Learn how to create a culturally inclusive environment by developing a welcoming, culturally sensitive, supportive, and affirming agency for all people.

Use this discussion guide with the CWVE 2022 videos to view a description of each topic, access individual reflection questions to facilitate personal, on-demand learning, and explore conversation starters and team activities with child welfare staff and collaborative partners.   

Learn about the value of kinship placements when children and youth must live outside their birth parents’ homes. 

Discover services and resources aimed at the needs of expecting and parenting teens in child welfare. 

Explore additional resources aimed at the needs of expecting and parenting teens in child welfare.

See strategies and examples for partnering with faith-based communities and leaders on behalf of children and youth in foster care waiting to be adopted.

Learn how leveraging NGO connections in the community can help child welfare systems be more flexible and adaptable in achieving program goals.

Get ideas for working with community foundations, endowments, and charitable trusts to improve outcomes for children and youth.

Identify data sources to explore your state’s system of foster and adoptive parent licensing, recruitment, and retention.

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

Explore the various aspects of the importance of normalcy for children and youth in care.

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

Learn how to create an agency organizational culture that is inclusive and knowledgeable about the unique needs of LGBTQ children, youth, and families.

Learn about the challenges faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) families involved with the child welfare system and ways to help them.

Use the resources in this list to support young people’s transitional needs and help them develop the skills needed for independent living after exiting foster care.