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Workforce

The National Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement (NCWCIA) is a trusted partner dedicated to strengthening the child welfare workforce across States and Territories. Through our Workforce workstream, we collaborate with jurisdictions to enhance workforce resilience and effectiveness by leveraging data-driven strategies and tailoring solutions to each jurisdiction's unique needs. Our aim is to empower agencies to foster a workforce that is supported and prepared to use the tools, resources, and strategies needed to protect children and promote family stability. 

NCWCIA works alongside jurisdictions to identify key factors that influence workforce health and well-being at all levels. Through customized support, we help agencies cultivate a culture of physical and psychological safety, develop adaptive leadership, and implement effective recruitment and retention practices. Additionally, we provide expertise in workforce preparation, development, and ongoing support, ensuring professionals are equipped to meet evolving challenges. By harnessing data and insights from the Child and Family Services Reviews, Program Improvement Plans, workforce metrics, and other validated sources, we help jurisdictions address workforce challenges and codevelop targeted solutions.  

Spotlight

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.

Publication Year 2025

Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams

Use this resource to gain insights on psychological safety within child welfare teams, develop an understanding of key factors that support a secure team environment, and evaluate personal and collective approaches to fostering trust and openness. 

Publication Year 2025

NCWCIA Resources

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Have A Question?

NCWCIA librarians provide research support to help public child welfare agencies learn about and apply data-driven practices.

Contact us at NCWCIA-Info@jbsinternational.com or 800-865-0980.

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.

Publication Year 2025

Assessment Tool: Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams

Explore this assessment tool to evaluate psychological safety within your team and identify strengths and opportunities for growth.

Publication Year 2025

Fostering Psychological Safety on Child Welfare Teams

Use this resource to gain insights on psychological safety within child welfare teams, develop an understanding of key factors that support a secure team environment, and evaluate personal and collective approaches to fostering trust and openness. 

Publication Year 2025

Workforce PIINGs

NCWCIA offers Peer Innovation and Insight Networking Groups (PIINGs) to provide a national platform for members to exchange insights and knowledge and develop strategies that are innovative and advance outcomes for children and families. 

Members have access to data, information, and best practices utilized in child welfare systems and opportunities for discussion, feedback, and planning with their peers. 

Our workforce-focused PIINGs include the following:  

  • Creating & Sustaining a Qualified Child Welfare Workforce 
    • Child Welfare Training Directors subgroup 
    • Title IV-E Stipend University Partnership subgroup 
  • County-Administered State Partnership  
  • Hotline/Intake/Screening Managers  
  • State Adoption Managers  
  • State Foster Care Managers   

Visit the PIINGs page for a complete list of PIINGS or contact NCWCIA-Info@jbsinternational.com to learn more. 

Why Coaching Is Worth Your Investment (DOCX)

Develop an understanding of the critical role that coaching plays within child welfare programs and how it can enhance employee support and foster leadership development.

Publication Year 2023

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Transformational Leadership

Review the four facets of transformational leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration. 

Publication Year 2023 

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Role Stress

Learn about the impact of role stress on job performance and satisfaction. The resource discusses three types of role stress: role ambiguity, role conflict, and role overload. 

Publication Year 2022 

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Evaluating Family Engagement in Child Welfare: A Primer for Evaluators on Key Issues in Definition, Measurement, and Outcomes

Examine the key issues when evaluating a family engagement program or practice, including how family engagement is commonly defined in the child welfare context, an overview of models and practices, and theoretical and methodological concerns. 

Publication Year 2021 

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Caseload and Workload Management

Explore strategies for managing child welfare caseloads and workloads to improve staff retention and outcomes for children and families. Find insights from various States on effective workload management.

Publication Year 2022

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The Child Welfare Workforce Crisis – What We’re Hearing From the Field

Read about what child welfare and human resources leaders describe as their biggest child welfare workforce concerns and strategies agencies have put in place to reduce turnover and improve the applicant pool.

Publication Year 2022

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