Guidelines for Completing the Organizational Self Study

By completing the organizational self study, child welfare agencies have a unique opportunity to review their policies and practices and identify their technical assistance and training needs in key child welfare areas. The self study provides a framework for identifying and assessing the agency’s strengths and challenges in implementing child welfare practices. It supports child welfare agencies in identifying their specific training and technical assistance needs that the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections and other members of the Children’s Bureau Training & Technical Assistance Network can meet.

Completing the self study should be a collaborative effort within the organization and should involve external partners wherever appropriate. Child welfare agencies should designate a team leader to spearhead the organizational self study. The team members should represent the expertise of agency representatives and key stakeholders. Different team members may be assigned to complete different sections of the self study, with the team leader compiling all results. The collaborative effort will help to ensure that the assessment is as accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date as possible. It is important that the team completes and together review the completed organizational self study prior to meeting with the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections or other member of the Children’s Bureau Training and Technical Assistance Network.

After the self study is completed by the agency, the NRCPFC will review the assessment and develop an analysis of the identified strengths and needs. The information is then discussed with the agency in a teleconference call. It is important to have the key member’s of team on that call. Based on the information shared an on-site visit date and agenda are agreed upon. The self study is used to guide the on-site meeting and technical assistance plan development.