Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) committees are convened to review processes, practices, and outcomes of child welfare systems. Resources in this section include descriptions of State CQI committees and their operations, examples of materials used in their reviews, and reports and recommendations issued.
Lessons Learned: Surveys (PDF - 110 KB)
Capacity Building Center for Courts (2016)
Guides child welfare professionals in choosing the type of survey to implement.
Protecting Participants in Data Collection (PDF - 149 KB)
Capacity Building Center for Courts (2016)
Provides guidance on designing ethical child welfare research, including voluntary participation, minimal risks, and informed consent.
Survey Basics (PDF - 131 KB)
Capacity Building Center for Courts (2016)
Discusses the pros and cons of surveys as a data collection tool.
State and local examples
Continuous Quality Improvement
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Explores the use of continuous quality improvement in child welfare in Michigan and presents information on the Quality Improvement Council. The council leads the implementation of system reform efforts and oversees local teams and plans across the State. The website links to additional information about the council.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Services
Describes Nevada's child welfare quality assurance/continuous quality improvement system and presents information on its framework, administrative structure, data collection, annual reports, and more.
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) (PDF - 722 KB)
Minnesota Department of Human Services, Child Safety and Permanency Division (2020)
Provides information on a continuous quality improvement (CQI) team working in Minnesota to learn what does and does not work in the child welfare system. The team aims to promote CQI in the system by shifting to a culture of systemic accountability, seeking to understand decision-making, using diverse points of view, and other initiatives.
Continuous Quality Improvement Workgroup
Colorado Department of Human Services
Describes Colorado's Continuous Quality Improvement Workgroup, which works to bring county and State child welfare practitioners together to examine performance, identify strengths and opportunities for improvement, and explore areas in need of further research.
Office of Families and Children CQI Initiative
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Offers information on Ohio's Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Advisory Team working to guide implementation of CQI infrastructure for child welfare in the State. The website offers information on the team's role, subcommittees, CQI framework, CQI community, reports, and more.
Wisconsin Child Welfare Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) System
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
Describes Wisconsin's CQI program and statewide CQI committee activities.