Journal Article Examines Child Welfare Practice Improvement Through Capacity Building Services

JBA staff contributed to Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services with the article Child Welfare Practice Improvement Efforts: A Descriptive Study of Capacity Building Services Received by Courts, States, and Tribes. Authored by Tammy Richards, Joanna DeWolfe, Jing Sun of ICF, and Anita P. Barbee of Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, it was published online July 29, 2021, through SAGE Publishing.

The article was developed through the Cross-Center Evaluation of the Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative, funded by the Children’s Bureau within the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This study describes services delivered by the Collaborative in 2017–2019 using data from its service and outcome tracking system. By supporting more rigorous research, the data can promote service improvements and provide a baseline to explore how services may change in response to federal legislation and social factors such as the coronavirus pandemic. The study indicates child welfare professionals and organizations may need to build new capacities in response to federal initiatives and child welfare challenges.