Child Welfare Practice Tools

One of the most frequently asked questions from NASW members is, “What is NASW doing to advocate for social workers?” In response to this popular question, the clinical team developed this advocacy booklet for members.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) are teaming up to incorporate the latest research from AECF’s report, Building the Capacity of the Child Welfare Workforce: Supporting the Healthy Adolescent Brain Development, into training curriculum for Child Welfare workers.

This report uses the most comprehensive data set ever collected across all 50 states, fills in key details about the lives of young people who have experienced foster care. The data describe how youth in foster care are falling behind their general population peers and are on track to face higher levels of joblessness and homelessness as adults.

A substantial and growing number of children in the United States have at least one chronic health condition. Many of these conditions are associated with disabilities and interfere regularly with children’s usual activities. In their most severe forms, such disorders are serious lifelong threats to children’s social, emotional well-being and quality of life, and anticipated adult outcomes such as for employment or independent living.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) -- the general term for the range of adverse effects associated with prenatal alcohol and drug exposure -- is estimated to affect 400,000 newborns annually in the United States.

This article presents information on the effects, legislation and current efforts on prenatal alcohol exposure and the child welfare system. There is a special focus on the current needs and potential solutions for child welfare social workers, children and their families.

This site provides tools to help youth identify the signs and symptoms of depression, suicide, and self-injury in themselves and their peers.