We want to hear from you! Whether you are a researcher, advocate, legislator, agency or state
decision or policy maker, practitioner, or a consumer of the child welfare system with lived
experience, we are asking you to participate in a series of engaging and insightful conversations
intended to broaden awareness of needed change, identify research gaps, and ultimately
revolutionize the child welfare system with a much-needed diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
perspective. Your voice could help us launch the child welfare system into the 21st Century, ultimately
helping the children, families, communities, and the nation to give it the potential to serve those in
need as it should.

Background: Recently, the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), the American Public Human
Services Association (APHSA), and the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare
(AASWSW) were asked by Casey Family Programs, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the William
T. Grant Foundation to engage you and your peers in a collaborative review of a draft 21st Century
Research Agenda. For additional information, please see Building a 21st Century Research Agenda to
Increase the Use of Research in Child Welfare Decision-Making.

According to the three foundations, “The purpose of building a 21st Century research agenda –
grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion – to support child and family well-being is to (1) form a
broad-based coalition of research partners to identify research gaps to support child welfare, (2)
articulate clear research questions that need to be addressed that are relevant for families,
jurisdiction leaders, policy-makers and practitioners; (3) identify research strategies that will close
the gaps and answer those key questions; and (4) help agencies use findings to improve policy,
program and practice strategies resulting in transformative systems change.

The Event: Each of the three National organizations had specific groups we were asked to get input
from: APHSA for the public agencies, AASWSW for researchers, and CWLA the private sector, direct
service, and those with lived experience (birth parents and youth). So you might also be hearing from
them. CWLA will be providing numerous opportunities, so we gather input from as broad a group as
possible. Members of various CWLA committees will have an additional opportunity for input.

We will be holding a series of virtual input meetings that anyone can participate in beginning with
our first convening on July 20, 2021, and our last convening to be held on August 12, 2021. See table
below for the input meetings schedule and registration information. These sessions will provide the
research and a brief summary on the work that has been done to date and allow space for meaningful
input and identification of the most pervasive research gaps that you identify as missing. Each
session will be 2 hours long, and although they will be recorded, it will only be for our internal
purposes to use for note taking and will be kept absolutely confidential. Attendance may be limited,
and pre-registration will be required. We will have a total of 10 sessions with the last one being an
out-brief in which we present the aggregated information and provide an opportunity for additional
commentary. Registration links are included below. You are welcome to attend more than one.

The Virtual Input Meetings:

Community Based Prevention
Tuesday, July 20, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>>

Wednesday, July 28, 2021. 5:30p-7:30p PST, 6:30p-8:30p MST,
7:30p-9:30p CST, 8:30p-10:30p EST
Register here>>

Child Protective Services and Prevention of Foster Care Research Gaps
Wednesday, July 21, 2021. 5:30p-7:30p PST, 6:30p-8:30p MST,
7:30p-9:30p CST, 8:30p-10:30p EST
Register here>>

Thursday, July 29, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>>

Tuesday, August 3, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>> 

Out-of-Home Care
Thursday, July 22, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>>

Tuesday, July 27, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>>

Wednesday, August 9, 2021. 5:30p-7:30p PST, 6:30p-8:30p MST,
7:30p-9:30p CST 8:30p-10:30p EST
Register here>>

Tuesday, August 10, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>>

Final Cumulative Meeting
Thursday, August 12, 2021. 11a-1p PST, 12p-2p MST, 1p-3p CST, 2p-4p
EST
Register here>>

We would like representatives with varying perspectives and experiences as mentioned above to be
part of this team to engage equally to provide a balanced but robust review and discussion. As part of
this team collaboration, it is important and necessary for you to invite and include individuals who
are consumers with lived experience and those with a strong foundation of DEI in order to create a
revolutionary and transformative Child Welfare system.