Read recent research on child welfare workforce management, including recruitment and retention, professional development, and organizational culture.

Examine current research and how best to build organizational capacity in five areas, and learn about possible challenges and solutions.

Explore insights on using protective capacities and protective factors to build a continuum of practice that extends from safety to strength-building. 

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.

Learn to facilitate a normalcy conversation and to promote normal and developmentally appropriate experiences for youth in foster care.

Examine a five-step framework that helps organizations promote youth engagement in normalcy conversations about the youth’s own care.

Understand the role of coaching in supporting workers, including coaching functions, effectiveness, models, and strategies.

Explains the importance of sustained involvement of young people currently and formerly in foster care in meaningful organizational activity. 

Learn the characteristics and results that describe the right people to engage youth and get guidance for recruiting, hiring, and retaining these employees.

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

Get the latest research on decision science and safety decision-making practices in child welfare to help improved safety outcomes.

Learn about adolescent brain development, trauma-responsive care, and the importance of normalcy.

See how workforce satisfaction and retention are improved by emphasizing the positive differences that are made in the lives of children and families.

Learn the importance of effective, ongoing collaboration between child welfare agencies and community-based partners.

Learn how to build capacity in each of four component areas to promote a culture and climate that encourages youth engagement at all levels of an organization.