Resource Library

The Center for States designs products, services, and learning experiences to increase understanding and awareness, and build knowledge and skills. The Center focuses its attention on developing products and resources on several core organizational and practice topics.

If you are interested in our series and learning experiences, please use our search bar or explore our topics.

Explore our resources below and filter them as you need.

Library and Information Services

Woman in front of a computer

The Center for States provides research assistance and responds to information requests on building capacity in child welfare.

Connect With Us

Sign Up for News and Updates

Learn how we can help your agency build the capacity to thrive.

Email: capacityinfo@icfi.com 
Phone: 1.844.222.0272

Visit the Center for States' Contact Us webpage for more information.

Showing 166 - 180 of 203 resources
Video

This video highlights the story of a school social worker in Rhode Island and her experience becoming a foster parent to a student who did not have a relative placement.

Publication Year 2022
Video

Illustrates the changes parents face when they decide to provide full-time care for their relative children and the benefits of different types of agency support. In this video, a kinship and adoptive parent discusses strategies she used to successfully provide stability for the children in her growing family and the importance of having agency resources to accommodate changing family needs.

Publication Year 2018
PDF

Learn a research-informed framework for agencies to explore implementation of CQI systems across seven areas, including leadership support and modeling, staff and stakeholder engagement, communication, administrative structure, use of quality data, case record review process, and application of CQI findings.

Publication Year 2018
PDF

Read about the value of collaboration as the key to prevention, safety, and long-term stability for children and families.

Publication Year 2021
Video

Demonstrates the power of positive caregiver perspective alongside child welfare agency encouragement and support. In this video, caregivers share the concerns they had about becoming foster parents and discuss the resources that helped them become committed and effective foster parents.

Publication Year 2021
PDF

Identify effective strategies for authentic youth engagement at the practice, peer, and system-change levels

Publication Year 2021
Video

Watch this short, animated video to examine how changing the language and messaging we use can support a shift to a more prevention-focused child welfare system.

Publication Year 2021
PDF

Explore tips to help promote youth mental health and wellness services, jurisdictional highlights, and links to relevant resources and tools.

Publication Year 2023
Video

This video highlights the story of a family specialist in Ohio and her experience working with families to successfully place children with kin.

Publication Year 2022
PDF

Adapt  policies and practices to meet the growing needs of LGBTQ children, youth, and families. 

Publication Year 2016
Webinar

Explore tools and resources that can help states plan for family-strengthening activities aligned with the FFPSA and prevention-oriented collaboration strategies.

Publication Year 2021
Video

Highlights the rewards and challenges of providing permanency and stability for relative children with differing needs. In this video, a single grandparent of five discusses her experience becoming a kinship caregiver, foster parent, and then legal guardian for her daughter's children, support the caseworker provided for her to become a certified foster parent, and the joy of watching her grandchildren thrive.

Publication Year 2018
PDF

Consult this video series and companion discussion guide to get different perspectives on building trust and supporting family well-being.

Publication Year 2018
Video

This video highlights the story of a kinship specialist with the New York City Children’s Services and how she collaborates with fellow child welfare agencies in identifying kinship guardians to result in successful kin placement.

Publication Year 2022
Webinar

Learn about the Indiana Department of Child Services’ upstream prevention approach to training and development, expanding the service array, and collaborating with system partners and providers in this recorded webinar.

Publication Year 2021