Becoming a Workforce of Everyday Scientists: Frontline Staff in Agencies and Tribes

How Do We Know What Works? Challenges and Opportunities for Building Evidence for Leaders and Decision Makers examines evidence-based practice from the point of view of leaders and managers, who must process information about what works or not, decide if it is credible and is having the intended effect, and assess the implications of their decision at every level of the organization. 

This session explores how research, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts can help you strengthen practice to achieve a common goal of all child welfare professionals: becoming more effective in your work and being better able to ensure that children are safe, in healthy and intact families, and thriving.

Adapt strategies from this publication to improve specific areas of culture and climate to support partnering with families after conducting an assessment.

Adapt proven strategies from this publication to improve specific areas of culture and that support collaborative development of an effective service array.

Get guidance, tips, and strategies for assessing agency culture and climate. 

Learn how implementation teams can assess readiness for change and implementation and support related planning.

Explore tips and strategies to effectively engage and sustain the involvement of families and youth at the agency level. 

Use this guide for tips, and strategies concerning the critical role leadership plays in creating and sustaining positive organizational culture.

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

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

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

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

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.

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