Child Protection Casework Practice

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.

This section includes resources ranging from decision-making and safety-planning phases to case planning and management. Specific resources include information on in-home services, working with families involved with CPS, and cultural competence. Evidence-based and promising interventions are also shared.

• Decision-making
• Safety planning
• Case planning & management
• 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.

Episode 30: Casework: What it Really Takes
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2018)
Offers guidance and examples from former caseworkers on how to manage time, energy, and emotion for new or future caseworkers, along with tips on how to perform the work.

Child Protection Manuals for Professionals
State Guides and Manuals Search
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.

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.