The reviews include a program improvement process that states use to make improvements, where needed, and build on identified state strengths.

Through the reviews, the Children’s Bureau promotes states’ use of practice principles believed to support positive outcomes for children and families. These are family-centered practice, community-based services, individualizing services that address the unique needs of children and families, and strengthening parents’ capacity to protect and provide for their children.

The CFSRs are designed to examine state programs from two perspectives. First, the reviews assess the outcomes of services provided to children and families. Second, they examine systemic factors that affect the ability of state agencies to help children and families achieve positive outcomes.

The CFSRs comprise two phases: the State Assessment and the onsite review. In the first phase, the Statewide Assessment Team completes a Statewide Assessment, using data indicators to evaluate the programs under review and examine the systemic factors subject to review. In the second phase, the Onsite Review Team examines outcomes for a sample of children and families served by the state during a specific period (known as the period under review) by:

• Conducting case record reviews and case-related interviews to assess the quality of services provided in a range of areas.
• Conducting State and local stakeholder interviews regarding the systemic factors that affect the quality of those services (Chapters 2 and 4 provide more information about the Onsite Review Team and the onsite review, respectively.)

A state determined not to be in substantial conformity with one or more of the seven outcomes or seven systemic factors under review then develops a Program Improvement Plan that addresses all areas of nonconformity. The state submits the PIP to the Children’s Bureau Regional Office for approval within 90 calendar days of receiving the written notice of nonconformity. (The Final Report on the review serves as written notice of nonconformity.) The state then implements the approved PIP.

For more information, see Child and Family Services Review Technical Bulletin #2 (for reviews occurring in fiscal years 2007-2010) on the Children’s Bureau website.