National Quality Improvement Center on the Representation of Children in the Child Welfare System

The purpose of this program announcement is to award a cooperative agreement to establish a National Quality Improvement Center (QIC) to generate and disseminate knowledge on the representation of children and youth in the child welfare system. One of the barriers to adoption for these children is the lack of a trained and effective representative who can advocate for timeliness in the handling of their case by the child welfare agency and the court. Forty seven States in Round 1 had to enter into Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) Program Improvement Plans (PIPs) related to improving the length of time to adoption. The QIC will work to improve the quality and quantity of competent representation for children and youth in child welfare cases so that States and Tribes achieve the best safety, permanency and well-being outcomes for these children and youth.