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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Library and Information Services

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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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Learn how we can help your agency build the capacity to thrive.

Email: capacityinfo@icfi.com 
Phone: 1.844.222.0272

Visit the Center for States' Contact Us webpage for more information.

Showing 1 - 15 of 17 resources
PDF

Use this tool with your prevention planning team to prepare for and tackle the adaptive challenges that many states face as they develop and implement prevention plans. 

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.

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.

PDF

Use this crosswalk to start thinking concretely about prevention planning as a change and implementation process. 

PDF

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

PDF

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

PDF

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

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.

Video

Watch this video to learn more about how states are selecting and implementing prevention programs.

Video

Watch this video to learn more about how a vision for prevention influences the development of a prevention plan.

Video

Watch this video to learn more about prevention planning advice and lessons learned from state child welfare leaders.

Video

Watch this video to learn more about state experiences communicating with partners about prevention. 

Video

Watch this video to learn more about how states are engaging people with lived experience in prevention planning. 

Video

Watch this video to learn more about state experiences building capacity for prevention.

PDF

Browse casework activities to use before, during, and after a caseworker visit with children, youth, and families.