Explore Topics
We offer resources presenting the latest research, data, and statistics on a variety of topics—including prevention, family well-being, and kin-first culture—to build the skills and knowledge of child welfare professionals seeking to strengthen families. We also provide resources to help families and youth navigate the child welfare system and advocate for supports to help them thrive.
Featured
Family Engagement: Partnering With Families to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes
Find information on the foundational elements of the family engagement approach, followed by strategies and promising practices for implementing it for frontline caseworkers who directly engage families to promote safety, permanency, and well-being.
Caseload and Workload Management
Review information on managing child welfare caseloads and workloads. Manageable caseloads and workloads can affect a worker's ability to spend adequate time with children and families, improve staff retention, and have a positive impact on outcomes.
Two-Generation Approaches to Supporting Family Well-Being
Read about two-generation approaches and why child welfare agencies should use them to improve outcomes for families. Learn how to build parental capacity and protective factors within families, often with the goal of interrupting cycles of poverty.
Topics
Prevention
Prevention services promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families. Learn about effective strategies to strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect and family separation.
Safety and Risk
To support families and communities in promoting the safety of children and youth and helping them thrive, child welfare professionals use assessments to determine needs and connect families to accessible, equitable, and individualized services.
Youth
Youth involved with the child welfare system are experts on their own lives and should be actively involved in making decisions.
Permanency
Permanency is a permanent, stable living situation, ideally one in which family connections are preserved. Children thrive best in permanent situations—with their family of origin, foster families, or adoptive families.
Well-Being
Supporting the well-being of children, youth, and families promotes conditions where children can thrive. Learn about interventions that enhance well-being and increase positive child welfare outcomes.
Data Systems, Evaluation and Technology
Systematically collecting, reviewing, and applying data can propel the improvement of child welfare systems and outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Workforce
Maintaining a diverse, stable, and effective child welfare workforce is essential to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families.
Casework Practice
Casework practice is the foundation for child welfare professionals' engagement and decision-making with families and their support of safe, stable, and permanent homes.
Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health are the nonmedical, socioeconomic factors that impact child and family well-being. Longstanding systemic inequities influence these factors and can play a role in child welfare system involvement.
Tribal Child Welfare
As sovereign nations, Tribes manage child welfare systems that honor the culture, values, and history of American Indian/Alaska Native children, youth, and families.
Equitable Practice
Children, youth, and families served by child welfare are best supported when agencies address systemic racism and promote equitable practices.
Parents and Caregivers
Authentically engaging and supporting parents and caregivers involved with child welfare provides children with the best opportunities to thrive.
Courts
Courts and child welfare agencies must work hand-in-hand to achieve positive safety and permanency outcomes, including reunification, for children, youth, and families.