Locally based community programs provide families with access to critical resources and services in supportive environments that enhance protective factors. These resources can help agencies work with families, stakeholders, and service providers to create strong, community-based collaborative programs.

Learning Experiences

(Available on CapLEARN; registration required)

• Building Capacity to Address Chronic Neglect From a Systems Perspective explores the complexity of chronic neglect and provides instruction on how to assess system change and build the partnerships needed to understand, identify, and reduce chronic neglect.

Publications

• Promoting Safe and Stable Families factsheet (PDF - 301 KB) describes the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program, which supports state child welfare agencies and eligible tribes in establishing and operating integrated, community-based services for families.
• A Data-Driven Approach to Service Array toolkit (PDF - 1,297 KB) helps agencies build capacity to work collaboratively with stakeholders to use data to ensure the availability, accessibility, and effectiveness of services to meet the needs of the children and families being served.
• Building and Sustaining Collaborative Community Relationships tip sheet (PDF - 647 KB) highlights the importance of effective, ongoing collaboration between child welfare agencies and community-based partners to provide better support to children and families.
• Prepermanency Services for Adoptive and Guardianship Families factsheet (PDF - 191 KB) explores common needs of prospective adoptive and guardianship families and children and offers guidance on supports and services aimed at addressing those needs.

Peer Groups

The following peer groups can help connect child welfare professionals working on family engagement and continuity of relationships for children in foster care. Visit the Center’s Current Peer Groups webpage for more information or to sign up for a peer group.

Virtual Events

• Visit the Center’s Events page to learn about upcoming focused on building community-based collaborative programs.

The Center also offers tailored services to states and jurisdictions to help build agency capacity for prevention programs. For more information, contact your State Liaison.