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Engaging Families

Engaging families in child welfare—both in case planning and as key stakeholders for system improvement—is critical for enhancing the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Providers are more successful engaging parents and other caregivers when they recognize family members as the experts on their children and listen openly to their concerns and perspectives, seeking solutions with them as equal partners.

After completing the first round of the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs), the Children's Bureau identified a need for State child welfare systems to better engage families as meaningful participants in ensuring positive outcomes for their children. Engaging families in assessment, case planning, and service delivery are critical in child welfare practice. There are many ways that service providers and the child welfare system can promote family engagement:

• Partnering with families and youth
• Engaging families in achieving permanency for children and youth
• Engaging families in systems reform
• Engaging families as stakeholders in the CFSRs

	Related Information Gateway Topics Family-centered practice: Overview Family-centered practice: Casework practice Systemwide: Cultural competence in working with children and families Systemwide: Service improvement/systems reform - Systems of care

Updated on September 18, 2008