Capacity building refers to activities that contribute to an agency's effectiveness as it works to achieve its mission. These activities include developing and strengthening organizational infrastructure, training and developing staff, team building, strategic planning, evaluation, and securing and sustaining program funding. This section provides information on how to build capacity of organizations and agencies working in child welfare.
- Building capacity in nonprofit organizations
- Building evaluation capacity
- Building a management team
Building Capacity in Child Welfare
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2020)
Children's Bureau Express, 21(9)
Presents findings from an evaluation of capacity-building services delivered to child welfare agencies and court improvement programs. The report highlights key findings related to the characteristics of capacity-building services, satisfaction with the services, outcomes from the services, and collaboration among capacity building centers.
Embracing a "Youth Welfare" System: A Guide to Capacity Building (PDF - 1,116 KB)
Capacity Building Center for States (2018)
Provides guidance for child welfare agencies to build their capacity to care for children and youth through a youth-focused approach. The resource is broken up into four parts, and part four provides information on capacity building for youth welfare through the five dimensions of organizational capacity: infrastructure; knowledge and skills; culture and climate; and engagement and partnerships.
How Do We Build Organizational Capacity in Child Welfare?
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2017)
Examines capacity-building approaches that have been used in child welfare organizations, including the American Public Human Services Association's Organizational Effectiveness Capacity Building Model, the Interactive Systems Framework, and the Children’s Bureau's Capacity Building Collaborative approach.
The Role of Training and Technical Assistance in Building a Child Welfare Agency's Capacity to Use Data: A Case Study
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2015)
Offers information on how child welfare agencies can use data to manage cases and measure progress toward outcomes. The resource includes a section that lists lessons learned about factors and activities that can support an agency’s capacity to use data.