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Caseworker/Child and Caseworker/Family Visiting
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Also see our page on Family/Child Visiting.
Resources
- DHHS Office of Inspector General Reports on Caseworker Visits with Children in Foster Care
The OIG issued two reports examining states' ability to track the frequency of caseworker visits to children in foster care. The OIG was directed to determine whether or not states had standards for visits by caseworkers, the extent that states issue reports on such visits, and the extent to which children were actually visited. The report indicated that 43 states had written standards calling for caseworkers to visit children in foster care at least monthly. The OIG also concluded that only 20 states of the 51 reviewed demonstrated their ability to actually produce statewide reports. Of these 20, seven states indicated that, on average, fewer than half of children in foster care were visited monthly. The OIG recommended that the Administration for Children and Families in HHS work with states that have limited or nonexistent automated capacity to develop such a system. For states where the capacity exists, HHS should work with states on ways to ensure visits are being recorded. The reports are:
- Child Welfare Caseworker Visits with Children and Parents: Innovations in State Policy
This report from the National Conference of State Legislatures provides information about the potential of effective child welfare caseworker visits in achieving positive outcomes for children and families, both those receiving in-home and foster care services. It also offers strategies for legislators who are interested in supporting child welfare agency administrators in enhancing the quality and frequency of those visits.
Resources From the States
- Iowa
Worker's Role: Visits with Children
Practice tips for caseworkers.
- Minnesota
- Minnesota PIP TIPS
The state provides these resources to counties for assistance in their individual Program Improvement Plans. They include tips on:
- Worker Visits with Child
- Visits with Parents
- Visits with Siblings in Foster Care
- Worker Visits with Parents
Curricula
- Promoting Placement Stability and Permanency through Caseworker/Child Visits
Through the Child and Family Service Review process, it was found that there is a significant positive relationship between caseworker visits with children and a number of other indicators for safety, permanency and well-being. This curriculum was developed by the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning in response to that clear indication that the importance of caseworker visits to children in foster care is positively correlated to outcomes for children and families. This one day curriculum is intended to be part of either pre-service or ongoing training within a child welfare organization. It builds on the concepts of attachment, strengths-based assessment and planning, child and youth development, effective interviewing and organizing contacts. It allows caseworkers to practice some of the skills through role plays and preparatory activities. The seven developmental checklists are tools for caseworker's to use as they begin to more intentionally structure their visits to focus on safety, permanence, and well being.
Download the curriculum:
Promoting Placement Stability and Permanency through Caseworker/Child Visits
Download handouts for Module 1:
Setting the Stage - Reviewing the Current Federal and State Child Welfare Mandates
Download handouts for Module 2:
An Empowering Approach to Child Welfare Practice
Download handouts for Module 3:
Developmental Approach to Assessing Safety, Permanency and Well Being
Download handouts for Module 4:
Planning for Visit with the Child, Youth and Their Foster Family
- Promoting Permanency Through Worker/Parent Visits
This one day competency-based curriculum helps workers structure their visits with family to promote safety, well being and permanency. It provides a review of what has been learned from the CFSR about the relationship between worker/parent visits and placement stability and permanency and gives workers seven developmental checklists and questions to assess safety and well being. Workers learn how to use a four step process to organize their visitation with family.
Download the curriculum:
Promoting Permanency Through Worker/Parent Visits
Download handouts for Module 1:
Setting the Stage - Reviewing the Current Federal and State Child Welfare Mandates
Download handouts for Module 2:
An Empowering Approach to Child Welfare Practice
Download handouts for Module 3:
Developmental Approach to Assessing Safety, Permanency and Well Being with Families
Download handouts for Module 4:
Planning Our Face to Face Visits with Families
Teleconference
On March 22, 2005 the NRCFCPPP and the Child Welfare League of America hosted a teleconference on worker-child and worker-parent visiting. Visit our archived teleconferences page to listen to the audio files and download participant handouts.
PowerPoint Presentations
Last updated 05/02/08
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