Watch this recorded webcast to learn what it means to build a complete system of foster care as a support to families, not a substitute for parents.

Explore the efforts agencies, community collaborative organizations, and others are making to bring families, youth, and communities to the table as they strive to improve the child welfare system in this podcast. 

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

Learn about adolescent brain development, trauma-responsive care, and the importance of normalcy.

Learn how to build capacity in each of four component areas to promote a culture and climate that encourages youth engagement at all levels of an organization.

Learn the characteristics and results that describe the right people to engage youth and get guidance for recruiting, hiring, and retaining these employees.

Examine a five-step framework that helps organizations promote youth engagement in normalcy conversations about the youth’s own care.

Get practical guidance for building organizational capacity and for implementing flexible and innovate programs for youth engagement.

Explore promising practices in pregnancy, parenting, and prevention services and view practice examples, including evidence-based programs, in-home services, and specialized units.

Learn how to create an agency organizational culture that is inclusive and knowledgeable about the unique needs of LGBTQ children, youth, and families.

​​Explore various perspectives on how child welfare professionals can engage youth and young adults in child welfare practice.​ 

Explore how child welfare professionals and organizations can build capacity for implementing the reasonable and prudent parent standard (RPPS) for children and youth in foster care. 

Explore ways to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) children and youth.

Explore the benefits of reunification and post-reunification supports and how these strategies help prevent reentry into foster care. 

Discover how parent partner programs support family reunification by guiding and motivating parents into constructive interactions with the child welfare system and courts.