Printer Friendly Page About NAPCWA
What is NAPCWA?
NAPCWA is a national organization representing public child welfare agencies. Founded in 1983, it is an affiliate housed within the American Public Human Services Association. It is a membership association that is open to anyone through agency and individual memberships. It is governed by a 25-member Executive Committee whose members are elected annually by the state and local public agency membership. They provide input to APHSA on child welfare policy and oversee several working committees, chartered workgroups, grant projects, and biannual national meetings.
VISION
The National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators is committed to ensuring that children in the public child welfare system have safe, permanent homes by supporting and enhancing the system’s ability to successfully implement effective programs, practices, and policies.
MISSION
The mission of the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators is to be recognized as the national leader in promoting sound public policy, model programs and practices, and critical capacity building resources needed to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators:
- Recognizes that systems must be culturally competent to achieve positive outcomes for diverse populations served in public child welfare.
- Supports and promotes a family centered focus and client driven approach to service delivery and program development.
- Recognizes that building strategic and collaborative relationships with critical stakeholders at the national, state, and local level is essential to achieving positive outcomes.
- Supports high standards of accountability for work being conducted on behalf of children and families.
- Recognizes that informed decision making requires reliable and timely management and evaluation of data.
- Recognizes that systems of care must include prevention, early recognition, and intervention strategies to achieve appropriate outcomes.
- Commits to the development and maintenance of a well-trained, professional workforce as a key component in the effective delivery of services to children and families as it embodies these guiding principles.
GOALS
1. Public Child Welfare Policy
Enhance and improve the development and implementation of national, state, and local policy that advances the field and enables organizations to effectively perform on behalf children, youth, and their families.
2. Public Child Welfare Practice
Develop, support, promote and evaluate practices that acknowledge a family’s strength, that deal responsively and knowledgeably with cultural and ethnic differences, and that enhance the safety, permanence and well-being of children, youth and their families.
3. Workforce Development
Develop and promote state and local strategies, programs, and practices that enhance and improve management and supervisory skills as well as the skills and abilities of frontline staff in their service to children, youth, and their families.
4. Leadership Development
Provide professional development opportunities for public child welfare administrators to ensure effective leadership of the organization as well as prepare for leadership continuity at both the state and local level.
5. Communications
Develop effective and timely communications that promotes the field and provides insight into the complex world of the child welfare system.
6. Peer support and Networking
Develop and coordinate activities that connect child welfare leaders with one another to provide support and networking opportunities throughout their tenure.
7. Fiscal Policy
Identify and promote the demonstration of sound fiscal policy tied to the desired outcomes for safety, permanency, and healthy families.