What Works

What Works

Research and on-the-ground experience can help you identify, develop and promote successful approaches that contribute to better conditions for children and families’ lives. Although scientifically rigorous research is lacking across many fields, other useful evidence (of multiple types) is available, ranging from state program evaluations to cost-benefit analyses.

Choose a PRIORITY, TOPIC or STRATEGY

Priority: Ensuring Children are Healthy and Prepared to Succeed in School

Topics	Strategy
Improve grade-level reading	· Increase Quality Early Care and Education · Improve K-3 Academic Success · Support and Strengthen Vulnerable Families · Increase child developmental screening and services
Under construction: · Low Birth-weight Babies · Births to Teens	Under Construction

Priority: Building Strong and Stable Families

Topics	Strategy
Increase exits from foster care to permanence	Reunification · Increase timely access to substance abuse treatment · Expand Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) for reunification · Reduce court delays · Require family involvement in decision-making Adoption · Ensure adequate subsidy payments · Establish a commission to identify adoption barriers · Provide for continuous court jurisdiction · Examine timeframes for Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) · Establish state adoption tax credits · Fund post-adoption supports and services Guardianship · Set adequate subsidy and benefit levels · Ensure that cost savings can be retained for child welfare purposes · Require child welfare agencies to fully inform caregivers about guardianship · Require data-driven reports to the legislature
Under construction: · Child Abuse and Neglect	Under Construction

Priority: Family Economic Success

Topics	Strategy
Expand economic opportunity and reduce child poverty	· Improve job training · Reduce predatory financial practices · Expand tax relief for low-wage workers · Expand work supports
Under Construction: · Homeownership · Prisoner Re-entry	Under Construction

Priority: Preparing Youth to Succeed in Life

Topics	Strategy
Reduce juvenile detention	· Develop alternatives to detention · Require objective detention admission criteria and risk assessment · Reduce racial disparities · Mandate safe conditions of confinement with appropriate services
Under Construction · Teen binge-alcohol, substance abuse · High school completion · Voter registration, voting · College enrollment, completion	Under Construction