CFSR Round 4 Planning and Implementation Tools

As an integrated approach, CFSR Round 4 builds on the successes and lessons learned from prior system improvement efforts, including CFSR Round 3 Program Improvement Plans (PIPs), the most recent Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) and Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR), prevention and court improvement plans, and ongoing state continuous quality improvement (CQI).

• Use the CFSR Connections and Integration Tool to reflect on what worked and what needs attention to achieve the state’s vision, pinpoint opportunities to integrate improvement efforts, consider engagement experiences, and identify action steps for moving forward.

Are you looking to find additional ideas for coordination strategies? Explore the Strategic Planning in Child Welfare: Integrating Efforts for Systems Improvement brief.  

Getting organized early can help child welfare agencies and their partners set a strong foundation for CFSR activities.

• Use the CFSR Statewide Assessment Readiness Checklist, Timelines, and Organization as a project management support at the beginning of the CFSR. Fillable worksheets can help teams review their readiness to get the work done, consider organization and needed partners, set timelines, and identify next steps to prepare for the Statewide Assessment.

The CFSR process examines statewide performance on seven outcomes for children and families and seven systemic factors that affect those outcomes. 

• Access the CFSR Measures Crosswalk for a summary of (1) the CFSR outcomes and corresponding statewide data indicators and case review items and (2) the CFSR systemic factors and related items. 

The CFSR statewide data indicators are key sources of evidence in the CFSR Statewide Assessment to assess safety and permanency outcomes. 

• Consult the Guide for Using the State Data Profile and Context Data to examine statewide data indicator performance and trends and identify your state’s strengths and areas for further attention.
• Read the Application Example for Using the State Data Profile and Context Data and follow a scenario that dives into data on a selected statewide data indicator to better understand outcomes.

Find additional resources on CFSR statewide data indicators.

Engaging young people, parents, and other family members with lived experience in child welfare along with system partners can offer valuable insights into system issues and help identify solutions for making improvements. 

• Review the Preparation Checklist for Engagement of Young People and Families in the CFSR to ensure that your agency has the needed infrastructure and supports in place to promote successful and sustainable engagement efforts. 

Find additional strategies for meaningful engagement in Strategic Planning in Child Welfare: Strategies for Meaningful Youth, Family, and Other Partner Engagement.  

Complete the Systemic Factor Data Planning Worksheets to identify existing and needed data sources for demonstrating systemic factor functioning in the CFSR Statewide Assessment.