Resource Library

The Center for States designs products, services, and learning experiences to increase understanding and awareness, and build knowledge and skills. The Center focuses its attention on developing products and resources on several core organizational and practice topics.

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The Center for States provides research assistance and responds to information requests on building capacity in child welfare.

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Showing 1 - 15 of 32 resources
Video

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.

Publication Year 2017
PDF

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.

Publication Year 2017
PDF

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

Publication Year 2019
PDF

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

Publication Year 2021
PDF

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

Publication Year 2017
PDF

Learn effective strategies to collect, analyze, and use data related to caseworker visits.

Publication Year 2017
PDF

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

Publication Year 2017
Video

This video introduces and conveys the impact of simulation training.

Publication Year 2020
PDF

This tool is a role-playing activity, designed to help child welfare workers and supervisors become more familiar with the process of recognizing and translating buzzwords into descriptive language.

Publication Year 2021
PDF

Learn to use the CFSR Round 4 SPSS syntax to calculate observed performance for a state on all or selected statewide data indicators.

Publication Year 2022
PDF

Find out how simulation training is used in child welfare and learn the five key steps for developing and implementing a simulation programs.

Publication Year 2020
PDF

Explore the types of simulation training available, the benefits, costs, and other considerations, when setting up a simulation training program.

Publication Year 2020
PDF

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

Publication Year 2022
PDF

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

Publication Year 2022
PDF

Learn about the definition and calculation of the CFSR statewide data indicator permanency in 12 months for children entering care.

Publication Year 2022