The Systems of Care grant communities and the National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care have developed a wide range of family involvement resources reflecting evaluation findings, position qualifications, program implementation tips, and more. Access resources related to:
- Lessons Learned Across Systems of Care Communities
- Kinship Liaison Program, Clark County, Nevada
- Parent Partner Program, Contra Costa County, California
- Other Systems of Care Grant Communities
Lessons Learned Across Systems of Care Communities
Briefs
Building Agency Capacity for Family Involvement in Child Welfare (PDF - 553 KB)
Action Brief
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care, 2011
Draws from evaluation findings to present action steps and strategies for preparing a child welfare agency and its staff to engage families effectively.
Building Family Capacity For Family Involvement in Child Welfare (PDF - 449 KB)
Action Brief
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care, 2011
Describes steps and strategies that child welfare agencies can use to engage and support family members and build their capacity for meaningful family involvement.
Family Involvement in Public Child Welfare Driven Systems of Care
A Closer Look
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care, 2008
Reviews common challenges and solutions for involving families in child welfare and discusses what leaders can do to support family-agency partnerships for system transformation.
Evaluation Findings
Family Involvement in the Improving Child Welfare Outcomes Through Systems of Care Initiative (PDF - 715 KB)
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care, 2010
Provides an in-depth look at how Systems of Care communities engaged families as partners in case planning, peer-to-peer support programs, and systems change activities.
New Roles for Families in Child Welfare: Strategies for Expanding Family Involvement Beyond the Case Level
E. Williamson & A. Gray, Child and Youth Services Review, 33, pp. 1212–1216, 2011
Describes findings from a series of retrospective interviews with Systems of Care participants regarding capacity-building activities and lessons learned for family involvement.
Available from: www.elsevier.com
Kinship Liaison Program, Clark County, Nevada
Evaluation Findings
Clark County Department of Family Services Kinship Liaison Program: A Small Program Making a Huge Difference
R. Denby, 2009
Describes the System of Care project's achievements and outcomes related to placement of children with kin and their safety, stability of placement, and timely permanency.
Kinship Liaisons: A Peer-to-Peer Approach to Supporting Kinship Caregivers
R. Denby, Children and Youth Services Review, 33, pp. 217–225, 2011.
Presents Kinship Liaison Program study findings, including data related to increases in kin-caregivers' coping abilities and willingness to become permanent resources for the children in their care.
Available from: www.elsevier.com
Webinar
Family Involvement: Supporting Kin Caregivers (Audio, transcript, and PowerPoint)
Webinar
Presenters: T. Hesser, V. Lindsey, & T. Blackwell, March 10, 2011
Discusses the implementation and outcomes of the Clark County Kinship Liaison Program.
Implementation Resources
Kinship Liaison Flyer, Clark County, Nevada (PDF - 41 KB)
Displays a one-page flyer designed to increase relative caregiver awareness of Kinship Liaisons and what they can offer
Kinship Liaison Performance Factors, Clark County, Nevada (PDF - 24 KB)
Details the qualifications of the Kinship Liaison's position and describes the Liaison's advocacy role and the support services offered to kin-caregivers.
Raising Your Relative's Kids: How to Find Help (PDF - 846 KB)
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 2009
Offers guidance and resource information for new kin-caregivers.
Parent Partner Program, Contra Costa County, California
Evaluation Findings
Partnering with Parents: Promising Approaches to Improve Reunification Outcomes for Children in Foster Care
E. K. Anthony, J. Duerr Berrick, & E. Cohen, 2011
Presents evaluation findings of Contra Costa County's Parent Partner Program, including its impact on reunification.
Systems of Care Implementation Case Studies (PDF - 1,198 KB)
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Systems of Care, 2010
Features detailed examination of the strategies and approaches used by two grant sites–Contra Costa County, California, and North Carolina–to implement Systems of Care principles, including family involvement.
Webinar
Meaningful Family Engagement: Beyond the Case Plan (Audio, transcript, and PowerPoint)
Webinar
Presenters: J. Knittel, C. Barrett, & J. Duerr Berrick, September 21, 2010
Explores the transformative role of peer-to-peer family involvement in Contra Costa County, CA.
Implementation Resources
Parent Partner Coordinator Interview Questions, Contra Costa, California (PDF - 24 KB)
Presents a set of questions to be asked by a Parent Partner Program Coordinator when interviewing potential Parent Partners, along with notes on identifying strong candidates.
Parent Partner Job Description, Contra Costa, California (PDF - 23 KB)
Describes general duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of a Parent Partner, as well as the responsibilities of a Parent Advocate and a Parent Leader.
Parent Partner Training Plan, Contra Costa, California (PDF - 35 KB)
Presents sample Parent Partner training topics.
What to Look for in a Parent Partner Coordinator (PDF - 269 KB)
Highlights the perspective of a Parent Partner Coordinator about the characteristics needed to successfully develop, implement, and oversee peer-to-peer family involvement activities.
Other Systems of Care Grant Communities
Job Descriptions and Contracts
Family Skill Builders Contract, Oregon (PDF - 16 KB)
Outlines the responsibilities of Family Skill Builders, who hold orientation sessions for families new to child welfare.
Outreach Coordinator Job Description, Jefferson County, Colorado (PDF - 17 KB)
Outlines the role, responsibilities, qualifications, supervision, training, and benefits of an Outreach Coordinator, who is responsible for obtaining resources to enhance youth experiences in the child welfare system.
Parent Leader Position Description, Oregon (PDF - 20 KB)
Lists duties and responsibilities, along with education and experience requirements for the Parent Leader position.
Parent Mentor Contract, Oregon (PDF - 47 KB)
Displays a contract for Parent Mentors. Addresses work to be performed, desired outcomes, delivery schedule, reporting requirements, and performance measures.
Parent Mentor Job Description, Oregon (PDF - 17 KB)
Presents a Parent Mentor's position overview, along with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required and the position's duties, responsibilities, and working conditions.
Parent Mentor Job Expectations, Oregon (PDF - 52 KB)
Outlines guiding principles, general expectations, and transportation and paperwork guidelines for Parent Mentors.
Youth Mentor Job Description, Jefferson County, Colorado (PDF - 21 KB)
Highlights the role, responsibilities, qualifications, time commitment, supervision, training, and benefits of a mentor supporting youth involved in the child welfare system.
Training Guides
Child and Family Team Training for Case Managers (Facilitator's Guide), Nevada (PDF - 168 KB)
Presents a comprehensive facilitator's guide for training case managers on how to implement a child and family team with fidelity.
Child and Family Team Training for Case Managers (Participant's Guide), Nevada (PDF - 150 KB)
Presents a companion guide for case managers attending child and family team training. Includes a discussion of assessment and case planning in case management, individualized courses of action, child and family team processes, effective planning ideas for child and family team meetings, and sample guidelines and forms.
Partnering and Leadership Strategies (PALS) Training Curriculum, Kansas (PDF - 489 KB)
Presents a training curriculum intended to prepare family partners and practitioners to work in partnership.
Other Implementation Resources
Family Engagement Reimbursement Policy, Kansas (PDF - 23 KB)
Outlines how family and youth partners may receive an agreed-upon partial reimbursement for their participation in councils, committees, and/or workgroups.
Family Handbook, Kansas (PDF - 401 KB)
Family Partners of the Family Centered Systems of Care – Family Advisory Council and Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Children and Family Services
Helps families understand what may happen during their involvement with the child welfare system, provides information so they can be prepared, and describes available resources and steps to take.
Family Mentor Volunteer Evaluation, Jefferson County, Colorado (PDF - 14 KB)
Provides an example of an evaluation form designed to elicit the experiences of family mentors.
Family Navigator Concept Paper, Kansas (PDF - 22 KB)
Summarizes the barriers to timely and helpful support to families newly involved with the child welfare system and addresses the benefits of the family navigator program for the family and the child welfare agency.
Parent Partner Manual, Jefferson County, Colorado (PDF - 137 KB)
Provides comprehensive information about a Parent Partner Program, including Parent Partner roles, the nomination and referral process, confidentiality policy, training, mentoring, reimbursement, right to privacy policy, and a sample invoice and forms.
Systems of Care Advisory Committee Meeting Presentation, Jefferson County, Colorado (PDF - 74 KB)
March 2008
Presents survey findings related to staff and family perceptions of cultural competency and family involvement.