Casework Practice

1. Well-Supported by Research Evidence
2. Supported by Research Evidence
3. Promising Research Evidence
4. Fails to Demonstrate Effect
5. Concerning Practice
NR. Not able to be Rated

See Scientific Rating Scale

Here are your search results for programs in the Topic Area - Casework Practice:

The programs listed below have a full program description. They have been reviewed by the CEBC and, if appropriate, been rated using the Scientific Rating Scale. You can see the full rating scale on the right.

Occasionally program representatives who are invited to submit information on their program decline or do not respond, click here to see if there are any declining or non-responding programs for Casework Practice

You can also read why the Advisory Committee chose Casework Practice as a topic area at the bottom of this page.

Programs with a Scientific Rating of 3 - Promising Research Evidence

Family Connections (FC)

Programs with a Scientific Rating of NR - Not able to be Rated

Solution Based Casework

See why Casework Practice was selected by the Advisory Committee.

What is Casework Practice as it relates to Child Welfare?

Casework Practice is the foundation of Public Child Welfare. Casework practice is designed to help families strengthen family functioning and address challenges that may threaten family stability. These activities include

administering family-centered assessment and case planning;
discussing strengths and needs with families;
identifying specific interventions such as self-sufficiency needs, counseling, parenting, educational support, and skill building;
connecting families with the supportive services and resources they need to achieve a nurturing and stable family environment.

Findings from the federal Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSRs), which examine state child welfare agency performance, have shown an association between a positive rating on caseworker visits and positive ratings on other areas under review. (Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Findings From the Initial Child and Family Services Reviews, 2001-2004, available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/results/index.htm.)

"The Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the CFSRs, believes that one of the most important ways to promote positive outcomes for children and their families is to ensure the quality and frequency of caseworker visits with the children and families in the agency's care." (National Conference of State Legislatures, Child Welfare and Caseworker Visits with Children and Parents 9/06)

Why Casework Practice was chosen by the Advisory Committee?

The Advisory committee felt that Casework Practice is an important area to evaluate in order to understand and improve the child welfare workers interactions with families. The child welfare worker's use of family engagement strategies that encourage families to work as partners with Public Child Welfare for the protection of their children are vital to ensure that families receive the services necessary to enhance family strengths.

Because of the CFSRs, we now know that caseworker visits are important and may be have a positive impact on outcomes for families. How often a caseworker visits, what happens during that visit, and how focused the visits are on the achievement of Federal Outcomes may determine if a family is reunified or if a child has an opportunity for permanency through adoption or guardianship.

Understanding what needs to happen in the interaction between the caseworker and the family and establishing standards for those interactions is an important next step in enhancing child welfare practices.

Debby Jeter
Deputy Director
Family and Children's Division
San Francisco Human Services Agency
San Francisco, CA