Child welfare is the oldest specialization within social work practice and the only specialty area in which social work is the host profession.  This edited volume provides a unique and comprehensive overview of practice issues relevant to contemporary child welfare professionals entering the field as well as those already working in direct service and management positions.  This books emphasis on systemic, integrated, and evidence-informed practices at the individual, family, and organizational level is in keeping with child welfares core mission of child protection, family support, and permanency for youth.  This volume also explores the challenges and opportunities present in a contemporary practice environment, which are driven by the attainment of defined outcomes, fiscal limitations, and the need for an informed professionalized child welfare workforce.

Dr. Helen Cahalane is Clinical Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the Child Welfare Education and Research Programs at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.  Dr. Cahalane oversees a continuum of child welfare programs providing education, training, technical assistance, support for best practices and organizational improvement which include the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program, the Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates Program, and the Child Welfare Education for Leadership Program.  Dr. Cahalane is involved in several applied research projects in child welfare targeting developmental and social-emotional screening of young children substantiated for abuse and neglect, caseworker visitation and family engagement practices, and organizational factors influencing the retention of child welfare professionals.  Dr. Cahalane also teaches in the School of Social Work and has been recognized as a Chancellors Distinguished Teacher of the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Cahalane is a licensed clinical social worker and Expert Witness for the Bureau of Occupational and Professional Affairs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Child Welfare Practice in a Systems of Care Framework.-"They Brought Me In Like I Was Their Own Kid": Youth and Caregiver Perceptions of Out-of-Home Care.- Family Engagement Strategies in Child Welfare Practice.- Permanency.- Transitioning to Adulthood: Promoting Youth Engagement, Empowerment and Interdependence Through Teaming Practices.- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Questioning and Queer Youth: The Challenge for Child Welfare.- Race, Racial Disparity and Culture in Child Welfare.- Skill-based Training and Transfer of Learning.- Stress and Child Welfare Work.- Reflective Practices in Supervision: Why Thinking and Reflecting are as Important as Doing.- Organizational Effectiveness Strategies for Child Welfare.- Managing for Outcomes in Child Welfare.- Conclusions and Future Directions.