Quality Contacts Initiative

"Quality Contacts are purposeful interactions between caseworkers and children, youth, parents, foster parents and other team members that reflect engagement, contribute to assessment and case planning processes."

-Quality Matters: Defining Quality Contacts, Capacity Building Center

Child welfare best practices rely heavily on quality contacts between caseworkers and children, youth, parents, out-of-home caregivers and other case members such as extended family, service providers, and courts (CASA, attorney’s and GALs). When concerted efforts are made by caseworkers, it ensures child safety, supports permanency, and promotes well-being of families. It is the goal of DCS to improve the quality of contacts through global assessment, integrated assessment and thoughtful services planning that tracks and adjusts based on the needs of the family.

Concerted Efforts

Caseworker concerted efforts are visible in interviews or documentation that the worker each month demonstrated:

• Engagement of the case participants in discussions (informal assessment) to gather global assessment information, which is then used to guide formal assessment and integrated into case practice.
• Took time to prepare families and teams prior to CFTMs, FCRBs, court and other important events.
• Engagement of parents in case planning that is intentionally guided by assessment information gathered.
• Follow-up with families using a variety of strategies to engage them in active participation in services, identifying barriers to success and overcoming obstacles. 
• Reinforce family strengths, accomplishments and facilitate lasting change.