HKS Government Performance Lab’s Post

### Enhancing Child Welfare: The Power of SDA Tools in Reviewing Hotline Calls One major concern for supervisors and managers in child welfare hotline call screening is the fear of missing critical information and inadvertently screening out a call that should have led to an investigation. In Northampton County, PA, an innovative approach is being used—SDA call screening tools are not supporting initial decisions but instead are utilized for supervisory reviews. Given the overwhelming number of cases, it’s nearly impossible for supervisors to review every decision made by call screeners. The SDA tool changes this by alerting supervisors to the 1 in 5 referrals that, although initially filed for no response, may warrant a second look. This enables a more focused and effective review process, and sometimes, it leads to sending a worker out to visit a family to ensure the children are safe. The strength of predictive risk models lies in their diverse applications. Each county or state can adopt the best way to partner with SDA tools to address their unique challenges in ensuring child safety. #ChildWelfare #PredictiveAnalytics #SupervisoryReview #SDATools #ChildSafety #DataDrivenDecisions #SocialWorkInnovation https://lnkd.in/gj9QVqi5

Child Welfare is my passion. I find it incredibly rewarding to witness the evolving landscape of the market and the high-quality data that is empowering case workers and HHS agencies to make more informed decisions, leading to significantly better results. #ChildWelfare #DataQuality #EmpoweringDecisions #CGI

There are ongoing efforts in Child Welfare to improve client engagement and thereby improve outcomes. Agencies are recognizing the importance of meeting clients where they are. With Quadient's omnichannel communication, state and local Child Welfare agencies can do just that, by providing clients with the quality of service that they not only need but that they deserve. Learn more in our latest blog at 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMy-c3Ef #HHSIT #HHSClients #Childwelfare

I'm so appreciative of Dr. Jessica Pryce for bringing this topic to the forefront. I witness a lot of dehumanization in my line of work. Dehumanization lies at the core of all that is oppressive, in my opinion. When we strip individuals of their inherent value, dignity, and humanity, we immediately perceive them as inferior. Dehumanizing others fosters a sense of power and authority over them. By devaluing others, we silence their voices and dismiss their stories, robbing them of their essential human qualities, individuality, and vulnerability. This is precisely where child welfare agencies often fall short. Despite ample training and workforce development opportunities, they frequently overlook addressing worker biases, harmful belief systems, prejudices, and dehumanization. Real change occurs when we shift our mindset and engage closely with others who uphold similar values. "It would behoove child welfare leaders to consider incorporating a training that is exclusively focused on how our attitudes and mindsets inform our work with families, but they cannot stop there. A concerted and intentional program of mentorship and coaching around professional mindset development will only help to sustain the momentum of change that defines this moment for the child welfare system. We all have solidified, sometimes calcified value sets, but I believe we also have malleable hearts — hearts that long for a world where families can access the support they need to thrive and stay together."

Child welfare agency leaders know that if a child is removed from their home, kinship care is often the best option.   Yet kin placements are still not the norm in many jurisdictions. Many agencies are working to increase these placements, but the process can be challenging.   The Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL) has worked with child welfare agencies across the country for more than a decade. Our newest publication, Translating Kin-First Commitments Into Practice: Management Strategies for Child Welfare Leaders, draws on those lessons. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gtiTXzMF   We offer six actionable management strategies + downloadable resources that can help agency leaders motivate staff, shift perceptions, refine procedures, and reduce barriers to increase kin placements in their jurisdictions The six strategies are: 1.     Measure and communicate the benefits of a kin-first approach 2.     Strengthen tools and accountability mechanisms for staff to conduct high-quality searches up front 3.     Break down barriers to placement with kin 4.     Elevate youth and family voice in the placement process 5.     Provide tailored resources and services to support and stabilize kin placements 6.     Build momentum around continued kin search when initial placement is not with kin Read the publication here: https://lnkd.in/gtiTXzMF

“Training and professional development are important elements for retooling the child welfare workforce. These efforts have already had some success in shaping the knowledge and skills of child welfare professionals. But, if we want to see our workforce move toward child and family well-being, it will require a professional shift in mindset. It would behoove child welfare leaders to consider incorporating a training that is exclusively focused on how our attitudes and mindsets inform our work with families, but they cannot stop there. A concerted and intentional program of mentorship and coaching around professional mindset development will only help to sustain the momentum of change that defines this moment for the child welfare system. We all have solidified, sometimes calcified value sets, but I believe we also have malleable hearts — hearts that long for a world where families can access the support they need to thrive and stay together.“ Totally agree—an EXCELLENT read!! #LeadWell #DevelopBetter #ChildWelfareLife

This reminds me of a common phrase that was used by front line caseworkers years ago- “I’m out here saving lives.” There’s a personal validation of doing “Good work” or even, dare I say, “God’s work” when working in child welfare. And much like the position below- we must have a mindset shift to an activist with an anti racist lens- I argue the shift has to be both top down and bottom up as case managers are in positions with minimal power but great influence for change. The shift must be inclusive of leaders also seeing the value of being activists in this work and that is where training, mentorship, and coaching must also occur. As the leaders are driving the vision of the mindset across this arena.

Welcome to our latest blog, where we delve into the transformative impact of #CaseXellence, a state-of-the-art case management platform that fundamentally enhances the well-being of our most vulnerable demographic: children. In this blog, we explore the multidimensional approach of child support case management and # the operational advantages provided by #CaseXellence, including its integral Health CX module. As government agencies navigate the complexities of child welfare, the importance of integrated, family-centered services becomes increasingly apparent. #CaseXellence facilitates this integration by offering adaptable and easy-to-implement solutions, making it a beacon of innovation in the sector. Join us as we discuss how these technologies not only streamline service delivery but also uphold a high standard of care, ensuring that child welfare management is both effective and sensitive to the needs of each family. Dive into our comprehensive analysis to understand how technological advancements like CaseXellence pave the way for a more effective and empathetic child welfare system. #ChildWelfare #CaseManagement #Healthcare #Family #Tech #Govtech #innovation #digital https://bit.ly/3vNS65N

A very balanced and honest assessment of child welfare past mistakes and needed transformation # evolvingleadership

Culture is prevention. Learn more about culture as a protective factor in these resources on the Child Welfare Information Gateway.