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  • Child and Family Services Reviews

Child and Family Services Reviews

The Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) enable the Children's Bureau to ensure conformity with Federal child welfare requirements; to gauge the experiences of children, youth, and families receiving State child welfare services; and to assist States as they enhance their capacity to help families achieve positive outcomes.

Round 4 guidance from the Children’s Bureau emphasizes the need to create more effective and equitable CFSRs by paying particular attention to the experiences of those who are marginalized and are more likely to experience disparate outcomes. During Round 4 of the CFSR and moving forward, there will be a heightened focus on using data and evidence to identify disparities in services outcomes, understand the role that child welfare programs and policies may play in contributing to disparities, and inform and develop systemic improvements.

The following resources provide results and lessons learned from the CFSRs and address the implementation of the CFSR process in the States.

  • Findings
  • Engaging partners
  • Use of data
  • Lessons learned from States and Program Improvement Plans

Advancing Equity and Inclusion Through the Child and Family Services Reviews
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (2022)
Presents guidance on how to incorporate equity and inclusion into all phases of the Child and Family Services Reviews—from the statewide assessment to the Program Improvement Plan—to accurately assess, identify, and addressing system-wide improvement needs. The resource will provide a free PDF file download.

CFSR Aggregate Report, Round 3: FYs 2015-2016
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2018)
Presents key findings regarding the strengths and areas needing improvement across several States.

CFSR Connections and Integration Tool 
Capacity Building Center for States (2022)
Provides a tool to help States prepare for Round 4 of the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) while building on lessons learned in prior system improvement efforts. 

CFSR Round 4 Instruments, Tools, and Guides
CFSR Information Portal
Includes instruments, reporting guidelines, and forms for Round 4 of the Child and Family Services Reviews, including Program Improvement Plan monitoring.

CFSR Round 4 Process
CFSR Information Portal
Presents the CFSR Procedures Manual and reviews information on logistics, recruitment, and planning for Child and Family Service Reviews.

CFSR Round 4 Technical Bulletins
CFSR Information Portal
Offers information and guidance to States to help them prepare for Round 4 of the Child and Family Services Reviews.

Lessons Learned From the Child and Family Services Review Rounds 1 Through 3
Haight & Mitchell (2021)
Children’s Bureau Express, 22(8)
Summarizes lessons learned from Round 3 of the Child and Family Services Reviews and lists six key strategies for States as they enter the planning phase for the next round.

Round 4 of the CFSRs
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (2022)
Provides information about Round 4 of the Child and Family Services Reviews and related materials.

Using Story Mapping to Inform Child and Family Services Reviews Planning Efforts
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Children’s Bureau
The Children’s Bureau has developed story maps on several topics, which can help visualize and understand child welfare data by race, age, and location. View the story maps:

  • Child abuse and neglect
  • Victimization and child abuse and neglect
  • Foster care entries

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Disproportionality
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Find data on disparities in child welfare along with resources that explore causes of disproportionality and strategies to promote equity, including State and local examples.

Spotlight On

Child and Family Services Reviews

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau

Reports and Results of the Child and Family Services Reviews

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau

Round 4 Resources

CFSR Information Portal

Related Content

Continuous Quality Improvement

Using Data to Inform and Improve Programs

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