The following resources are designed to help engage groups, agencies, and organizations as partners in the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process to improve outcomes for children and families.
2007 CFSR ToolKit for Youth Involvement: Engaging Youth in the Child and Family Services Review (PDF - 30,500 KB)
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement & National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development (2007)
Offers resources for partnering with youth during the CFSRs, including a youth involvement checklist, feedback forms and debriefing strategies, descriptions of the CFSR process, tools for implementing surveys and conducting focus groups, and an adaptable PowerPoint presentation for States.
CBCAP and the CFSR/PIP Process (PDF - 152 KB)
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (2009)
Helps Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) State lead agencies become more involved in their States' CFSR/PIP process.
Engaging Courts and Building Court/Agency Collaboration [Teleconference]
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement & National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues (2007)
Discusses the Court Improvement Program (CIP) role in enhancing court/agency collaboration and presents the experiences of experts in child abuse and neglect cases who have worked with courts and agencies to enhance collaboration and to increase court participation in the CFSR process.
Engaging State Legislators in the Federal Child and Family Services Reviews: An Information-Sharing Tool for Child Welfare Agency Administrators (PDF - 244 KB)
Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2006)
Provides a tool for States to keep legislators informed about a State's performance on its latest CFSR, PIP goals and achievements, PIP partners, and areas requiring legislative support.
Families Gaining Their Seat at the Table: Family Engagement Strategies in the First Round of Child and Family Services Reviews and Program Improvement Plans (PDF - 1,402 KB)
National Center on Family Group Decision Making, American Humane (2008)
Presents a variety of family engagement models and approaches used by the States and discusses trends and themes across States.
Father Involvement: Meeting CFSR Standards (PDF - 371 KB)
National Family Preservation Network (2010)
Helps child welfare agencies improve their father involvement policies, practices, and outcomes through assessment, staff training, and cultural change. The document includes a father-friendliness organizational self-assessment tool.
Involving State Legislators in the Child and Family Services Reviews (PDF - 245 KB)
National Conference of State Legislatures (2010)
Discusses ideas for involving State legislatures and legislative staff in the CFSR process and offers examples of how States are promoting this collaboration.
The Other Side of the Desk: Honoring Diverse Voices and Restoring Effective Practice in Child Welfare and Family Services (PDF - 336 KB)
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (2006)
Describes a process for parent engagement that emphasizes mutual understanding about family experiences within the child welfare system, perspectives of child welfare professionals, and the influence each party has on the other. This learning tool outlines logistics for holding meetings among family members, child welfare workers, and representatives of public agencies.
Sample Memorandum of Understanding: Court–Agency Cooperation on Child Family Service Reviews (CFSRs) (PDF - 96 KB)
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Legal and Judicial Issues (2005)
Provides a sample agreement States and courts can use when building collaborations to address a State's CFSR and outlines roles and responsibilities for both entities.