This PIING fosters discussions on the application of components of the CFSR and the priorities of the Children’s Bureau. It encourages participants to develop strategies for generating data and evidence that identify opportunities to build targeted knowledge, ultimately improving practices, services, and outcomes. Targeted sessions will be provided for States and Territories at different stages of the CFSR process. Both large- and small-group sessions will occur to promote learning opportunities from and with one another.   

Key supporting laws and Federal regulations include the following: 

• 42 U.S.C. 1320a (Section 1123A) of the Social Security Act, which gives rise to State review system requirements 
• 45 CFR Parts 1355, 1356, and 1357: Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews and Child and Family Services State Plan Reviews  

Membership is open to CFSR managers and leads, child welfare directors, case review coordinators, continuous quality improvement managers and leads, court improvement program administrators, legal and judicial partners, data system managers, data analysts, family and youth leaders in child welfare, relevant partners to individual jurisdictions, and anyone who is part of a jurisdiction’s CFSR planning and implementation team. 

This PIING subgroup serves as a collaborative forum for individuals who provide foundational training to the State or Territory child welfare workforce in partnership with the Children’s Bureau to advance learning and development in child welfare systems. This group leverages research and data to facilitate the exchange of information, resources, and best practices. 

Membership is open to State and Territory training directors, human resources staff, and other entities that provide foundational training to States’ or Territories’ child welfare workforces, including managers and contracted training system directors and managers.

This PIING serves as a dynamic platform for CJA coordinators and State task force members to exchange best practices, leverage emerging technologies, enhance cross-system coordination, and drive continuous quality improvements in child protection efforts. Through shared expertise and innovative solutions, CJA grantees play a critical role in shaping a more effective and trauma-informed response to child abuse and neglect while also promoting fiscal responsibility and cost reduction, transparency and accountability, efficiency in government operations, and data-driven decision-making to ensure the overall improvement of contracting processes and long-term system impact.  

CJA, funded through the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), supports States and Territories in improving responses to child abuse and neglect. Key supporting laws include the following Federal laws and guidelines:  

• CAPTA  
• Victims of Crime Act  
• Family First Prevention Services Act/Title IV-E Prevention Program 
• Adoption and Safe Families Act  
• Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act  
• CJA Program Guidelines 

Membership is open to CJA coordinators (or designees) and State CJA task force members. 

This PIING provides opportunities for jurisdictional coordinators and CRP members to explore strategies and practices that make the work of CRPs meaningful and impactful for the jurisdictions they serve. This group assists in identifying successful approaches to engage, empower, and promote the work of CRPs. The PIING provides members a forum to share best practice guidance on annual reporting and the use of panels to review policies, procedures, practices, and the recruitment and retention of qualified panel members.  

Key supporting Federal laws include the following:  

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 

Membership is open to jurisdictional CRP coordinators and CRP panel members. 

This PIING drives innovation, the use of CQI models, and data reporting and analysis to enhance child welfare practices and achieve positive outcomes for children and families. Activities are designed to improve data quality, strengthen data utilization, leverage data and information technology (IT) systems, and support CQI efforts to improve child welfare outcomes through research-driven and evidence-supported activities. 

Key supporting Federal laws and regulations include the following:  

• 42 U.S.C. 1320a (Section 1123A) of the Social Security Act, which gives rise to State review system requirements 
• 45 CFR Parts 1355, 1356, and 1357: Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews and Child and Family Services State Plan Reviews   

Membership is open to managers responsible for statewide assessment reports, Program Improvement Plans, case reviews, and Child and Family Services Plans, as well as business-level data analysts, data systems designers, and IT specialists who analyze complex data to promote actionable insights that inform practice and CQI activities.  

This PIING examines evidence-based solutions that support effective management strategies related to child welfare programs. This PIING focuses on learning about differing budgets, State and Federal compliance, and how to formulate and strengthen partnerships between county-administered agencies and State oversight entities. This group draws upon data and research to inform strategic solutions for challenges encountered by county-administered States. 

Key supporting Federal laws and guidelines include the following: 

• Social Security Act (title IV-E and title IV-B) 
• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 
• Family First Prevention Services Act  

Membership is open to child welfare professionals who meet the criteria of programmatic leadership at the State level in California, Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

This PIING is dedicated to developing and implementing strategies that identify, create, and sustain a qualified child welfare workforce while emphasizing fiscal responsibility, accountability, transparency, efficiency, and research- and data-informed decision-making.  

 Goals of this group include the following:  

• Attract and retain talent: Identify innovative strategies to recruit and retain a skilled child welfare workforce  
• Promote continuous learning: Facilitate ongoing training and career development to strengthen staff skills and leadership  
• Align education with workforce needs: Partner with universities and human resources professionals to ensure academic programs support workforce readiness  
• Build workforce capacity: Develop a responsive, qualified workforce to meet the needs of children and families  
• Invest strategically in workforce development: Leverage resources effectively to support hiring, retention, and staff growth  

The work of human resource professionals, learning and development specialists, university partners, and fiscal managers is supported by the following key Federal laws and guidelines: 

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act 
• Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services (title IV-B)  
• Title IV-E prevention, foster care, adoption assistance, guardianship assistance, and kinship navigation   
• John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and education and training voucher programs  
• Adoption and Safe Families Act  
• Child and Family Services Reviews 

Membership is open to human resources professionals, learning and development specialists, university partners, and fiscal managers.  

This PIING provides a forum for resources and information for members to develop, implement, and sustain innovative and impactful prevention programs and services in alignment with the jurisdiction’s title IV-E prevention plan. Through virtual engagement, this PIING provides a dynamic space for State leaders to exchange strategies, navigate challenges, and drive innovation and emphasizes these key focus areas that support strong and sustainable system transformation: 

• Promoting fiscal responsibility and cost reduction   
• Increasing transparency and accountability   
• Developing efficiencies in government operations   
• Utilizing data to inform and support decision-making, including developing and exploring data systems to leverage information for program reporting, and continuous quality improvement  

These priorities ensure that prevention efforts are not only impactful but are also strategically aligned with the effective governance and stewardship of public resources.  

Key supporting Federal laws and guidelines include the following:  

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act  
• FFPSA/title IV-E Prevention Program 
• Children's Bureau guidelines 

Membership is open to jurisdictional child welfare leaders and teams charged with implementing and/or developing their jurisdictions’ title IV-E prevention program plan under FFPSA. This also includes regional and county team members that may be working with their State office team on implementation. 

This PIING drives cross-jurisdictional partnership among family engagement leaders, parent partner program staff, family consultants, and advocates to improve child welfare practice. It brings together professionals with direct experience to enhance engagement strategies and apply data-driven approaches to improve outcomes. Focusing on family and fatherhood engagement, members lead initiatives that increase family participation, support family stability, and improve outcomes for children. These efforts help agencies implement effective practices that reflect family priorities, fostering responsive and resilient systems. 

Key supporting Federal laws include the following: 

• Family First Prevention Services Act  
• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act  
• Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act  
• Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Act  

Membership is open to leaders in family empowerment and parent partner programs, family or parent leaders engaged by State child welfare agencies, family consultants and advocates, and State and county leaders focused on family and fatherhood engagement and empowerment. 

This PIING provides a platform for members to identify common goals through the use of data, experiences, and Federal and jurisdictional requirements to improve the efficacy and accuracy of child abuse and neglect reporting systems. Sessions will be focused on identifying efficient and sustainable strategies for improving child abuse and neglect reporting, intake, and screening systems.  

Child abuse and neglect hotlines are primarily governed by the following laws: 

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act  
• Title IV-B of the Social Security Act  

Membership is open to State or county HISMs who are recommended and approved by each State’s State liaison officer. 

This PIING drives innovation and systems change among kinship navigator program leaders, providers, and community partners. Through joint efforts, members spearhead innovation, optimize best practices, and bolster resources to strengthen kinship support systems and improve outcomes for children in kinship care. By showcasing evidence-based, Federally approved, and evidence-informed kinship programs, jurisdictions can develop strategies to enhance sustainable solutions for children and kinship providers. 

Key supporting Federal laws include the following: 

• Fostering Connections to Success Act 
• Family First Prevention Services Act 
• Social Security Act (title IV-E and title IV-B) 

Membership is open to State, Territory, and Tribal kinship navigator program leaders, contracted providers, technical assistance partners, and advocacy organizations dedicated to supporting kinship programs and families. 

This PIING promotes evidence-informed strategies, cost-effective services, and emerging advancements to combat human trafficking in the child welfare system. By optimizing processes and fostering strategic partnerships, participants enhance the responsiveness of programs for victims of trafficking and ensure effective resource utilization. Members use data and research to identify best practices, streamline service delivery, and improve outcomes for trafficked children. 

Key supporting Federal laws include the following: 

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act  
• Title IV-B of the Social Security Act. 
• Title IV-E of the Social Security Act  
• Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act  
• Victims of Crime Act  

Membership is open to child welfare professionals coordinating human trafficking responses and multidisciplinary partners, including law enforcement personnel, court staff, and service providers. 

This PIING drives innovation among members of the National Association of State Adoption Programs (NASAP) and other State-level adoption managers to positively promote and improve adoption and guardianship outcomes in child welfare.   

Key supporting Federal laws include the following:  

• Adoption and Safe Families Act 
• Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act 
• Adoption Promotion Act 

Membership is open to members of NASAP and State-level adoption managers.

This PIING advances innovation among State foster care managers to drive positive outcomes for children in foster care. By bringing together their expertise and evidence-based practices, State foster care managers work toward continuous improvement in the quality of care provided to children and families. 

Key supporting Federal laws include the following: 

• Title IV-E of the Social Security Act  
• John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood  
• Adoption and Safe Families Act  
• Family First Prevention Services Act  

Membership is open to State and Territory foster care managers. 

This PIING actively fosters cooperation and strategic thinking to develop and implement child welfare programs and services that are in alignment and comply with Federal laws and regulations. As recognized experts in child welfare practices within their jurisdictions, SLOs leverage data to interpret performance, create policies that meet Federal requirements, identify best practices, and assess the impact of system changes. Serving as pivotal contacts between child welfare agencies and the Children’s Bureau, this group provides a platform to review and enhance solutions to identified challenges, improve outcomes, and ensure compliance with Federal laws. Additionally, the SLO PIING provides feedback on improvements in contracting processes, tools to promote fiscal responsibility, accountability, and standards to improve outcomes for children and families. 

The work of the SLOs is supported by the following Federal laws: 

• Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act  
• Adoption and Safe Families Act  

Membership is restricted to the designated SLO for each State or Territory. 

This PIING subgroup is a network of university partners dedicated to public child welfare education through their support of title IV-E stipend programs. Participants build and enhance their knowledge and skills and share strategies to help their universities improve the organizational and administrative capacity of their undergraduate- or graduate-level programs in public child welfare social work.  

TSUP peer activities spotlight topics related to title IV-E stipend programs to support positive systems change. These include evidence-informed discussions on improving recruitment and retention in the child welfare workforce, reinforcing worker competencies, delivering specialized continuing education, facilitating professional communities, and ensuring the completion of students’ work requirements.  

Membership is open to all current title IV-E university partners across the United States, including its Territories, as well as those interested in learning about, advocating for, or starting a title IV-E university program.