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Prevention services promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families. Learn about effective strategies to strengthen families and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect and family separation.

To support families and communities in promoting the safety of children and youth and helping them thrive, child welfare professionals use assessments to determine needs and connect families to accessible, equitable, and individualized services.

Youth involved with the child welfare system are experts on their own lives and should be actively involved in making decisions.

Permanency is a permanent, stable living situation, ideally one in which family connections are preserved. Children thrive best in permanent situations—with their family of origin, foster families, or adoptive families.

Supporting the well-being of children, youth, and families promotes conditions where children can thrive. Learn about interventions that enhance well-being and increase positive child welfare outcomes.

Systematically collecting, reviewing, and applying data can propel the improvement of child welfare systems and outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Maintaining a diverse, stable, and effective child welfare workforce is essential to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Casework practice is the foundation for child welfare professionals' engagement and decision-making with families and their support of safe, stable, and permanent homes.

Social determinants of health are the nonmedical, socioeconomic factors that impact child and family well-being. Longstanding systemic inequities influence these factors and can play a role in child welfare system involvement.

As sovereign nations, Tribes manage child welfare systems that honor the culture, values, and history of American Indian/Alaska Native children, youth, and families.

Children, youth, and families served by child welfare are best supported when agencies address systemic racism and promote equitable practices.

Authentically engaging and supporting parents and caregivers involved with child welfare provides children with the best opportunities to thrive.

Courts and child welfare agencies must work hand-in-hand to achieve positive safety and permanency outcomes, including reunification, for children, youth, and families.