Join a Citizen Review Panel!

California’s three Citizen Review Panels (CRPs) engage in annual recruitment to fill vacated positions and this year all three Panels would like to hear from individuals with lived experience, including parents (especially fathers), whose children have been served by the Child Welfare and Juvenile Probation systems, former foster youth and Tribal representatives.

Professionals with expertise in trauma-informed approaches and practice, as well as those who serve on, or are interested in the work of, Child Death Review Teams (CDRTs) are also encouraged to join.

See our recruitment flyer for more information on the role of CRP members, and for information on how to apply. Feel free to share with anyone you think might be interested!

 


Available Now: 2022-23 Citizen Review Panel Report

The members of California’s three Citizen Review Panels (with support from Research Development Associates and facilitation from CFPIC) have identified their 2022-2023 annual recommendations to drive continuous quality improvement of child welfare systems in California. The three statewide committees are organized on the continuum of child and family well-being and are charged with the following:

  • The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect CRP makes recommendations to strengthen child abuse prevention efforts in California.
  • The Children and Family Services CRP makes recommendations to better serve children and families involved in the child welfare system.
  • The Critical Incidents CRP makes recommendations to help reduce the incidence of maltreatment-related child fatalities and near-fatalities.

Presented to the California Department of Social Services’ Office of Child Abuse Prevention (CDSS/OCAP), each panel has developed its own topic-specific recommendations, which are highlighted in the annual report along with thorough descriptions of the research and thought processes that led to the recommendations.

We invite you to read the report here. We would like to thank all the panel members for their invaluable contributions to this report. We also appreciate CDSS’ unwavering support of panel efforts and look forward to our continued partnership with them as we continue our work to improve outcomes for children and families throughout California.


Save the Date - 2024 National CRP Conference, May 20-22nd

Save the Date! In partnership with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP), the California Citizen Review Panels, and national Citizen Review Panel partners, we invite you to the 2024 National Citizen Review Panel Conference: Empowering Communities to Lead Change to be held May 20-22, 2024 at Paradise Point in San Diego.

Workshops will focus on strategies to transform the Child Welfare system to a Child and Family Well-Being system, including the transformative power of Family First Prevention Services and innovative ways to support former foster youth as they transition to adulthood. The conference will provide a valuable experience for anyone interested in Child Welfare system transformation, whether or not they are involved with the Citizen Review Panels.

Please reach out to stuart.oppenheim@cfpic.org if you want to be added to our email list for this event.


Now Hiring - Adults Services Professionals

CFPIC is excited to be expanding our support to county Adult Services and looking for adult services professionals to join our team! Remote full and part-time opportunities are available for the right candidates.

Visit our Adults Services page to learn more about what this program entails and view our job announcement for specifics about these positions. We are closing the recruitment on September 29, 2023.


Citizen Review Panels Annual Report - Available Now!

2021-2022 California Citizen Review Panel Annual Report – view the latest annual report submitted to the California Department of Social Services. CFPIC and RDA Consulting thank all the panel members for their contributions to this report.

As you will read, there has been a great deal of activity over the past several months and we anticipate continuing as much, or more, work during the upcoming year.

We at CFPIC and RDA truly appreciate the opportunity to work with the Panel members, who are such dedicated volunteers in their efforts to assess and improve California's Child Welfare System.  We are privileged to be able to act as their facilitators and representatives as they strive to enhance the work of California's Child Welfare Community in improving the lives of California's most vulnerable children and families.


Learn. Connect. Model. Grow.

It's hard to believe that our efforts to design, develop and implement the California Child Welfare Core Practice Model began 10 years ago! In recognition of how far this work has come over the past decade, CFPIC commissioned the creation of a video to highlight what we have learned during this journey and to articulate the value of this important work. Over the summer we spoke with many of California's Child Welfare Directors about the evolution of CPM implementation in their counties and how utilizing the Practice Behaviors has guided their work to improve outcomes for children and families in their communities. This video consists of the key messages garnered from those conversations.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the creation of this milestone video, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, as well as the extended network of Child Welfare Agencies, Tribes, community partners and families whose commitment to these shared values and beliefs have established the foundation for the CPM's success.

Click here to view CPM 2022: Learn. Connect. Model. Grow. 

 

 


All Together Now: National CRP Meeting Recap

CFPIC was honored to host the 2022 "All Together Now" National Citizen Review Panel Conference on May 23-25th at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, CA. 115 Citizen Review Panelists and Coordinators from 23 states attended to get inspired and learn about best practices from dynamic speakers, experts in the field, and one another. CFPIC would like to thank the National CRP Advisory Committee for all of their support in helping make this a successful event! 

Click here to view the conference program. You can click through on any of the agenda items to download the corresponding presentations and workshop materials.


March is Social Work Month!

CFPIC is proud to celebrate this year’s Social Work Month by recognizing those who have dedicated their careers to improving human well-being and work tirelessly to remove the barriers that prevent children, families and communities from reaching their full potential.

We look forward to taking some time this month to highlight some of the experiences of the many amazing social workers that we are lucky enough to have on staff here at CFPIC, so stay tuned!

Resources for Social Work Month:

The Time is Right for Social Work - theme and rational 2022

Proclamation 

National Association of Social Workers California - News and Events

 


Foster Youth Bill of Rights 20th Anniversary Celebration

On May 27th, the Child and Family Policy Institute of California assisted the California Department of Social Services Office of the Ombudsperson in producing a virtual celebration in honor of the 20th anniversary of California's Foster Youth Bill of Rights. This special event featured speakers from current and former Ombudspersons and leaders, reflective panel discussions and informative stakeholder breakout sessions.

We are appreciative of everyone who was involved in putting on this celebration, and to all the participants from across the state to joined us to commemorate 20 years of the Foster Youth Bill of Rights. If you are interested, we have posted a video recording of the event, and all the resources shared during the breakout sessions below.

Foster Youth Bill of Rights 20th Anniversary Celebration Video

Breakout Groups:
Breakout Options Final

Transition Age Youth: Creating Your Own Path
Presentation

ICWA and the Foster Youth Bill or Rights
Presentation

CFTs and Case Plans
Presentation part 1, part 2, part 3

Dependency Court Process: Foster Children's Rights in Court
Presentation

iFoster: Bridging the Digital Divide for CA Youth in Care
Presentation, iFoster Phones for Foster Youth