Child Welfare Virtual Expo 2019
Child Welfare Virtual Expo 2019
Effectiveness in Child Welfare: Our Role in Improving the Lives of Children and Families
The 2019 Child Welfare Virtual Expo (Virtual Expo) has been transformed into a flexible, on-demand learning experience. Child welfare professionals from federal, state, and local organizations across the country discuss evidence-based policymaking and practice and their experiences evaluating the effectiveness of services and programs. They explore how to engage agency staff at all levels in understanding and applying data and findings to improve practice.
Managers can use the resources in this collection to help teams dive into five key topics:
- Effectiveness in Child Welfare
- How Do We Know What Works?
- Becoming a Workforce of Everyday Scientists
- The Power of Feedback
- Maximizing Our Collective Impact
Ready to Get Started?
First, select the topics and sessions that align with team goals and interests. Then, use the activities in the discussion guide to prepare individuals for group learning, facilitate team discussions, create a shared understanding of how these topics relate to everyday work, and develop action plans to move the work forward.
Child Welfare Virtual Expo 2019 Discussion Guide (PDF - 163 KB)
Provides a one-page guide for each topic, including a description of the topic, session titles, additional groups that might benefit from the session(s), and questions tailored to the topic. The debrief questions will help the group identify themes and develop the group’s action plan using the tool included with the guide.
Key Topics
1. Effectiveness in Child Welfare
Discusses how research, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement efforts help strengthen practice and increase effectiveness in child welfare. Choose this topic for a group or team that needs foundational knowledge and a broad understanding of collecting data and building evidence. The opening session panel discussion can help to build buy-in and collective understanding with staff, and the brief, inspirational introductions are geared toward an agency, tribal, or court audience.
Sessions on this topic include:
Effectiveness in Child Welfare: Our Collective Investment in Improving the Lives of Children and Families
- Opening Remarks: Maggie Bishop, Capacity Building Center for States
- Presenters: Jennifer Haight, Children’s Bureau; Rebecca Jones Gaston, Maryland Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration; Amanda Cruce, Family Consultant, Capacity Building Center for States; Rita Hart, Capacity Building Center for Tribes; Christine Kiesel, Contractor, Children's Bureau; Renda Dionne Madrigal, Mindfulness Inc.; and Alicia Summers, Capacity Building Center for Courts
- Moderator: Nicole Barnes, Capacity Building Center for States
Individual Perspective on Effectiveness in Child Welfare: A Conversation With Agency Leadership
- Presenter: Rebecca Jones Gaston, Maryland Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration
Individual Perspective on Effectiveness in Child Welfare: Through the Eyes of the Tribe
- Presenter: Rita Hart, Capacity Building Center for Tribes
Individual Perspective on Effectiveness in Child Welfare: Through the Court’s Lens
- Presenter: Christine Kiesel, Contractor, Children’s Bureau
Opening Session Presentation (PDF - 484 KB)
Opening Session Resource List (PDF - 619 KB)
2. How Do We Know What Works?
Explores evidence, evidence-based practice, and the ways in which staff at all levels contribute to and consume data to inform practice. Choose one or both sessions for a team to understand evidence-based practice and data collection and the role of team members as contributors and consumers. Sessions on this topic include:
How Do We Know What Works? Challenges and Opportunities for Building Evidence for Leaders and Decision Makers
- Presenters: Alicia Summers, Capacity Building Center for Courts; Rebecca Jones Gaston, Maryland Department of Human Services, Social Services Administration; Renda Dionne Madrigal, Mindfulness Inc.
- Moderator: James Coloma, Capacity Building Center for States
HDWKWW Leaders Reflection Worksheet (PDF - 639 KB)
HDWKWW Leaders Resource List (PDF - 624 KB)
HDWKWW Leaders Presentation (PDF - 402 KB)
How Do We Know What Works? Challenges and Opportunities for Building Evidence for Practitioners
- Presenters: Jennifer Haight, Children’s Bureau; Margo Fudge, County of San Diego, California, Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services; Jerry Bruce, Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children; Joseph Walker, JBS International, Inc.
HDWKWW Practitioners Reflection Worksheet (PDF - 638 KB)
HDWKWW Practitioners Resource List (PDF - 627 KB)
HDWKWW Practitioners Presentation (PDF - 500 KB)
Access information on continuing education units (CEU).
3. Becoming a Workforce of Everyday Scientists
Examines how to become more effective “scientists” by gathering, using, and applying data in a systematic way to improve practice by seeding curiosity and generating innovative strategies. Choose one or more of these sessions for a team aiming to be more effective at motivating others, sparking curiosity, and generating innovative strategies. Sessions on this topic include:
Becoming a Workforce of Everyday Scientists: Frontline for Agencies and Tribes
- Presenters: Dana Weiner, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; Andrew Yost, Capacity Building Center for Courts; Anita Barbee, University of Louisville; Michaela Guthrie, Young Adult Consultant, Capacity Building Center for States; Alisa Lee, Utah Division of Child and Family Services; Jennifer Benefiel, Capacity Building Center for States
- Moderator: Vanessa Amburgey, Capacity Building Center for States
Everyday Scientist #1 Agency/Tribes Reflection Worksheet (PDF - 278 KB)
Everyday Scientist #1 Agency/Tribes Resource List (PDF - 628 KB)
Everyday Scientist #1 Agency/Tribes Presentation (PDF - 634 KB)
Access information on continuing education units (CEU).
Becoming a Workforce of Everyday Scientists: Frontline Staff for the Legal Community
- Presenters: Dana Weiner, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; Andrew Yost, Capacity Building Center for States; Christine Kiesel, Contractor, Children’s Bureau
Everyday Scientist #2 Legal Reflection Worksheet (PDF - 737 KB)
Everyday Scientist #2 Legal Resource List (PDF - 649 KB)
Everyday Scientist #2 Legal Presentation (PDF - 851 KB)
Becoming a Workforce of Everyday Scientists: Leaders and Decision Makers in Agencies and Tribes
- Presenters: Dana Weiner, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; Andrew Yost, Capacity Building Center for Courts; Melinda Feola-Mahar, Capacity Building Center for States; Margo Fudge, County of San Diego, California, Health and Human Services Agency, Child Welfare Services; Jerry Bruce, Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children; Joseph Walker, JBS International, Inc.
- Moderator: Dana Weiner, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Everyday Scientist #3 Leaders Reflection Worksheet (PDF - 634 KB)
Everyday Scientist #3 Leaders Resource List (PDF - 627 KB)
Everyday Scientist #3 Leaders Presentation (PDF - 691 KB)
Access information on continuing education units (CEU).
4. The Power of Feedback
Provides strategies for communicating data and information effectively through data visualization and storytelling and the critical ways in which frontline staff, children, youth, families, and stakeholders can be active contributors in building a more effective child welfare system. Choose one or both sessions with a group or team that wants to learn to provide and receive feedback and communicate effectively about data. Sessions on this topic include:
The Power of Feedback: Using Data to Tell Our Story, Generate Feedback, and Promote Improvement
- Presenters: Michaela Guthrie, Young Adult Consultant, Capacity Building Center for States; Alisa Lee, Utah Division of Child and Family Services; Michael Tanana, University of Utah, College of Social Work, Social Research Institute
- Moderator: Vanessa Amburgey, Capacity Building Center for States
Power of Feedback - Using Data Worksheet (PDF - 638 KB)
Power of Feedback - Using Data Resource List (PDF - 626 KB)
Power of Feedback - Using Data Presentation (PDF - 406 KB)
Access information on continuing education units (CEU).
The Power of Feedback: Being a Vocal Participant in the Process: Elevating the Voices of the Workforce, Children, Youth, Families, and Communities
- Presenters: Louie Gasper, Young Adult Consultant, Capacity Building Center for States; Dee Bonnick, Family Consultant, Capacity Building Center for States; Dakota Roundtree-Swain, Young Adult Consultant, Capacity Building Center for States; Sylvia Deporto, Child Welfare Consultant
- Moderator: Madison Sandoval-Lunn, Capacity Building Center for States
Power of Feedback - Elevating Voices Worksheet (PDF - 635 KB)
Power of Feedback - Elevating Voices Resource List (PDF - 626 KB)
Power of Feedback - Elevating Voices Presentation (PDF - 406 KB)
Access information on continuing education units (CEU).
5. Maximizing Our Collective Impact
Summarizes the themes of effectiveness in child welfare and moves knowledge into practice to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. Choose this session for a group or team that would benefit from understanding the big picture of collecting data, building evidence, and sparking interest at all levels of child welfare. Session on this topic:
Maximizing Our Collective Impact
Closing Session Resource List (PDF - 618 KB)
Closing Session Presentation (PDF - 458 KB)
Looking for More Information?
Interested in Earning Continuing Education Credits?
We are pleased to offer social work, clinical psychology, counseling, and marriage and family therapy continuing education units (CEUs) with this learning experience. A link to purchase CEUs is provided in the description of each individual session.*
*Note: The CEU sponsor, R. Cassidy Seminars, maintains responsibility for its CEU program. For more information on the licensing program and requirements, please visit the sponsor’s website.
