CDSS Programs Foster Care Center for Excellence

The Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support

Center for Excellence in Family Finding and Engagement logo

The Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support assists county child welfare agency efforts to keep youth connected to their biological families and extended family members. Children placed with relatives and extended family members have greater placement stability, fewer emotional and behavioral problems, and more connections to their social-cultural communities. The Center provides statewide, culturally appropriate training and technical assistance to county child welfare and probation departments, behavioral health, and other child-serving stakeholders, including tribal partners and service providers, to enhance their practices, policies, and efforts for family finding, support, and engagement.

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Contact Us

Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support
744 P Street, MS 8-13-78
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-7465
E-mail: Centerforexcellence@dss.ca.gov

For additional information, trainings, and resources, please visit the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support Human Services webpage: Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support | Continuing and Professional Education | Human Services (ucdavis.edu)

Is your county interested in a county consultation? Our consultation framework involves a deeper dive of a county’s overarching system policy, processes, practices, and areas of strengths and needs towards developing a plan to opt into the Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support Program and cultivating a kin-first culture. Please contact Centerforexcellence@dss.ca.gov

We are proud to recognize the following Counties and Tribes that have committed to enhancing family connections and support systems through the Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support Program. By opting into the program, these communities are prioritizing innovative, family-centered approaches to strengthen relationships, improve outcomes, and create lasting support networks for children, families, and communities. Click here to see the full list.

Resources