Casework practice is the engagement of families involved with child welfare and the provision of services to support safe, stable, and permanent homes. By using family-centered, kin-first, trauma-focused, and strength-based approaches, child welfare professionals can best assist families in maintaining their children in their homes and accessing concrete and other supports.
A key component of casework practice is recognizing and addressing racial bias, particularly in decision-making. African American and American Indian/Alaska Native children and families often have disparate outcomes compared with White children and families. For example, they are more likely to be confirmed for maltreatment, experience out-of-home care, and undergo a termination of parental rights.
Casework practice should center on the diverse identities, needs, and circumstances present in each family and individual. The root causes of safety concerns for a child may be due to issues affecting a family, such as poverty or substance use. In these cases, families will benefit more from financial assistance, community services, and other supports than being separated from their child.
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