Guidance for Children and Families Involved with the Child Welfare System During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Supports the continuation and improvement of critical child welfare work during a public health crisis. The guidance provides considerations and strategies for family serving professionals related to maintenance of safety, permanency, and well-being. Topics include the expansion of telehealth; new and effective work across disciplines; expanded prevention efforts to help keep families safely together; raising awareness of racial and ethnic inequities that result in Black, Indigenous, and Latinx families’ disproportionate involvement in the child welfare system; and system changes to provide families access to needed services that prevent unnecessary foster care and child welfare involvement. The guidance suggests optimal ways to serve children and families during a pandemic and beyond that affirm the core belief that a stable home and caregiver are important to: 1) nurturing a child’s development, and 2) preventing trauma that can produce lifelong effects.