Child protective services (CPS) casework practice can encompass a variety of interventions. Effective casework practice allows child protection staff to work together with families to identify strengths, needs, goals, and desired outcomes. Often, the goals focus on enhancing caregiver protective capacity, which can help maximize children's safety and minimize their risk of harm. The resources below provide best practices to connect and engage with families while effectively addressing the challenges presented.
- Decision-making
- Safety planning
- Case planning and management services
- In-home services
- Evidence-based practices
- Working with families
10 Key Resources for Child Welfare Professionals
The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2018)
Provides resources regarding several key aspects of casework practice, including connecting with extended family members; understanding trauma; and supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or questioning children and youth.
Child Protection Manuals for Professionals
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Offers State-specific information about child protection. These resources can be accessed by selecting the State of interest, the child protection topic, and the professionals audience.
| Author(s) | Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau. |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 2,676KB) |
| Year Published | 2018 |
Minnesota Child Welfare: A Framework for Competent Child Welfare Practice (PDF - 638 KB)
Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare & Minnesota Department of Human Services (2018)
Includes a set of competencies required in the state of Minnesota for quality practice among front-line professionals and their supervisors.
Putting Family First: Developing an Evidence-Based Child Welfare Preventive Practice Model
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2020)
Provides guidance for agencies on what to consider when developing a preventive practice model that aligns with the requirements of Family First, addresses the needs of families, and ensures that selected programs and practices are feasible to implement with quality.
Why Involving Entire Families in Child Protection Cases Can Improve the Lives of Endangered Children
Chandler & Tochiki (2018)
Scholars Strategy Network
Presents a casework practice model from Hawaii that involves incorporating extended family members into planning and decision making for child protection.