The movement toward authentic youth engagement is grounded in research, informed by lived experience, and shaped by voices from across the child welfare. Explore the foundational resources to understand the evidence and insights that informed QIC-EY’s definition of authentic youth engagement—and why meaningful partnerships with children and youth are critical to achieving permanency.
Hear from young people as they share how meaningful connections and supportive relationships can make a lasting difference in their lives.
Explore the key barriers to authentic youth engagement identified through work with youth and key child welfare partners, and how they impact practice, relationships, and system-level change.
Explore findings from a nationwide survey of child welfare agencies, highlighting current youth engagement practices, implementation challenges, and opportunities to strengthen authentic partnerships with children and youth.
Review research on authentic youth engagement to better understand the evidence, best practices, and themes that informed QIC-EY’s framework and approach.
These resources are designed to help child welfare leaders move beyond understanding authentic youth engagement to implementing practices that create lasting systems change. Explore guidance, examples, and strategies to turn commitment into intentional planning and partnership.
Explore key messages, podcasts, and communication resources that guide the shift toward authentic, youth-centered engagement.
Developed with site partners, our implementation primers deliver strategies, guidance, and practical tools to help child welfare professionals and Tribal leaders embed authentic youth engagement program models.
Learn from real-world experiences and practical insights gained through QIC-EY implementation to strengthen authentic youth engagement within child welfare systems.
Designed to help staff develop the knowledge and skills needed to authentically engage children and youth. Trainings are tailored for General Child Welfare (GCW) and Tribal Nations (TN).
Explore a practical blueprint for bringing system leaders, child welfare professionals, and people with lived experience together to drive lasting systems change.
Explore options for YAB structures, funding approaches, and compensation practices as well as a practical roadmap for engaging people with lived experience and agency leadership as equal partners throughout the YAB design process.
Explore research findings and implementation outcomes that demonstrate how authentic youth engagement strengthens child welfare practice.
Evaluation findings demonstrate how QIC-EY’s workforce training strengthens professionals’ knowledge, confidence, and skills to authentically engage children and youth in permanency Planning.
Interested in bringing these tools and strategies to your agency? Encourage your leadership, supervisors, administrators or training coordinators to explore QIC-EY’s professional development opportunities for child welfare staff.