System reform is a signature Casey investment area and a major emphasis of our work. We demonstrate, replicate, and advocate for changes to public human services and systems that can help them do a better job of providing effective, efficient assistance to the children and families they were designed to support. Casey’s investments are driven by our belief that systems change is critical to bringing effective programs to scale and sustaining them over time. Our work seeks to develop, implement, and sustain reforms that enable public services and systems to:
- Reflect the needs, hopes, and dreams of families;
- Deliver services that are close to home and culturally appropriate;
- Track and be held accountable for measurable results;
- Maintain adequate staff levels; and
- Promote and support self-sufficiency .
Over the years, we’ve accumulated powerful evidence from many of our own initiatives that the right interventions can make a difference. We also know that systems change is critical to the success of our efforts to deliver exemplary services, transform neighborhoods, strengthen families, and build economic security by bringing proven programs to scale and sustaining them over time.
Related Initiatives
Most all of the Casey Foundation's initiatives and investments include some efforts directed toward effecting change in public human services and systems, although our largest and best-known include:
Casey Strategic Consulting Group
Casey Strategic Consulting Group combines private sector management consulting strategies with the Foundation’s system reform expertise to help improve outcomes for children and families by transforming the management and accountability structure, operations, and front-line practice of public agencies with whom we work.
Early Childhood and School Readiness
Our vision for early childhood and school readiness is for all families to have high quality, comprehensive, culturally appropriate early childhood services and support — formal and informal — right in their own neighborhoods. Our core objective has been to find the best examples of neighborhood programs that are designed to build the capacity of “informal” early childhood care providers such as family, friends, and neighbors.
Education Reform
Our education investments support initiatives that give more low-income parents the opportunity to send their children to high quality schools that produce strong results, and help families get needed services and support through stronger connections between schools and communities.
Family to Family – Foster Care Reform
Launched in 1992, Family to Family is working to improve child welfare outcomes nationwide by advocating for more children to remain safely with their own families or a family-like connection and by providing opportunities for redesigning and reconstructing foster care systems.
Income Security
The Casey Foundation’s investments in income security are advancing policies and programs that help low-income families move from poverty to financial stability. This work includes encouraging the expansion of the state Earned Income Tax Credit, ensuring paid leave policies, and providing real incentives for former welfare recipients transitioning to employment.
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Launched in 1992, JDAI seeks to help youth involved in the juvenile justice system develop into healthy, productive adults through policies and programs that maximize their chance for success, reduce their likelihood of incarceration, and minimize the risk they pose to their communities.
Mental Health
The Casey Foundation's investments in mental health integrate proven, effective and culturally relevant mental health services and supports into our work in early childhood, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, youth development, and neighborhood transformation. We seek to improve mental health outcomes for children and families on a broad scale by promoting federal and state reforms of policies, systems and practices.
Plain Talk - Adolescent Reproductive Health
Plain Talk is a neighborhood-based initiative aimed at helping adults, parents, and community leaders develop the skills they need to communicate effectively with young people about the consequences of early sexual activity.