Charged with advancing child welfare programs and practice to ensure that they are authentically engaging and empowering children and youth in child welfare throughout the U.S., especially in relation to permanency decisions.
This interactive tool for child welfare professionals features real-life examples and actionable tips explaining how to engage authentically with children and youth.
In an effort to redefine engagement of children and youth, the Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanence is guided by the three following principles.
Children and youth must be embraced as experts on their own lives, a source of solutions, and as partners in decision-making.
To respect, value, and prioritize the engagement of children and youth, intentional policy, practice, training, evaluation, and infrastructure supporting such engagement is required of both child welfare agencies and courts.
Permanency for children and youth must be legal, relational, and cultural; all three are critical and interconnected.
