The kinship caregivers featured in the video series speak candidly about the challenges they face, the support they need, and the rewards that motivate them to continue. Use this video series and discussion guide to create a more supportive environment and develop an agency culture that responds to caregivers’ needs.

Bruce and Brenda have been married for 33 years and have four daughters. From 2006 to 2009, they provided a kinship placement for their four grandchildren. In 2010, the couple adopted Bruce (now 18 years old), Tre’Nae (now 15 years old), Mason (now 13 years old), and Kiaunna (now 10 years old).

Learn to be more intentional about creating opportunities to relate to the staff and families you serve and to infuse more empathy into your agency.

Explore workforce challenges in child welfare and highlight the urgent need to be brave in addressing those challenges.

Explore additional resources to learn actionable ways to engage in authentic, nonexploitative storytelling practices with people with lived experience and expertise.

Learn how child welfare organizations can create equity in the workforce. 

Explore additional resources to learn how child welfare organizations can create equity in the workforce. 

Learn about the definition and calculation of the CFSR statewide data indicator maltreatment in foster care.

See how staff can boost their knowledge and skills for engaging families, community providers, and others.

​​Increase awareness and understanding of the healthcare needs of children and youth in foster care, the medical services available to them, and the healthcare services available for children who return home and youth who age out of care.​ 

Explore additional resources to learn how incorporating voices of lived experience can help improve child welfare services. 

Learn strategies to address the mental health needs of children, young people, and families.

Pair this recorded webinar with the discussion guide to learn caregiver and birth parent partnerships and trauma-informed visitation. 

Learn about organizational capacity to assess readiness and how it impacts retention of people with lived expertise in child welfare agencies.
 

Review the steps for running the CFSR Round 4 SPSS syntax to calculate observed performance on statewide data indicators.