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.

If you are interested in our series and learning experiences, please use our search bar or explore our 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.

Connect With Us

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
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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.

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

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Get guidance, tips, and strategies for assessing agency culture and climate. 

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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.

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Use this discussion guide with the CWVE 2021 videos to access a description of each topic, individual reflection questions to facilitate personal, on-demand learning, and conversation starters and team activities for child welfare staff and collaborative partners.  

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

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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.

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Use the template and instructions provided to develop parent partner program manuals.

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Find out where evidence-based programs and services are being implemented to prevent children from entering foster care.

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Examine the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program's purpose, objectives, history, funding, and requirements. 

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Browse a list of organizations that offer training activities with defined learning objectives, including self-paced e-learnings, webinars, or videos.

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This “Service Array Data Inventory Sample Worksheet” (Worksheet) is a companion tool to A Data-Driven Approach to Service Array Guide developed by the Capacity Building Center for States. To use the Worksheet, you can print it out and fill in the blank squares, or use the questions as a guide.

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Read about the value of collaboration as the key to prevention, safety, and long-term stability for children and families.

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Engage staff and partners with activities in this guide to start a dialogue and create a vision for a more prevention-focused child welfare system.