July 2026Vol. 1, No. 2Adopting and Managing Change and New Technologies

It's important for child welfare agencies to be intentional and thoughtful when introducing staff to a new tool, strategy, or technology, such as AI. To implement change more efficiently, agencies can ground their approach in principles of change management and implementation science that provide structured ways to make sustained change in the workforce. For change to be lasting and successful, there must be consistent and ongoing leadership support, clear communication, training and coaching, and attention to organizational culture. These strategies can help build staff capacity to use AI appropriately, address their concerns about AI implementation, support them in communicating AI use with families, and reinforce the importance of high‑quality documentation and notetaking as vital data sources. Agencies should also engage in ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement to learn what is working and adjust what is not. Through an intentional approach to adopting AI, agencies can help ensure these tools support staff in their daily work as they continue to rely on their own professional judgment and decision‑making.

View the following resources to learn more about workforce support and managing change:

• Change Management and Implementation Science—This webpage provides an overview and resources on planning, implementing, and sustaining systems change. (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
• "Fundamentals of Change and Implementation in Child Welfare Information Systems"—This webinar presents a discussion about strategies to strengthen system adoption and implementation. (Children's Bureau)
• Workforce—This webpage offers resources on supporting, training, and retaining a stable child welfare workforce. (Child Welfare Information Gateway)