Resource Library

Presents findings from state surveys and interviews about how child welfare agencies connect with families after adoption and guardianship, including state-initiated contact and parent- or youth-initiated contacts. Shares information about how sites track information about children after adoption and guardianship, including adoption or guardianship instability.

Provides an overview and definition of continuous quality improvement (CQI), its key features and the difference between CQI and program evaluation. This article also provides examples of how CQI is implemented and provides child welfare professionals with additional resources to continue their professional development around this topic.   Introduction to the Resource Watch the video below for an overview of the resource or click on the button to access the article directly.      

Provides support for child welfare service providers and evaluators interested in conducting cost analyses, especially as part of broader evaluations of child welfare services. Offers a framework for integrating cost analysis into program evaluations, which supports successful implementation of cost analysis and produces a fuller understanding of the programs or services studied. Presents key principles and concepts in cost analysis and provides guidance for defining the scope and purpose of a cost analysis and determining the information needed to conduct it. Explains steps in conducting a cost analysis and describes the advantages and disadvantages of specific methods for collecting and [...]

Highlights how counties play a crucial role in the child welfare system by providing services to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. This report outlines four priority areas: prevention, strengthening the placement continuum, workforce and youth aging out. This report provides specific recommendations for each prioritized area. This report also provides examples of how FFPSA funds are drawn down and how three states drew down 85% of the funding.

Resume los resultados de un proyecto AdoptUSKids para aumentar el acceso de las familias al cuidado de relevo, describiendo los hallazgos clave de la investigación sobre la efectividad y el valor del relevo, destacando programas modelo de relevo y ofreciendo orientación para asociaciones y mantenimiento de servicios de relevo.

Describes historical experiences of intrusive research and judgmental evaluations that have caused harm to many American Indian and Alaska Native communities, introduces a vision for the future of tribal child welfare evaluation and a guide for developing culturally and scientifically rigorous evaluation.

Summarizes the results of an AdoptUSKids project to increase families’ access to respite care, describing key research findings on the effectiveness and value of respite, highlighting model respite programs, and offering guidance for partnerships and sustaining respite services.

Outlines key factors necessary to ensure that social service systems respond to the impact of trauma and toxic stress and provide trauma-informed care. Includes links to other resources.

Defines various types of adoption discontinuity and explores data on the number of adoption/guardianship disruptions and dissolutions as well as parent, child, and systemic factors that affect placement stability.

Discusses ways in which adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impose challenges to the developing brain. Reviews data pointing to the effectiveness of early intervention in addressing neurodevelopmental consequences associated with maltreatment or institutional rearing.