Leaders in the child- and family-serving system are trying to reorient this system away from downstream, punitive interventions, like child removals, and toward upstream supports that reduce the likelihood of crises within families. This vision prioritizes racial equity, family voice, and child and family well-being.
The Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab frequently hears from directors and managers in child welfare and other child- and family-serving agencies that they want to champion these goals but that they struggle to meaningfully move the needle while managing existing, complex systems. Through focusing on public administration and implementation, “The Journey to a Well-Being-Oriented System” provides a model of maturity that government innovators can use to chart their progress toward building a system focused on preventing harm.