Children’s Services Practice Notes is a newsletter designed to enhance the practice of North Carolina’s child welfare workers by providing them with information about research and practice models. Practice Notes is sponsored by the North Carolina Division of Social Services and the Family and Children’s Resource Program, part of the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Vol. 26, No. 1: Child Welfare Transformation in NC
December 2020
2020 has been a challenging year for North Carolina. COVID-19 brought unprecedented barriers and loss to every community in our state. We have also been reminded of the injustices of systemic racism and experienced natural disasters, including Hurricane Isaias and the largest earthquake our state has seen in 100 years. It’s been a tough year.
But it’s also a promising time, because our state has a vision and a plan to bring significant and much needed change to our child welfare system. Despite this year’s challenges, the process of child welfare transformation in North Carolina is well underway.
In this issue and in the coming year, Practice Notes will describe child welfare transformation in North Carolina–what it is, how it will unfold, and how it will affect you and those you care about.
But it’s also a promising time, because our state has a vision and a plan to bring significant and much needed change to our child welfare system. Despite this year’s challenges, the process of child welfare transformation in North Carolina is well underway.
In this issue and in the coming year, Practice Notes will describe child welfare transformation in North Carolina–what it is, how it will unfold, and how it will affect you and those you care about.
Vol. 25, No. 2: NC Is Working to Improve Permanency Outcomes
April 2020
Foster care can be a lifeline for children and families, but when it goes on too long it can have negative effects. That’s why federal law tells courts and child welfare agencies they must help youth achieve permanence within 12 months of entering foster care.
Yet over the past four years, the time it takes NC children to exit foster care has grown. Time to adoption in particular is an issue. In SFY 2018-19, children who exited to adoption spent far longer in foster care–a median of 912 days–than those who exited to reunification, guardianship, or custody.
Yet over the past four years, the time it takes NC children to exit foster care has grown. Time to adoption in particular is an issue. In SFY 2018-19, children who exited to adoption spent far longer in foster care–a median of 912 days–than those who exited to reunification, guardianship, or custody.
Vol. 25, No. 1: Focusing on CPS Intake
November 2019
Child protective services intake lays the foundation for everything that follows in child welfare. It’s where assessment of safety and risk begins. It is where we begin collecting and documenting information. It’s a place for county child welfare agencies to partner with and educate reporters (i.e., the community). And it is where we make decisions that can profoundly alter people’s lives. As one worker put it, CPS intake is often a “doorway that leads to changing a life.”
This issue of Practice Notes is an opportunity to focus on this essential part of the child welfare system. In it you will hear from intake workers and supervisors, find intake interview tips, explore ways data can be used to strengthen CPS intake, and learn about a recommendation that North Carolina develop a central intake hotline. We hope you find this issue helpful!
This issue of Practice Notes is an opportunity to focus on this essential part of the child welfare system. In it you will hear from intake workers and supervisors, find intake interview tips, explore ways data can be used to strengthen CPS intake, and learn about a recommendation that North Carolina develop a central intake hotline. We hope you find this issue helpful!
