Standards serve a number of functions in child welfare. Goal standards provide a vision of ideal or "best" practice. Accreditation standards may be more prescriptive, with descriptions of practices that a competent professional or provider organization should be able to meet. Licensing standards provide basic protections by the State for the well-being of children and families served. Standards provide benchmarks for measuring how well current performance meets the required or desired practice. Resources in the following sections contain standards for agencies and professionals as well as standards for specific child welfare programs and practice areas. State and local examples are included.
State and local examples
Child Welfare Standards
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Lists standards for all aspects of child welfare in Idaho.
OKDHS Child Welfare Practice Standards
Oklahoma Department of Human Services (2015)
Lists Oklahoma child welfare practice standards and provides key actions and indicators for each standard.
Standards and Values for Public Child Welfare Practice in California (PDF - 34 KB)
California Social Work Education Center
Presents standards of practice for supervisors, administrators, and frontline workers in public child welfare practice in California.