In this introduction to the podcast series How We Partner With the Community to Improve Service Options, agency leaders talk about the changing culture of their organizations. Leaders from Kentucky discuss their Child Welfare Transformation initiative, three transformational goals, and culture of safety.

Learn about applications that can make information gathering more efficient, increase useful data, and help you better understand those you serve. 

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.

Get guidance for completing the CQI self-assessment instrument, see suggested sources for local assessment data, and learn to rate assessment results.

Explore how having access to the right information at the right time can improve assessment and decision-making at the child/family level, and how aggregate data can be used to support system improvements. 

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.

Explore coaching steps and tips supervisors can use to help workers strengthen skills and meet goals.

Learn how supervisors and program managers can assist child welfare caseworkers in conducting quality visits with parents.

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

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

Explore the four thematic pillars necessary for organizational capacity that supports engagement with young people currently and formerly in foster care.

Browse casework activities to use before, during, and after a caseworker visit with children, youth, and families.

Learn about quality contacts, why they are important, and how an agency can successfully implement them.