An earlier version of this piece was originally published by APHSA
In health and human services, federal policies have long emphasized the importance of prevention services in child welfare. And more recently, there has been a sharpened focus on keeping families together, while prioritizing keeping children safe. By shifting the focus away from placing children in out of home care and toward providing prevention services and resources that strengthen family units, it creates a pathway for more children to grow up in safe and stable homes with their families.
As the government landscape evolves and states address significant uncertainty, focusing solely on policy is no longer enough. States are now embracing innovative approaches to child welfare reform, with technology playing a pivotal role in driving this transformation and enhancing the way agencies operate.
Tools to efficiently identify family eligibility for benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), childcare assistance, or other community resources have become essential. When families with economic instability are connected to these economic benefit support services, they are better enabled to be self-sufficient, and the need for child welfare intervention decreases. Keeping families together can not only benefit children but also reduce costs associated with out of home care and related services.
Technology also plays a pivotal role in supporting caseworkers in contributing to family safety, permanency and wellbeing. With tools to streamline case management processes, automate tasks, and enhance family engagement, caseworkers can focus on building stronger family connections.
Today, the right technology and strong, collaborative partnerships in the community have become critical tools in connecting family members to resources, enhancing caseworker efficiency, and ultimately yielding better outcomes for children and families.
The role of technology in putting families first
Technology serves as a catalyst for innovation, empowering caseworkers to prioritize families' needs and strengthen support systems. Here’s how technology drives impact:
- Streamlining processes: Technology allows child welfare caseworkers to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time in outreach with families, conducting home visits and building relationships with caregivers and community partners. Automated tools for tracking, reporting, and case management simplify workflows and improve efficiency.
- Enhanced family engagement: Tools that consolidate family data provide caseworkers with a holistic view of family dynamics. This promotes better collaboration between families and caseworkers, aligning with a prevention focused family-first model.
- Performance tracking: Advanced systems that track services, costs, and outcomes enable agencies to assess their impact effectively, ensuring high-quality services and compliance with federal guidelines.
The power of partnership
Achieving sustainable, family-focused change in child welfare requires a collective effort. Strengthening families and preventing neglect cannot be accomplished by one organization or sector alone.
Public-private partnerships play a critical role in creating a supportive ecosystem for families, enabling the sharing of resources, expertise, and data to deliver a more comprehensive approach to family support. Successful multi-disciplinary partnerships are developed collaboratively in strategic and purposeful ways to create a prevention framework designed to meet families where they are and address their needs at the right time with the right services.
Partnership with the right providers to leverage the right social programs software will allow states to configure case and service plans specifically for prevention services to support families.
Considerations for successful technology collaboration
Selecting the right technology partners and software solutions is essential for states and tribes aiming to modernize their child welfare systems. Agencies should prioritize technology that is rich in functionality and purpose-built for delivering measurable outcomes. Here are the features to look for:
- Tracking and reporting cost data: The ability to track and report cost data in relation to the services provided for federal initiatives, such as the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), and their associated costs is critical for maintaining compliance and demonstrating the impact of the services provided.
- Referral options and tracking: A robust system must facilitate the referral of individuals or families to appropriate prevention services when a report is screened out, as well as the tracking of those referrals within the system.
- Automated report generation: Automatically generating reports in federally mandated formats can streamline administrative processes, reduce the burden on caseworkers and free up more time to focus on direct service delivery.
- Configuration and localization: The ability to configure case and service plans and case notes specifically for prevention services will support states in their efforts to improve family wellbeing. With flexible configuration and localization options, the right solution can be adapted to meet unique organization-specific needs.
By considering these factors, states can ensure their partners are not only meeting regulatory requirements but also creating a system that truly benefits children and families.
Conclusion
By focusing on prevention and building strong partnerships, states and communities can create a sustainable system of care that addresses the root causes of instability, helps families thrive, and ensures that children remain in-home in stable, safe environments. At Cúram, we believe that collaboration through the right partnerships and with the right technology, built specifically for health and human services, can help create a child welfare solution that prioritizes healthy families, stability, resilience, and support.
