People iconAgencies Collaborate to Improve Case Practice with Non-Custodial Parents

Between two participating cohorts in 2022 and 2023, a total of 14 child welfare agencies participated in an initiative to identify and engage non-custodial parents  earlier and more often during Child Protective Services (CPS) and/or Youth Justice (YJ) case processes.  

With the assistance of the Continuous Quality Improvement Advisory Committee, the Division of Safety and Permanence and the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System collaborated to create and implement this Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Collaborative to address CPS and YJ case practice with non-custodial parents.

Each of the 14 agencies identified their own strengths and opportunities for improvement related to identifying and engaging non-custodial parents. Next, they designed, implemented and tested improvement projects unique to their own agency to improve practice with non-custodial parents. Participating agencies found the following benefits to improving their case practice around non-custodial parents:

  • Improved information for assessment, decision-making and planning,
  • Increased natural supports for children, youth and families,
  • Enhanced child and youth well-being, and
  • Increased likelihood that children and youth remain with family.

At the conclusion of the PDSA Collaborative, between all of the participating agencies, a total of 65 children (51 CPS and 14 YJ) who were placed in out-of-home care with a non-relative were reunified with their non-custodial parent or placed with a relative of the non-custodial parent. The work of the participating agencies within the PDSA collaborative was a direct influence on these children being returned home with a parent or placed with a non-custodial parent’s relative. 

Agencies also noted that:

  • A necessary culture shift needed to take place in order for this work the be as successful as it was, and
  • Identifying, contacting and engaging non-custodial parents early and often in the CPS and YJ case process was vital to positive outcomes.