Child Welfare agencies must engage in careful
planning activities in order to achieve their mission and manage
the many changes that occur in the field of child protection. The
Institute for Human Services offers agencies three different planning-related
consultation services.
Community-Based Planning: This
planning intervention is used primarily with county child welfare
agencies. It is designed to gather input from key stakeholders and
the community. This input is used to inform a strategic planning
process that recognizes that county agencies must have the support
of the community in which they work. Community-based plans have
a two-year focus and include outcome measurements as well as detailed
action steps.
Strategic Planning: This
planning intervention is very similar to community-based planning,
but is used primarily with state child welfare agencies.
Problem or Issue-Based Planning: This planning intervention is used to help
agencies with urgent problems or issues that demand immediate and/or
short term interventions. It usually focuses on a single issue the
agency must actively manage.
All IHS Planning Interventions are design
to:
Engage key stakeholders, both internal
and external in the planning process;
Produce a vision and mission-driven
plan;
Include outcome measurements to determine
if planning is achieving its stated goals; and
Enlist staff to learn leadership skills
and offer their leadership at all levels of the organization.
