States are required to submit Program Improvement Plans (PIPs) when their child welfare services are determined to be out of conformity on any of seven outcomes or seven systemic factors assessed in the Child and Family Services Reviews. The resources that follow provide guidance on developing and implementing PIPs and lessons learned.
Child and Family Services Reviews Procedures Manual (PDF - 1,475 KB)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2015)
Offers information for Child and Family Services Review procedures, including a chapter titled, "Developing the Program Improvement Plan," and a chapter titled "Program Improvement Plan Implementation and Monitoring."
Child and Family Services Review Program Improvement Plan Development, Implementation, and Monitoring
Capacity Building Center for States
Presents resources to help States develop, implement, and monitor their Child and Family Services Reviews Program Improvement Plans.
Child and Family Services Review Program Improvement Plan Template
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2016)
Provides a template States may use to submit their Program Improvement Plans to the Children's Bureau.
A Guide for Implementing Improvement Through the CFSP and CFSR (PDF - 175 KB)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2014)
Discusses how to implement improvement for States when working on the Child and Family Services Plan and Child and Family Services Review Program Improvement Plan.
A Landmark Achievement in Program Improvement Plan Development Brings Cause for Hope
Milner (2019)
Children's Bureau Express, 20(4)
Describes a new approach, piloted by the Children's Bureau, to Program Improvement Plan development requiring enhanced levels of partnership between the Federal Government, State government, county child welfare agencies, Federal technical assistance providers, and other stakeholders, including parents and youth.
Strategic Planning in Child Welfare: Integrating Efforts for System Improvement (PDF - 342 KB)
Capacity Building Center for States (2019)
Supports agencies in coordinating strategic and long-term planning, monitoring, and reporting processes. The brief includes tips and strategies to help agency Child and Family Service Plan (CFSP) and Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) leads, continuous quality improvement and evaluation staff, and others coordinate and integrate CFSP and Annual Progress and Services Review development with the CFSR and other planning and improvement efforts.