Hands and heart iconIntroducing: The Improving Child Welfare Package

Introducing: Improving Child Welfare!

Throughout the next year, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will be rolling out a package of improvements to practice that will better support youth, families and the workforce. The four initiatives that will deliver these improvements include:

  • Initial Assessment Improvement Project

  • Safety Revisions

  • Quality Case Planning

  • Independent Living Project

These initiatives – individually and as part of the package of improvements – streamline the work to better support youth, families and the workforce. The child welfare workforce will see streamlined requirements and reduced redundancies, improved systems and additional support for best practice, allowing them to focus less on paperwork and more on partnering with families. These improvements will also change the way families and young adults interact with the child welfare system, as child welfare professionals will have more time to partner with and connect them to targeted, successful services.

Here's what you can expect from the Improving Child Welfare initiatives:

  • Initial Assessment Improvement Project:
    • Streamlining the Initial Assessment (IA) so the Child Protective Services (CPS) workforce is supported in spending more time working with families; and centering families and their voices in the IA process.

  • Safety Revisions:
    • Revising the safety decision-making process so it is easier for families to understand and for CPS professionals to implement.

  • Quality Case Planning:
    • Clarifying and supporting child welfare (CPS/Youth Justice) case planning so families and child welfare professionals report plans meet their needs.

  • Independent Living Project:
    • Enhancing the existing Independent Living to Discharge Plan (ILTD) template in eWiSACWIS; and developing a youth portal to provide young people direct, controlled access to information about themselves in eWiSACWIS.

Keep an eye out for more newsletter updates to stay informed about this work. This month, you can read updates on the Initial Assessment Improvement Project.