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National Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement

Navigating together. 
Driving transformation. 
Strengthening outcomes.

The National Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement (NCWCIA) is funded by the Children’s Bureau to assist public child welfare agencies with improving performance and outcomes through evidence and sound, innovative implementation practices. NCWCIA provides agencies data-driven assistance to meet their jurisdictional goals and Federal statutory requirements so that children can remain safe and with their families whenever possible. A new website is coming soon!

Children’s Bureau-Funded Innovation and Advancement Centers

National Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement

Supports public child welfare agencies in their improvement efforts by providing data-driven, tailored assistance.

National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement

Partners with American Indian/Alaska Native child welfare agencies to improve Tribal child and family services.

Visit the National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement

Center for Legal and Judicial Innovation and Advancement

Supports the advancement and innovation of child welfare legal and judicial systems to improve outcomes for children and families.

Find Your Innovation and Advancement Navigator

Each jurisdiction is assigned an NCWCIA innovation and advancement navigator (navigator), as well as a data guide. The navigator assists with the following:  

  • Using jurisdictional data to explore needs 
  • Developing improvement plans with jurisdictional partners 
  • Coordinating NCWCIA resources to support rapid-cycle improvement plans 
  • Assisting with the evaluation of outcomes 

Find your jurisdiction’s assigned navigators.

Featured Resources

CFSR Connections and Integration: CFSR Round 4 Planning and Implementation Tool

CFSR Connections and Integration Tool

Use this tool to prepare for Round 4 of the Child and Family Services Reviews to strengthen coordination and implement improvements for a more effective child welfare system.

View Resource

Decision-Making in Child Welfare for Improved Safety Outcomes

Decision-Making in Child Welfare for Improved Safety Outcomes

Learn about the importance of clear and consistent standards for child safety decisions and tools that can help prevent unnecessary removals and reduce the recurrence of maltreatment.

View Resource

Supervisor Toolkit: Engaging Youth and Families to Achieve Timely Permanency for Children and Youth Waiting to Be Adopted

Supervisor Toolkit: Engaging Youth and Families to Achieve Timely Permanency for Children and Youth Waiting to Be Adopted

Explore strategies for engaging youth and families, the role of supervisors and caseworkers in engagement, and activities that foster meaningful participation.

View Resource