January 1, 2008

Implementing Change at the Local Level: Strategies for Success

As State and local child welfare agencies work towards the systemic changes called for by the Child and Family Services Reviews, they must engage a wide array of staff and stakeholders in the change process. In this issue, the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement—a service of the Children's Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—explores steps agencies can take to engage the local level in change. The main article highlights State and local experiences and explores some key strategies agencies can use to bring about change at the local level. Our Training System News column explores approaches to taking training beyond the classroom, and the Quality Improvement (QI) Corner discusses how QI systems can support change at the local level. We also highlight resources from the NRCOI and the Children's Bureau Training and Technical Assistance Network.