In 2018, child welfare leaders in jurisdictions formed the National Partnership for Child Safety (NPCS), a quality improvement collaborative focused on improving child safety and preventing child maltreatment fatalities through the use of safety science. Members of the collaborative have a shared goal of strengthening families and promoting innovations in child protection. The following presentations, shared at the May 13, 2020, NPCS Collaborative Virtual Convening (hosted by Casey Family Programs) share how four jurisdictions have implemented the principles of safety science during the time of COVID-19.
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County (Ohio) Children Services’ #SavingGrace campaign was implemented in April 2020 in response to the impact COVID-19 was having on employees, their workload, and their families. Chip Spinning, executive director of Franklin County Children Services, and Kelly Knight, child welfare supervisor, share the main components of the agency’s safety science campaign and how #SavingGrace supports staff through the unchartered territory of COVID-19.
Connecticut
Jodi Hill-Lilly, deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), and Shawn Wright, director of DCF’s Milford Office, introduce the agency’s safety culture framework, Safe & Sound. Safe & Sound invokes the agency’s racial justice work as a key component.
Georgia
Tom Rawlings, commissioner of the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), and Mary Havick, DFCS deputy director, discuss how the agency integrated psychological safety principles into its COVID-19 guidance and increased two-way communication with staff. They also describe how the agency collaborates with the state’s oversight Office of the Child Advocate and other critical partners to address systemic issues and prevent child deaths.
Los Angeles County
Ginger Pryor, chief deputy director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and Diane Iglesias, DCFS senior deputy director, share how the agency used safety science concepts during the pandemic to help shift the organizational approach from one that was reactionary and compliance-based to one that is adaptive. They also explain how the strategic framework, Invest LA, facilitates the journey toward transformation and emphasizes a safety culture shift from blame to accountability.
Casey Family Programs consults with individuals and teams across the country to compile research, experiences, and insights about approaches that can safely reduce the need for foster care and ensure the well-being of children and families. We share this information broadly to help child welfare leaders and their partners tackle similar issues in their own communities. For questions about this resource, or if you have other child welfare information needs, please email kmresources@casey.org.
