Explore the benefits of and strategies for recruiting and integrating people with lived expertise into the child welfare workforce.

Learn how people with lived expertise have used their experiences to advocate for changes in approach, practice, and policy in child welfare. 

Learn why the Indian Child Welfare Act and the historical trauma Indigenous people have experienced are important to understand when working with Indigenous families. 

Explore how caseworkers, supervisors, and stakeholders can use data and feedback to improve child welfare practice. 

Learn about key considerations to sustain research and evaluation partnerships with people with lived expertise and minimize harm. 

Explore how to use human resources data to address worker turnover with guides, resources, and videos from the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development.

Discover strategies for using data to build evidence, engage youth, families, and other partners, and move toward racial equity in child welfare. ​

Discover how data sharing can improve the child welfare court system.

Discover strategies for partnering with noncustodial fathers and paternal family members in child welfare. 

Explore actions that can lead to building authentic, collaborative, and prevention-focused child welfare systems.

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.

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.