In this episode leaders from the District of Columbia child welfare agency and a community collaborative organization discuss their longstanding partnership. The commissioner for Kentucky's child welfare agency describes the agency’s strategic communication plan and considers the role of the agency as part of the larger child welfare system.

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.

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

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

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.

Desiree is an alumna of the foster care system. She lived with the same foster care family for 14 years. She entered foster care with three of her siblings, and wants to use her experiences growing up in foster care to make a difference for those still in the system.

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

See how workforce satisfaction and retention are improved by emphasizing the positive differences that are made in the lives of children and families.

Defines prepermanancy services for prospective adoptive and guardianship families and raises awareness about the need for more prepermanency services supports alongside postpermanency supports.

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

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

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

Explains the importance of sustained involvement of young people currently and formerly in foster care in meaningful organizational activity. 

Get the latest research on decision science and safety decision-making practices in child welfare to help improved safety outcomes.