The National Family Preservation Network (NFPN) is developing a ToolKit for Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS). One component will be a chart of the Child Welfare Continuum showing where IFPS fits into the overall system. It's a small but critical niche!
To offer a more complete perspective, the following is a text version of a large portion of the child welfare systema link is provided for the entire chart. Keep in mind that all numbers and percentages are estimates based on federal reports. Questions or comments are inserted to stimulate discussion on how the child welfare system might become more effective.
Resources are listed with links at the end of this newsletter.
We begin with the entry point into the child welfare system:
Child Abuse/Neglect Complaints
3.2 million referrals/5.8 million children annually. How can we reduce the number of families entering the child welfare system? The National Resource Center for Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) provides resources, training, and technical assistance on prevention programs.
Alternative Response
6% of referrals/350,000 children are diverted, prior to investigation, to alternative response (also known as differential response) services. Could more children/families be diverted? The federal government has just established a Quality Improvement Center for Differential Response headed by the American Humane Association and there is a wealth of information on AHA's Web site.
Investigations
38% of referrals are screened out while 62 % of referrals are investigated. 76% of investigations are not substantiated while 24%/794,000 children are substantiated. Physical abuse of children receives the most attention from the media but only 11% of children are physically abused while 60% are neglected. How can we best address the large number of families involved in neglect? One evidence-based program for families involved in neglect is SafeCare, providing skills-based training to parents.
In-Home Services
For reasons unknown, in 37% of substantiated investigations families receive no services while 42% or 330,000 children receive in-home services. There is very little data on children who receive the bulk of in-home services. In response to the needs of these children and families, the federal government is establishing a National Resource Center for In-Home Services.
Intensive In-Home Services
An estimated 10% or 27,000 children receive intensive in-home services annually. These services have been available and widely studied since the mid-70s. NFPN exists to promote and provide tools and resources for intensive in-home services. However, only a small percentage of eligible families receive these services. Expanding these services would not only keep families safely together but reduces the need for and cost of providing out-of-home placements.
Foster Care/Reunification
About 21% of substantiated investigations result in out-of-home placement in foster care (271,000 children). Nationwide, about half of these children are reunified with their families. With effective services, it's possible to reunite over 80% of these children with their families and also prevent re-entry into foster care. NFPN has developed an intensive services reunification model with step-down services.
To share information on effective services for the child welfare system, please contact the NFPN Executive Director, Priscilla Marten at
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Download the complete chart for the 
Child Welfare Continuum 132 Kb.
National Resource Center for Community Based Child Abuse Prevention
American Humane Association Differential Response Initiative
National SafeCare® Training and Research Center
NFPN Research on Intensive In-Home Services and Model for Intensive Reunification Services