Summary of child welfare class action litigation
Read summaries of class action litigation, brought forward by or on behalf of children in foster care.
Healthy organizations
We believe that a skilled and stable child welfare workforce supported by quality-focused agency environments are key to improved outcomes for children and families. Leaders from the field have asked for resources on building healthy organizations. The documents featured here reflect responses to inquiries about developing an effective workforce and building data-informed infrastructure so that child welfare agencies function at their best.
How can child- and family-serving agencies select evidence-based programs that are the right fit?
Identifying appropriate evidence-based practices and programs can help ensure families get the right services and support.
How was Safety Organized Practice implemented in San Diego County?
San Diego County’s Safety Organized Practice model builds partnerships between families and child welfare using a strengths-based approach.
How can youth peer support be funded through Medicaid?
Learn how Medicaid can be a key funding source for peer support services for youth in foster care.
What is Connecticut’s trauma-informed approach?
Learn how Connecticut integrated trauma-informed practices throughout its child welfare system with an innovative approach.
How are child protection agencies navigating and addressing workforce challenges?
Learn how several jurisdictions are implementing strategies to recruit and retain a strong child welfare workforce.
How does turnover in the child welfare workforce impact children and families?
Learn about child welfare workforce turnover, its challenges to child protection agencies, and the impact it has on children and families.
How are kinship navigator programs developed and funded?
Learn about program development and funding stream recommendations from kinship navigator program experts in several states.
What keeps community-based organizations from contracting with child and family services agencies, and what can be done about it?
Explore how agencies serving children and families can reduce barriers to contracting with small community-based organizations.
How can screening threshold analyses inform improved intake decisions?
Learn from an analysis that evaluated the accuracy of decisions of a central hotline to screen in or screen out reports that come in.
Trauma-informed, healing-centered approaches
Explore our Questions from the field resources related to trauma-informed care.
Child welfare financing
Explore a variety of our resources related to child welfare financing.
How is Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families working towards racial justice?
Learn how Connecticut DCF is making their work towards racial justice a key component of their department.
What are child protection agencies learning about supporting virtual engagement with children and families as well as staff?
Learn how the COVID-19 pandemic leveraged new ways of engaging virtually to support children and families.
How could behavioral design improve frontline child welfare practice?
ideas42 outlines strategies from behavioral science for reducing stressors on child welfare staff.
How can longitudinal data support child and family well-being?
Explore best practices for collecting and using longitudinal data to assess outcomes for families.
How does New Jersey maintain a stable child welfare workforce?
Learn about key strategies New Jersey DCF has implemented to keep a low rate of turnover among its child welfare workforce.
Safety science and safety culture
Explore a variety of our resources related to safety science and promoting a safety culture within child welfare agencies.
How do some child protection agencies approach coaching?
Learn how applying methods of coaching within child protection agencies can have significant positive effects on professional development.
How do some child protection agencies approach coaching? (APPENDIX)
Read summaries from several jurisdictions that use coaching models to train and develop their child protection agency staff.