California Child Welfare Core Practice Model (CPM)

The California Child Welfare Core Practice Model (CPM) guides Child Welfare practice, service delivery, and decision-making. CFPIC works with partners to support and sustain the CPM by developing and posting CPM resources and promoting alignment with the Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) as a driver for successful cross-system work.

CPM to ICPM

The CPM is not different from, but is embedded in, the ICPM.

For California Child Welfare agencies, implementing the ICPM means installing and implementing the CPM, that outlines activities and behaviors they will use throughout the time a family is involved with the Child Welfare system, ensuring its emphasis on engagement, relationship, and partnership behaviors in coordination with partner systems that are being asked to adopt the values, principles, and practice behaviors in the ICPM.

There is a challenge to each child- and family-serving profession to describe, install and implement a Practice Model approach—specific to their profession, to be combined within an ICPM approach that defines how all professions and systems work together for the benefit of children, youth and families.

For CDSS, in its relationship with other agencies, implementation of the ICPM means supporting the implementation of the CPM in California Child Welfare agencies and promoting a parallel approach in the other child- and family-serving professions, including Probation and Behavioral Health.

For a more in-depth discussion of the relationship between CPM and ICPM and the evolution of each, please review the attached document, “Whose Practice Model Is It?”

What's New?

CFPIC is pleased to share the updated California Child Welfare Core Practice Model Brochure which includes the updated Values, Leadership Commitments, Guiding Principles, Practice Behaviors, and Leadership Behaviors. This updated version of the California Child Welfare Core Practice Model (CPM) incorporates feedback from Child Welfare directors, practitioners, and subject matter experts to ensure the CPM includes Prevention related behaviors and thoroughly addresses issues of race, equity, diversity, inclusion (REDI) and Tribal Sovereignty.

More CPM resources >