Learn about the practice and systemic changes Hawaii, Indiana, and Westchester County, NY, made in partnership with their youth and young adult partners.

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.

Introduces the fourth task of identifying possible contributing factors and root causes using different methods. A root cause analysis is a structured approach to understand why a problem occurs using data. Understanding why a problem or unmet need exists helps teams better identify the potential solutions to it.

Explores the fifth task of exploring possible root causes and using data to validate them. Taking time to revisit data, helps teams align on true root cause(s) before moving towards possible solutions.

Presents the sixth and final task, isolating the root cause or causes to address. By isolating, or selecting, the root cause or causes to address as part of a change initiative, teams are able to consider feasible solutions to address the problem.

Presents the first task of identifying a problem and provides examples of how to apply strategies. Needs and opportunities for improvement generally emerge through an analysis of source of data or information.

Explores the second task of creating a data plan to investigate the problem further. Creating a well-thought-out data plan helps the team plan for exploring the identified problem and move toward identifying a possible root cause or causes.

Presents the third task of collecting and analyzing data identified in the data plan to help answer research questions. Examining data helps teams tell a more complete story and understand the scope and impact the problem is having on the community.

Hear about the youth-led projects of the Division X Technical Assistance project in fiscal year 2022.

Hear how Division X Technical Assistance Targeted Assistance Projects (TAPs) helped child welfare agencies enhance policies and practices for youth and young adults.

Watch this recorded webinar to learn how other jurisdictions encourage kinship care placements and then discuss kinship support with your team.

Identifies the first three steps in the problem exploration process and examines the importance of data, key components of a data plan, and common mistakes to avoid in identifying problems in child welfare.

Identifies the final three steps in the problem exploration process and strategies that can help with analyzing data, root causes and contributing factors of problems, and common mistakes to avoid in problem exploration.