In 2011, Delaware’s child welfare system wasn’t just in trouble — it was in crisis, with too many teens entering out-of-home care and later exiting foster care disconnected from family. To fix this broken system, the state launched a sweeping, data-driven reform effort called Outcomes Matter. The initiative boosted morale among caseworkers and gave kids and families a critical voice in the decision-making process. But the best part? The effort helped improve the well-being of Delaware’s children and families.
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A Summary of the Barriers to Apprenticeship Expansion Research Project
This report presents new research and recommendations aimed at helping businesses recognize apprenticeships as a valuable, viable workforce development strategy. Its companion publication, Recasting Apprenticeship Annotated Bibliography, shares a collection of literature on apprenticeship.
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Helping families build savings and assets
This brief explores policy moves to help more families acquire assets and narrow the racial wealth gap. Review its recommendations.
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Results From a National Survey of Service Providers
This report shares findings from a national survey conducted by the Aspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative. It tells how 340 organizations across the country are working to connect young adults with employment. Service providers reveal go-to strategies, common connection roadblocks and job qualities that matter most to America’s youngest workers. Readers will also learn about research opportunities, investment ideas and policy and practice improvements aimed at helping young adults succeed in today’s labor market.
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Summary and Next Steps From the April 2015 Roundtable
This paper — the result of a roundtable discussion hosted by the Casey Foundation and the Center for Law and Social Policy — explores policy and practice reforms that can help both parents and kids in immigrant families thrive.
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A Roadmap for State and Local Child- and Family- Serving Agencies in Developing Centers of Excellence (COE)
This report defines and explores the concept of Centers of Excellence after a learning community of experts tackled key questions: why have COEs been established; what are their core functions; what will it take to sustain them; and, how can they be utilized effectively by state and local governments.
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Leveraging the Strengthening Families Act to Promote Normalcy
This brief draws upon the voices of young people in transition from foster care to adulthood to explore the need and strategies for providing typical experiences — or normalcy — for kids in foster care.
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An Innovative Approach to Community Development in Baltimore’s Oliver Neighborhood
Introducing Oliver. It’s a Baltimore neighborhood that’s seen better days. It’s also the inspiring story of resident engagement, innovative fundraising and a community that’s transforming hundreds of homes in an effort to change its next chapter.
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Developing Results-Based Leaders in Opportunity Finance
This report tells the story of the CDFI Leadership Learning Network, a Casey Foundation initiative to equip leaders of community development finance institutions with the tools of results-based leadership (RBL). The Foundation shares lessons learned from the network, core RBL concepts and profiles of CDFI leaders as they apply RBL skills and tools to the work of their organizations.
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Building on Ohio’s Deincarceration Leadership
In 1992, Ohio began investing in five deincarceration strategies to keep kids out of youth prisons. Over the next 23 years, Ohio cut its admissions to youth prisons by 80% — from more than 2,500 youth to less than 500 youth today. This report reviews strategies central to Ohio’s success and makes recommendations to states engaging in similar efforts.
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