12 Point Child Welfare Reform Framework
A Systems-Based Model for Child Welfare Reform
The 12-Point Child Welfare Reform Framework is a comprehensive systems model developed by The Collins Institute for Child & Family Systems to address structural gaps in child welfare decision-making, workforce stability, and service delivery.
It provides a clear, actionable approach to aligning policy, practice, and real-world implementation—ensuring that reform is not only designed, but executed under actual case conditions.
What This Framework Addresses
- Inconsistent definitions of risk and safety
- Workforce burnout and decision fatigue
- Variability in case outcomes across jurisdictions
- Gaps between policy design and real-world execution
- Racial and systemic disparities in decision-making
Framework Structure
The model is organized into four integrated domains:
- Voice, Equity & Community Partnership
- Core Practice & Casework Reform
- Operational & Structural Change
- Execution & Sustainability
Each domain includes targeted strategies designed to improve both immediate decision-making and long-term system performance.
Application
This framework serves as the foundation for:
- Policy reform initiatives
- Implementation pilots through the Family Systems Innovation Lab (FSIL)
- Decision-making standardization through the Collins Imminent Harm Standard (CIHS)