A. (2018). Differential Response and Children Re-Reported to Child Protective Services: Analysis of County National Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Data (NCANDS). The Journal of Child Maltreatment.
• Hollinshead, D., Corwin, T., Maher, E., Merkel-Holguin, L., Allan, H., and Fluke, J. (2017). Effectiveness of Family Group Conferencing in Preventing Repeat Referrals to Child Protective Services and Out-of-Home Placements. Child Abuse and Neglect, 69, 285-294. DOI information: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.04.022
• Hollinshead, D., Kim, S., Fluke, J., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (2017). Factors Associated with Service Utilization in Child Welfare: A Structural Equation Model. Children and Youth Service Review, 79, 506-516.
• Allan, H., Harlaar, N., Hollinshead, D., Drury, I., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (2017). The Impact of Worker and Agency Characteristics on FGC referrals in child welfare. Children and Youth Services Review 8, 229-237
• Allan, H., Currie, D., Drury, I., Merkel-Holguin, L., Fluke, J., & Winokur, M. (2017). Colorado Department of Human Services Colorado Community Response Pilot Project Evaluation Report. Ft. Collins, CO: Social Work Research Center, Colorado State University.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Allan, H., Hollinshead, D., & Currie, D. Are we doing what we think we’re doing? Assessing FGDM fidelity in multiple jurisdictions. (2017, October 18). Presentation at the 2017 International Conference on Innovations in Family Engagement, Vail, CO.
• Maher, E., Allan, H., Merkel-Holguin, L., and Corwin, T. (Accepted, 2016). Using multi-site experimental and quasi-experimental designs to evaluate a common practice in child welfare. SAGE Research Methods.
• Fluke, J., Harlaar, N., Heisler, K., Darnell, A., Brown, B., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (2016). Differential Response and the Safety of Children Reported to Child Protective Services: A Tale of Six States. Washington, DC: ASPE.
• Allan, H., Currie, D., Merkel-Holguin, L., and Fluke, J. (2016). Year 3 Evaluation Report: Colorado Community Response. Unpublished report.
• Allan, H., Hollinshead, D., Harlaar, N., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (2016). Final Evaluation Report for Found, Engaged and Connected. Olmsted County, MN.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Hollinshead, D., Hahn, A., Casillas, K., and Fluke, J. (2014). The Influence of Differential Response and Other Factors on Parent Perceptions of Child Protection Involvement. Child Abuse and Neglect, in press.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., and Bross, D. (2014). Commentary: Taking a Deep Breath before Reflecting on Differential Response. Child Abuse and Neglect, in press.
• Merkel-Holguin, L. (forthcoming, 2015). Family Group Decision Making as a Culturally-Responsive Child Welfare Practice. Child Welfare 360. University of Minnesota.
• Merkel-Holguin, L. (2015, Winter). Family Group Decision Making as a Culturally-Responsive Child Welfare Practice. In LaLiberte, T., Crudo, T., Ombisa Skallet, H., & Day, P. (Eds.). CW360º: Culturally responsive child welfare practice. St. Paul, MN: Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota. Retrieved from www.cascw.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/CW360-Winter2015.pdf Williams, J., Merkel-Holguin, L., Allan, H., Maher, E., Fluke, J., and Hollinshead, D., (September 2015), Factors associated with staff perceptions of the effectiveness of family group conferences. Journal for the Society of Social Work and Research, 6(3), 343-366.
• Williams, J., Merkel-Holguin, L., Allan, H., Maher, E., Fluke, J., and Hollinshead, D., (September 2015), Factors associated with staff perceptions of the effectiveness of family group conferences. Journal for the Society of Social Work and Research, 6(3), 343-366.
• Hollinshead, D., Kim, S., Fluke, J., and Merkel-Holguin, L. (forthcoming, 2015, in the Journal of Public Child Welfare). The Influence of Family, Agency, and Caseworker Dynamics on Caregivers’ Satisfaction with their Child Protective Services Intervention.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Hollinshead, D., Hahn, A., Casillas, K., and Fluke, J. (2015). The Influence of Differential Response and Other Factors on Parent Perceptions of Child Protection Involvement. Child Abuse and Neglect, 39, 18-31.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., and Bross, D. (2015). Commentary: Taking a Deep Breath before Reflecting on Differential Response. Child Abuse and Neglect, 39, 1-6.
• Fluke, J., Merkel-Holguin, L., and P. Schene. (2013). Thinking Differentially: A Response to Issues in Differential Response. Journal of Research on Social Work Practice published online 28 March 2013. DOI: 10.1177/1049731513481390
• Merkel-Holguin, L. (2014). Family Group Decision-Making: Building and Reinvigorating Relationships. Washington, DC: National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families
• Differential Response: Looking at this Reform from an Evidence and Rights-Based Perspective with John Fluke Amy Hahn, and Desmond Runyan, 2013 European Regional Conference hosted by the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect in Dublin, Ireland, 9/13.
• Cross-site Findings from the 5-Year Study of Differential Response in Child Protective Services with John Fluke and Amy Hahn, 2013 Conference on Differential Response, hosted by the Kempe Center in Vail, Colorado, 10/13.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Yuan, Y., Jowers, K., Hollinshead, D., Fluke, J., and Hahn, A. (2014). Final report: QIC-DR cross-site evaluation. Available from: www.differentialresponseqic.org.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., and Marcynyszyn, L. (2014). The Complexity of Fidelity in Measuring System Change: The Case of Family Group Decision Making. British Journal of Social Work, 1-13. Doi: 10.1093/bjsw/bcu092.
• Brown, B., Merkel-Holguin, L., and A. Rohm. (2012). Differential Response: Cross-Site Findings Report. Denver, CO: National Quality Improvement Center on Differential Response in Child Protective Services.
• Barmes, G., McMurphy, S., and L. Merkel-Holguin. (2012). What Works in Family Group Decision Making in What Works in Child Welfare. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
• Brown, B., Merkel-Holguin, L., and A. Rohm. (2012). What Works in Differential Response in Child Protective Services in What Works in Child Welfare. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
• Merkel-Holguin, L. (2020). Book Review of Family Group Conferences in Social Work: Involving families in social care and decision making.
• Merkel-Holguin, L., Cooke, A., Evans, D., and Beck, K. (2020). THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCE CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTIONS: LESSONS LEARNED AND AN APPLICATION IN U.S. CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS. Journal of Family Court Review