This guide is designed to support administrative leaders in states and other jurisdictions in using data to assess and identify ways to improve their service array.

Learn the definition and find information about normalcy and the reasonable and prudent parent standard in the PL 113-183.

See statistics on increased risks for LGBTQ youth and learn how child welfare systems can use healthy approaches when working with LGBTQ children and youth.

Identify data sources to explore agency responsiveness to the community.

Explore how independent verification and validation services for title IV-E agencies are used for child welfare information systems projects.

Discover how to examine and drill down into state data to build understanding of what’s happening in your child welfare system.

Explore how data reported in AFCARS about youth who run away from state custody can be used to inform interventions.

Identify data sources to explore how well your state’s case review system is functioning.

Reflect on past results to inform plans for future improvements.

Use this helpful reminder of Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) measures to support CFSR planning and implementation activities.

Access this project management resource to plan for the CFSR Statewide Assessment. 

Better understand your state’s performance on statewide data indicators related to the safety and permanency of children served by the child welfare system. 

Understand the CFSR statewide data indicators, their use in program improvement efforts, and performance calculation tools.

Learn about the identified five dimensions of capacity, browse examples of each, and find out why each dimension is important to an organization.

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