The Child Welfare Resource Bank Database & Resource Library
This database of nearly 2,000 recommendations represents a rich review of efforts to reform the child welfare system over the last decade. To develop it, we analyzed nearly 300 reports addressing the child welfare system in Washington State, with an emphasis on those that included input and involvement from community members, providers, experts, legislators and others.
From there, we identified about 250 reports that fit the scope of our project. These reports accompany the database and are available for download from CCYJ’s Child Welfare Reform Resource Library.
Identification and Description of Recommendations
In recording the recommendations, we tried to provide sufficient background so that the recommendations can be easily understood outside the original source documents. It is important to note that certain terms, including recommendation, strategy, issue, goal, objective, task, outcome, finding and model program have different meanings depending on the author.
We also tried to consistently identify recommendations for change. As a result, if a task force or group described a need or gap in services but did not make a recommendation for addressing it, the description was not included. Additionally, process recommendations – such as those suggesting tasks, steps or strategies to implement a recommendation – are excluded from the database.
Editing was done to correct errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, and to add a verb or phrase where needed for clarity. The latter is noted in the text by use of parentheses.
In some instances, different groups made the same recommendation. Those contained in multiple reports were counted each time they appeared. If the same recommendation is repeated in the same report, however, it is only counted once.
Tabulation and Categorization of Recommendations
The nearly 2,000 recommendations contained in the database can be sorted by primary category and sub-category. Sixteen primary categories are used to capture the focus of the recommendations and, wherever possible, to be consistent with categories used in statute and by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). As many as three primary categories are identified for each recommendation.
Primary Categories
- Adolescents
- Consultation and collaboration
- Court processes
- Engagement
- Funding
- Kinship care
- Organization
- Permanency
- Quality assurance
- Resource family recruitment and retention
- Safety
- Services array
- Service delivery
- Training
- Well being
- Workforce management
Each primary category is further divided into multiple sub-categories. A complete listing of the sub-categories accompanies the database.
In addition to the primary categories and sub-categories, recommendations can be sorted by content related to cultural competence, disproportionality, fatalities and legislative action needed as well as year of issue and whether they were mandated by Braam vs. State of Washington or the United States Department of Health & Human Service Children's Bureau’s Child and Family Services Reviews.
To apply for access to the database, please email us or call (206) 696-7503 ext. 18.