Identify data sources to explore agency responsiveness to the community.

This publication looks at buzzwords in the context of words or phrases commonly used in child welfare reporting and documentation that can be subjective or carry negative connotations, and offers strategies to minimize their negative impact.

Buzzwords: Moving to Behavioral Descriptors doodle video is a short, animated video that follows a child involved in a child welfare investigation. The video describes what buzzwords are and illustrates the impact they can have on children and families. It also demonstrates how to recognize buzzwords and offers strategies for transforming buzzwords into objective, behavior-based descriptors.

Identify data sources to explore how well your state’s case review system is functioning.

This tool is a role-playing activity, designed to help child welfare workers and supervisors become more familiar with the process of recognizing and translating buzzwords into descriptive language.

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

Identify data sources to explore how well your state’s quality assurance system is functioning.

Identify data sources to explore service array and resource development.

Identify data sources to explore functioning of staff and provider training.

Identify data sources to explore how well your state’s statewide information system is functioning.