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.

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

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Showing 46 - 59 of 59 resources
PDF

Learn about the definition and calculation of the CFSR statewide data indicator reentry to foster care.

PDF

Use this discussion guide with the “Reflecting on Racial Equity and the Child and Family Services Review” video to facilitate team discussions about your agency’s current practice and opportunities to take action.

PDF

Explore strategies for redesigning the child welfare service array to meet the needs of youth and young adults currently and formerly in foster care.

PDF

This “Service Array Data Inventory Sample Worksheet” (Worksheet) is a companion tool to A Data-Driven Approach to Service Array Guide developed by the Capacity Building Center for States. To use the Worksheet, you can print it out and fill in the blank squares, or use the questions as a guide.

PDF

Use this brief to help your agency coordinate strategic and long-term planning, monitoring, and reporting processes—such as the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) and Child and Family Services Review (CFSR)—with agency continuous quality improvement (CQI).

PDF

Explore tips and strategies to effectively engage and sustain the involvement of families and youth at the agency level. 

PDF

Get an overview of the issues related to the physical and emotional safety of child welfare workers.

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

Engage staff and partners with activities in this guide to start a dialogue and create a vision for a more prevention-focused child welfare system.

Infographic

The infographic provides a visual reference for the cultural shift needed to protect children through strengthening families.

PDF

Helps child welfare leaders identify what they can do to advance their prevention vision and shows what they will see as that vision takes root.

Video

Brandon is a 21-year-old alumnus of the foster care system. He was in the foster care system for about 10 years and serves as a foster care advocate, working in State government for the last 3 years. He feels that normal activities for all youth in foster care should include getting a driver’s license, going on out-of-State and overnight trips, and participating in sports.

Video

Desiree is an alumna of the foster care system. She lived with the same foster care family for 14 years. She entered foster care with three of her siblings, and wants to use her experiences growing up in foster care to make a difference for those still in the system.