Resource Library - Community Engagement

Community Engagement:
Child welfare programs must build strong, sustainable partnerships with families, community agencies and providers, courts, law enforcement, and schools to effectively prevent and address maltreatment. These resources support child welfare leaders in connecting with the elements of a system that supports the prevention and strengthening of families, and providing the workforce with skills to convene and facilitate teams of partners and providers to work collectively to support families.

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TitleContentCategoriesTypeYear
The Center for Regional and Tribal Welfare Studies: Systems Change Through a Relational Anishinaabe WorldviewAs the third paper in a series of three, this article presents a study on the Anishinaabe worldview perspectives of …, , , , , , 2023
The Impact of Turnover on Families Involved in Child WelfareThis brief consists of thirty resources divided into three sections (Impact, Community Voice, and Systems Transformation) that examine the impact …, , , , , , , 2023
Assessing Trauma in American Indian/Alaska Native Parents as an ICWA Active Effort: NCWWI 1-page SummaryThis summary examines the correlation between American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) parents who are involved in ICWA cases, their exposure to …, , , , , , 2023
Dear Leaders ToolThis resource includes starting points for child welfare leaders who seek to bring family voice and power into the system., , , , , , , , 2022
Building Bridges for Every Child: Reception, Care and Services to Support Unaccompanied Children in the United StatesThis report offers recommendations for strengthening child-sensitive reception, care, and services for unaccompanied children in the United States. Drawing on …, , , , , 2021
Championing the Role of Child Welfare ProfessionalsA brief summary of how some states are working with communities to create an organizational climate that champions social work …, , , , 2020
Caring for LGBTQ Children & YouthThis resource provides information about the care and support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning children and youth. The …, , 2021
Human Trafficking and Child Welfare: A Guide for Child Welfare AgenciesExplores how leadership in child welfare agencies can support children who are victims of human trafficking, as well as children …, 2017
Safe & Connected™ Practice ModelA model of practice that includes a research-informed framework, engaged assessments based on strengths, needs and risks, analytical decision making …, , , , , , , 2022
Integrating Positive Youth Development and Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Approaches Across the Child Welfare and Justice SystemsThis paper explores why systems need a new emphasis on Positive Youth Development (PYD) approaches that incorporate racial equity and …, , , , , , 2022
Putting Family First: Developing an Evidence-Based Child Welfare Preventive Practice ModelThis paper provides guidance for state child welfare agencies on what to consider when developing a preventive practice model that …, , , , , , , , , , , 2020
Kids Count Data CenterA project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and a premier source of data on children and families. Each year, …, , , , 2022
System Transformation Through Community Leadership: Strategies for building effective partnerships with Black and Brown communitiesChapin Hall has compiled key findings into five system transformation equity bulletins and a toolkit to make lessons from the …, , , , , , , , , ,
Elevating Culturally Specific Evidence-Based PracticesThis brief provides an overview of ten culturally specific programs and two culturally responsive interventions, the evidence for each, and …, , , , , , , , 2021
A Tool for Transformative Family Engagement: A Commentary on the Family Engagement PlaybookAn overview of the Family Engagement Playbook, a set of research-based, actionable resources to strengthen individual competencies and organizational support …, , , 2019
Family Engagement PlaybookA collection of research-based actionable resources to strengthen individual competencies and organizational support for meaningful family engagement., , , , , , , , 2019
Methods and Emerging Strategies to Engage People with Lived Experience: Improving Federal Research, Policy, and PracticeThis brief identifies lessons learned and key considerations from a range of methods for engaging individuals with lived experience to …, , , , , 2021
Evaluating Family Engagement in Child WelfareThis brief provides an overview of key issues when evaluating a family engagement program or practice, including how family engagement …, , 2021
Kansas Racial Equity CollaborativeThe Racial Equity Collaborative is a Kansas statewide effort to understand the history of racial inequities in child welfare and …, , , , , 2022
Undoing Racism Through Social Work: NASW Report to the Profession on Racial Justice Priorities and ActionAs part of NASW’s collaborative five year social change initiative to strengthen their efforts to end racism in the social …, , , , , , 2021
NCWWI Community Engagement Reference ListThis comprehensive reference list includes a compilation of papers, reports, peer-reviewed journal articles and other relevant resources addressing community engagement., 2022
QIC-WD Three Keys to ImplementationAccording to QIC-WD sites the keys to good implementation are to slow down, gain buy-in, and build a strong implementation …, , ,
Title IV-E Prevention ProgramAn overview of the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), Title IV-E Prevention Program, and resources to help guide implementation., , 2021
Using a Culturally Responsive Leadership Framework: NCWWI 1-page SummaryThe authors developed a culturally responsive leadership framework (CRLF) to address context, distributive leadership, and cultural responsiveness. Examining these elements …, , , , , , , , , , , , , 2022
America Needs All of Us: A Toolkit for talking about bias, race, and changeThis toolkit was created to be a communications resource for those working in the field of immigration and immigrant integration. …, , 2021
Are We There Yet? A Communications Evaluation GuideThis guide explores current practices in evaluating communications as well as the challenges faced by today’s professionals., , 2008
Finding and Reaching the Audience for Your Narrative ProjectThis worksheet supports finding and reaching an audience for your narrative project by exploring “who, what, and where” (i.e., who …, , 2019
Measuring Narrative Change: Understanding Progress and Navigating ComplexityThis brief explores the concepts that underlie narrative change work and what these mean for measurement; think more about measuring …, , 2021
Word Force Messaging WorksheetThis worksheet is a tool to help identify messages for an op-ed that support one’s long term narrative goals., ,
Narrative Change: A Working Definition (and Some Related Terms)This brief provides a list of definitions of terms related to narrative change., , 2019
Persuasive Storytelling: Discover the power of your personal storyThis guide provides tools to support individuals in telling their personal stories., ,
Storytelling as a Catalyst for Systems ChangeThis brief provides a high-level overview of how storytelling can move systems change., , 2018
The Irresistible Power of Storytelling as a Strategic Business ToolThis article from the Harvard Business Review explains why storytelling is a powerful tool that can inspire others to action., , 2014
ICWA Active EffortsThis brief by the Capacity Building Center for Tribes provides an explanation of Active Efforts as they relate to the …, , , , 2022
ICWA Placement PreferencesThis brief from the Capacity Building Center for Tribes explains the law and regulations for following preferred placement preferences with …, , , , 2022
ICWA Online Guide: Qualified Expert WitnessThis brief from the Capacity Building Center for Tribes explains the role of Qualified Expert Witnesses (QEW) in ICWA cases. …, , , , 2022
ICWA Inquiry and NotificationThis overview from the Capacity Building Center for Tribes explains the process for inquiry and notification in ICWA cases and …, , , , 2022
American Indian/Alaska Natives Curriculum Content Evaluation GuideIn keeping with the Council on Social Work Education’s competency-based education standards and social work competencies this curriculum content guide …, , , , , , 2022
Learning, Leading, Changing: Collaborating to Enhance ICWA Knowledge and PracticeHeld on March 21, 2022, this learning exchange focused on enhancing knowledge and understanding of ICWA and tribal sovereignty through …, , , , , , 2022
Indian Child Welfare TimelineThis infographic provides a timeline for Indian Child Welfare from 1820 to present, , , , , 2022
We Are Child Welfare Campaign: Leadership Tool Kit ActivityThis activity will help you to improve public perceptions of the organization and build deeper consensus with the public by …, , , , , 2022
Key Takeaways from Building a Resilient Workforce to Address Trauma and Enhance Well-being: Leveraging Key PartnershipsThis document lists the key takeaways identified by participants in the NCWWI Discussion Series event, Building a Resilient Workforce to …, 2021
NCWWI Communications Guide: How to Advance Organizational Goals through Effective Messaging, Storytelling, and Public RelationsThe NCWWI Communications Guide (the Guide) helps child welfare programs’ initiate or improve their existing communications strategies to build public …, , , , 2020
What You Can Do InfographicAll of us must work together to build and sustain a climate where child welfare professionals can do their best …, 2020
Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Child Welfare Workers’ Collaboration Challenges on Cases Involving Intimate Partner ViolenceThis study explores child welfare workers’ perspectives on collaboration challenges specific to child welfare cases that also involve interpersonal partner …2019
How We Partner With the Community to Improve Service Options Podcast SeriesThis webinar series presents stories from the field that illustrate how agencies are changing organizational culture to support collaborative development …2019
What is Child Welfare? A Guide for Law EnforcementEach State has requirements for when and how law enforcement and child welfare should interact. This guide provides an overview …2018
Transforming Child Welfare Systems Impact of Homelessness and Housing InstabilityIdentifies impact of homelessness and housing instability on child welfare involvement and placement in foster care as well as strategies …2019
Rural Child Welfare PracticeThis issue brief is an introduction to understanding rural communities and their needs. It explores unique social service considerations, recruiting …2018
Evaluating Community Engagement: An Evaluation Guide and Toolkit for Practical UseThis guide offers tips for evaluating community engagement. It is intended to be a practical, hands-on tool to help determine …2018
Dismantling Racial Inequity #2: Community Collaboration and Grassroots EffortThis webinar is the second session of “Dismantling Racial Inequity Through Child Welfare Systems Change” webinar series and highlights the …2017
ICWA Guide for Tribal Governments and LeadersThis guide provides recommended actions that tribal leadership can take towards ensuring compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). …2017
Resources for Healthy GenerationsThis document provides a list of substance abuse, child welfare, and domestic violence resources designed specifically for tribal communities. Keywords: …, 2017
States’ Consultation and Collaboration with Tribes and Reported Compliance with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)This report is a summary of the information states provided in their 2015–2019 Child and Family Services Plan’s (CFSP) in …2015
The Caseworker’s Role in a Results-Oriented Culture (7 minute microlearning)Designed for caseworkers, this 7-minute Quickbit explores how workers can contribute to, and benefit from, practicing in a results-oriented culture. …, 2008
Child Protective Specialist Appreciation Week Posters (NYC)This set of posters from New York City’s Admistration for Children’s Services share messages of appreciation for Child Protective Specialists. 2008
The Power of Stories: Enriching Program Research & Reporting – Full ReportThis report explores opportunities, considerations, and methods for using storytelling to understand and communicate information about social service programs in …2016
Two Cognitive Obstacles to Preventing Child Abuse: The “Other-Mind” Mistake and the “Family Bubble”A report on a series of cognitive interviews that identifies two common mistakes in thinking that the public makes about …2003
What Type of Community Is Your Organization Creating? (Self-Assessment)This assessment measures how well an organization is promoting community engagement and creating social capital. It provides six key domains …2015
Writing Reports & Telling Success StoriesThis two-page guide outlines how to structure and construct an outcome report when sharing the results of evaluation activities, to …2014
Positioning Public Child Welfare Guidance: Strategic Partnerships GuidanceThis guide addresses how an agency should strategically build or change a system to meet the needs and deliver positive …2010
Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of ACEs by Building Community Capacity and Resilience: APPI Cross-Site Evaluation Findings (Final Report)2016
Public Agencies Don’t Need to Do It Alone: Eight Reasons to Use a Partnership When Providing Support Services to Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship Care FamiliesThis paper highlights the benefits public agencies may see from partnering with family-support organizations and other nonprofit partners. 2016
Rural Child Welfare PracticeThis issue brief highlights the importance of understanding the concerns and needs of children and families in rural communities, their …2018
Solutions Storytelling: Messaging to Mobilize Support for Children’s IssuesThis report provides an overview of a research project to test the necessity and effectiveness of ‘solution stories’ (stories about …, 2010
Stories of Parent LeadershipThis webpage provides excerpts from interviews of parent leaders who work in their communities and nationally to help family support …2019
Stories of Prevention in Los Angeles County: DCFS and Community Agencies Join Hands To Support Families and ChildrenThis report chronicles the first year of the Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project initiative, and stories are organized around three inter-related …2009
Strategic Planning: NCWWI 1-page SummaryThis document highlights the role of strategic planning in improving cross-sector partnerships in child welfare and identifies: 1) factors that contribute …, 2016
Strategies to Increase Birth Parent Engagement, Partnership, and Leadership in the Child Welfare System: A ReviewThis report explores barriers and proactive strategies to engaging birth parents with child welfare services; developing connections between birth parents …2012
Strengthening Neighborhoods through Faith-Based & Community Partnerships: Resource Guide (Oregon)This guide is designed for those engaging in faith-based community partnerships to provide and facilitate social supports; faith-based partnerships with …2014
Supporting School Success: What Child Welfare and Education Leaders Can DoThis chart focuses on how policies and practices implemented in response to Fostering Connections can provide the foundation for collaborative …2010
System of Care Practice Review (SOCPR) Training TutorialThis training tutorial for SOCPR-R, a tool for assessing whether SOC principles have been operationalized at the level of practice …2012
Systems of Care Communication ToolkitThis toolkit incorporates successful communication strategies, communication products that supported the execution of these strategies, and lessons learned by various …, , 2019
Systems of Care Coordination of Services and Service Array ToolkitThis toolkit outlines how to integrate a comprehensive array of services and supports to actualize your system of care, as …2019
Systems of Care Governance ToolkitThis toolkit addresses key issues and processes involved in conducting or supervising day-to-day operations associated with developing, implementing, and sustaining …2019
Systems of Care Policy Action GuideThis guide is a capacity building tool that supports the process of identifying and advancing policy strategies to improve child …2019
Systems of Care Policy ToolkitThis toolkit outlines how to forge policy to sustain system of care work and provides examples of legislation, memorandums of …2019
Systems of Care ToolkitsThis toolkit is a compilation of nine easily navigable guides—discussing related activities, tasks, sustainability, key partners and examples from the …2019
The Power of Stories: Enriching Program Research & Reporting – BriefThis brief summarizes a report that explores opportunities, considerations, and methods for using storytelling to understand and communicate information about …2016
Citizen Involvement in Child Welfare: NCWWI 1-page SummaryThis document summarizes the article “What Do We Know About Strategies for Involving Citizens in Public Child Welfare: A Review …, 2015
Community Approaches to Toxic Stress-WebinarThis webinar explores a new framework of community approaches to toxic stress within the broader context of healthy development and …2017
Community Partnerships: Improving the Response to Child MaltreatmentThis manual discusses the importance of using a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to serving children and families. It also outlines the …2010
Community Readiness for Community ChangeThis study compares the performance of case management functions by Nebraska Families Collaborative (NFC) in the Eastern Service Area with …2014
Creating a Supportive Community Context (5 minute microlearning)People need to feel that as child welfare professionals, they are a valued partner in the larger community and that …, , 2018
Developing the Leadership of RecipientsThis report includes two case studies of leadership development efforts by nonprofit organizations who provided opportunities for clients to have …2013
Discipline and Development: A Meta-Analysis of Public Perceptions of Parents, Parenting, Child Development and Child AbuseThis report reviews research on child abuse, as well as existing publicly available opinion research regarding parenting, child development, child …2003
Discussion Guide: Client Voice and EngagementThis guide helps organizations delve deeper into their own individual programs or areas of work and begin to generate concrete …2013
Engaging Parents, Developing Leaders: A Self-Assessment and Planning Tool for Nonprofits and SchoolsThis document introduces an assessment and planning tool to help enable nonprofit leaders to assess their organization’s family engagement and …2016
Family Leadership Self-assessment Tool for System-building CollaborativesThis tool is to help multi-agency collaborative system-building initiatives to assess whether they are supporting giving family members, such as …2015
Finding Common Ground: A Guide for Child Welfare Agencies Working with Communities of FaithThis guide outlines the importance of building effective partnerships with communities of faith for recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive …2003
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse PreventionThis website provides services to the CBCAP community through targeted training and technical assistance efforts. These efforts include an annual …2019
How the Child Welfare System WorksThis factsheet provides a brief overview of the child welfare system and its purposes and functions. Child welfare systems typically …2019
How the News Frames Child Maltreatment: Unintended ConsequencesThis document summarizes some of the major patterns found in 120 news articles about child maltreatment – the key narratives, …2003
How to Talk About GovernmentThis brief summary highlights the FrameWorks Institute’s research on public perceptions of government, key communication challenges, recommendations for reframing government, …, 2008
Impact of Public Perceptions on Child Welfare Workers: NCWWI 1-page SummaryThis paper summarizes the article, “Measuring the impact of public perceptions on child welfare workers” which explores how societal perceptions …, 2019
Joint Child Welfare Program Planning and Improvement: InfographicThis document illustrates the importance of joint planning between courts and agencies in order to work more effectively together to …, 2017
Let’s Talk about Safe Kids and Strong Families!This report provides guidance to Alaskan communities about how they can help strengthen and support families and children, as well …2016
Making the Public Case for Child Abuse and Neglect PreventionThis memorandum synthesizes research findings and recommends strategies to communicate more effectively about child abuse and neglect.2015
Meaningful Parent Leadership: A Guide for SuccessThis guide provides a roadmap to State Lead Agencies seeking to enhance their engagement of parents as stakeholders and leaders …2010
National Technical Assistance and Evaluation Center for Child Welfare Systems of Care GranteesThis webpage provides resources to support grantees’ efforts to improve outcomes for children and families through the Systems of Care …2019
NRC-Adoption Readiness Assessment Tool for Community-based System of CareThis assessment is designed to guide states, territories and tribes in building a coordinated and integrated system of care to …2014
Parent LeadershipThis webpage provides approaches to mobilizing parents to be effective change agents on behalf of their children, and resources to …2019
Parent Leadership Agency Self-assessment ToolThis tool helps agencies and organizations assess whether they are giving parents opportunities to develop and exercise leadership skills. 2015
Parent Organizing as a Strategy for Sustainable Policy ChangeThis report discusses parent organizing as a strategy for sustainable policy change and recommend steps funders can take to learn …2011
Partnership for Sustainable Change (12 minutes)Research indicates that change is not sustainable when we do not meaningfully engage those most impacted by a change (even …, 2018
Policy and Community Level Strategies for Integrating Children’s Behavioral Health ServicesThis brief explains Connecticut Network of Care Transformation (CONNECT) and an approach of integrated statewide network of care that ensures …2015
Positioning Public Child Welfare Guidance: CommunicationsThis guide addresses how to develop and implement a strategic communications plan that is aligned with the mission, vision and …, , 2010
A Family Center Spotlight on Father EngagementThis training course, by sharing an organization’s experience engaging fathers, helps individuals and organizations develop and/or grow a father engagement …2013
A National Imperative: Joining Forces to Strengthen Human Services in AmericaThis report focuses on human services community-based organizations, their economic and social impact, and the need to preserve and strengthen …2018
An Assessment of Child Welfare Privatization in NebraskaThis study compares the performance of case management functions by Nebraska Families Collaborative (NFC) in the Eastern Service Area with …2014
Attending to Neglect: Using Metaphors and Explanatory Chains to Reframe Child Neglect in the UKThis report increases the public understanding of the causes of neglect by explaining the role of social determinants, as well …2015
Bridging Child Welfare and Education SystemsThis infographic summarizes results from a statewide focus group study with Minnesota’s social service and education professionals on collaboration across …, 2016
Building Agency Capacity For Family Involvement in Child WelfareThis action brief, the first in the Systems of Care Family Involvement Series, addresses capacity building at the child welfare …2008
Building and Sustaining Child Welfare PartnershipsThis action brief summarizes systems of care evaluation findings related to collaboration and draws from the lessons learned by systems …2011
Building Collaborations Across Child Welfare and Education SystemsThis report describes a statewide focus group study with Minnesota’s social service and education professionals on collaboration across child welfare …2016
Building Community, Building HopeThis video highlights three innovative programs working to prevent and respond to child maltreatment by engaging parents and communities and …2015
Building Cross-System Implementation CentersThis report defines and explores the concept of Centers of Excellence after a learning community of experts tackled key questions: …2015
Building Systems of Care: A Primer for Child Welfare2008
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Citizen Review PanelsThis webpage provides various resources, which include State and local examples, focusing on the operation of CRBs, including development, preparation …2019
Child Welfare Information Gateway: Public Awareness & Creating Supportive CommunitiesThis webpage provides resources and information focused on creating public awareness as part of an overall approach to preventing child …2019
Child Welfare: Do We All Speak the Same Language Video TrainingThis webinar, presented by Robin Jensen and Jonathon Growick (Children’s Legal Services), offers ways to optimize communication between all individuals …, 2013
Change & the Roles People Play (2 minute microlearning)At just over two minutes, this microlearning course provides an overview of the roles people play during different stages of …, , , 2017
Think Politically (2.5 minute microlearning)This presentation explores the impact of implicit bias on organizational functioning, training design and delivery, and the broader organizational culture …, , , 2016
Regulating Distress (3 minute microlearning)his microlearning focuses on one of the seven behaviors of adaptive leadership – regulating distress. Completing this course will develop …, , , , 2016
Orchestrating Conflict (2 minute microlearning)Heifetz and his co-authors identified seven major behaviors that can help you address challenges successfully and manage change. This microlearning …, , , 2016
Get on the Balcony (3 minute microlearning)This three minute microlearning course provides strategies for “getting on the balcony” which is one of the seven behaviors of …, , , , 2016
Your Guide to Holding Steady (3.5 minute microlearning)This microlearning (3 1/2 minutes) explains ways to hold steady, one of the seven behaviors of adaptive leadership, during times …, , , , 2016
Defusing Hate: A Strategic Communication Guide to Counteract Dangerous SpeechThis tool describes strategic communication to prevent dangerous speech from facilitating group-targeted violence, , 2015
Real Cases: Integrating Child Welfare Practice Across the Social Work CurriculumThis webpage for Real Cases Project aims to broadly expand knowledge and skills of students and faculty concerning social work …2010
Beyond Professional Education; Trainings: Dynamic University-Agency Partnership for Transfer of Learning, Quality Improvement; Organizational EffectivenessThis webinar describes university-agency relationship-building and developing continuity among county-based child welfare systems; highlights the array of workforce development strategies …, 2013