Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and changing the world as we know it. This research summary draws on recent journal articles, news stories, and web resources to examine some of the current thinking on AI in social work and child welfare services (CWS).
Posted In:When leveraging the expertise, perspectives, and insights of People with Lived Experience (PWLE) in meaningful ways within health and human service systems, there are clear benefits for the agency, clients, and the person with lived experience. This research summary includes strategies for effectively integrating PWLE into the Child Welfare Services (CWS) workforce, potential barriers and considerations, examples of promising state and county programs, and additional resources.
Posted In:Learn how you can practice using inclusive language at your workplace by using, Words Matter: Academy’s Inclusive Language Principles, a tool created to empower folks to enter into conversations they might not be entirely comfortable with. It is one of many ways the Academy staff integrates anti-racist, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented practices into our daily work, services, and interactions.
Posted In:This brief summarizes the screening for decision-making capacity including terminology and important terms to understand; an explanation of what capacity is and civil capacities; explores the relationship between capacity and abuse; and why APS professionals need to understand capacity; provides information on capacity screening including cognitive domains and screening tools; identifies research on capacity screening; research to practice highlights; and available training and resources.
Posted In:This brief outlines a menu of available Adult Protective Services (APS) trainings that APS Administrators can access for free or at a reduced cost. These training resources can be used to develop a state’s full training program with a minimum of development costs and high confidence that the trainings will meet program needs.
Posted In:This research summary provides background information on the effects of caseloads on workers, considerations for developing caseload standards/measurements, workload assessment methodologies and tools, and child welfare workload studies conducted in North America so that child welfare directors can make informed decisions about caseload standards, and workload study design and implementation within their own jurisdictions.
Posted In:Use this 9-Step Checklist to design virtual experiences that enhance learning, including considerations for timing and spacing, working with online audiences, and tips for trainers.
Source: Research Summary: Best Practices for Virtual Training (July 2020)
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This article describes how agencies can use organizational health as a tool for creating experiences that are transformative to staff and stakeholders.
Written by Charmaine Utz and Jennifer Tucker-Tatlow (2021). Published in the Mar/Apr 2021 edition of the Training Industry Magazine.
Posted In:This research summary reviews evaluations comparing virtual to classroom training/learning, recommendations for making virtual better than classroom training, and strategies/tools for effectively measuring participant TOL in virtual training sessions.
Posted In:Use this 9-Step Checklist to implement a successful virtual training session, including considerations for participant engagement, session duration, breaks, and more.
Source: Research Summary: Best Practices for Virtual Training (July 2020)
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This research product lists recommendations and best practices for successful Virtual Training, including the length of/timing/breaks of virtual courses, spacing recommendations from Cognitive Neuroscience, and more.
Posted In:These eight steps are necessary for any meeting to be effective.
Posted In:This report is designed to review the current recruitment and retention problems in public health and human services, with a focus on child welfare services, where a majority of the research in this field is. The research will discuss realistic job previews, and creative recruitment, hiring, and orientation strategies in human services.
Posted In:This is a brief online training that provides an overview of the supervisor’s role in transfer of learning.
Posted In:This report is a review of the research performed on call centers and web-based eligibility systems
Posted In:This report addresses research questions from the SACHS directors regarding changes in applicants and recipients in the CalWORKs and Food Stamps programs which may be effects of the current recession. Data were collected for the months of January 2007 and January 2010.
Posted In:The Southern Area Consortium of Human Services (SACHS) has performed an analysis of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program data. This analysis was performed at the request of the SACHS Directors to examine annual changes to the IHSS Program.
Posted In:The Southern Area Consortium of Human Services (SACHS) has performed an analysis of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program data. This analysis was performed at the request of the SACHS Directors to examine annual changes to the IHSS Program.
Posted In:How do you ease your children back to a home and a culture that is vastly different than what they have been experiencing for 10 years? This tip sheet offers suggestions.
Posted In:This review summarizes existing research literature to identify common factors/variables related to the type of maltreatment, the child, the parents/caretakers and other circumstances of the case that may contribute to a higher probability of fatal child maltreatment.
Posted In:This literature review came about as a result of the Fatherhood Initiative, a Federal and statewide effort to address issues of fathers in the child welfare context. Since approximately the time of the Vietnam War, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in fatherlessness among American children. In addition, fathers have historically been overlooked in child welfare and negative outcomes for children are correlated to this absence.
Posted In:This review provides a summary of the existing research regarding public access to dependency proceedings and records in states across the country.
Posted In:This literature review is a discussion of risk assessment tools used in child welfare agencies across the United States. It also provides results from research on risk assessment tools.
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At the request of the Southern Area Consortium of Human Services (SACHS) Directors, this review of the research highlights effective prevention and intervention strategies for differential response from California’s eleven pilot counties.
Posted In:This literature review summarizes numerous studies and literature from across the nation on the various factors that impact the readiness and retention levels of new child welfare social workers.
Posted In:This review summarizes the existing research related to teleworking, with a focus on government organizations. Specifically, it provides information related to policies, procedures,best practices, challenges, and recommendations.
Posted In:Models and strategies for providing services to victims of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) has been building for over a decade. However, there is a lack of a current evidence base related to prevention, identification and interventions. This literature review delves into the discussion of CSEC programs and practices and the need for additional work in this area.
Posted In:Packard, T., Patti, R., Daly, D., & Tucker-Tatlow, J. (2012). Organizational change for services integration in public human service organizations: Experiences in seven counties. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 34(4), 471.
Posted In:Lidot, T., Orrantia, R.M., & Choca, M. (2012). Continuum of readiness for collaboration, ICWA compliance, and reducing disproportionality. Child Welfare, Special Issue: Services for Native American Children and Families in North America, 91(3), 65-87.
Posted In:Coloma, J., Gibson, C., & Packard, T. (2012). Participant outcomes of a leadership development initiative in eight human service organizations. Administration in Social Work, 36(1), 4-22.
Posted In:Packard, T., Patti, R., Daly, D., & Tucker-Tatlow, J. (2013). Implementing services integration and interagency collaboration: experiences in seven counties. Administration in Social Work, 37(4), 356-371.
Posted In:Giardina, K. M. (2013). Using strengths-based leadership to improve the child welfare system. Journal of Family Strengths, 13(1), 7.
Posted In:Coloma, J., Gibson, C., Jones, L., Packard, T., Rahiser, P., Tucker-Tatlow, J. (2014). A leadership development initiative for eight county human service agencies: results after nine years. Training and Development in Human Services. 8(1), 78-87.
Posted In:Packard, T., & Jones, L. (2014) A tool for evaluating leadership development initiative: From satisfaction to outcomes. Training and Development in Human Services, 8(1):67-78.
Posted In:This tip sheet lists the primary rights of foster youth receiving mental health services. This is a collaboration with our partners at the Department of Health Care Services to try and address the use of psychotropic medication in the foster youth community.
Posted In:This tip sheet offers a list caregivers and youth can use to ask important questions about medication. This is a collaboration with our partners at the Department of Health Care Services to try and address the use of psychotropic medication in the foster youth community.
Posted In:This handout provides a comprehensive list of child development milestones including normal physical development, activities that promote healthy growth and developmental concerns.
Posted In:This online resource provides a comprehensive list of child development milestones including normal physical development, activities that promote healthy growth and developmental concerns.
Posted In:This tip sheet offers suggestion on how to follow protocol when working with Tribal Communities.
Posted In:Suggestions on this concise list include the use of creativity, patience, preparation and planning, and respect when developing and maintaining Tribal relationships.
Posted In:This checklist has been developed to help judges determine the best circumstances surrounding placement of a child in a non-Indian home. The intention of this list is to provide guidelines that can strengthen the potential for a successful outcome.
Posted In:This form is completed by site coordinators and training assistants to give feedback on individual training deliveries.
Posted In:The Southern Area Consortium of Human Services (SACHS) has performed an analysis of the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program data. This analysis was performed at the request of the SACHS Directors to examine annual changes to the IHSS Program.
Posted In:Developed to provide support to new and experienced Public Child Welfare Training Academy (PCWTA) trainers in fulfilling the mission of the Academy for Professional Excellence. The policy includes Trainer Induction, Trainer Development, Trainer Recognition, Individual Trainer Development Plan, and Trainer Development Evaluation – Policy & Procedures
Posted In:In this literature review, the topic of 23-Hour Assessment Centers, which provide a temporary placement for children to be taken to after being removed from their homes, is discussed.
Posted In:Packard, T., & Jones, L. (2015). An outcomes evaluation of a leadership development initiative. Journal of Management Development, 34(2).
Posted In:This document describes what is meant by “positive outcomes” from a Tribal perspective.
Posted In:This document offers practical suggestions for child welfare workers who are newcomers to Tribal communities.
Posted In:This tool can be used to guide you in ensuring that your curricula has the most reliable, evidence-based practice standards built into it.
Posted In:This checklist will assist trainers, stakeholders and staff in determining whether or not training materials meet evidence-based practice standards.
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