Policy & Practice | Spring 2025

Building a People-First Approach to Tech Adoption in Child Welfare By Leah Pewitt, Ricky Denwood, and Linz Philip Beyond I

the System

magine a world where the child abuse hotline was, instead, a help line—shifting perceptions from punitive interventions to proactive, sup portive services. Where a family on the brink

of homelessness doesn’t just secure temporary housing but receives comprehensive assistance to address the full spectrum of challenges they face. With a holistic view of their data, social workers and case managers can identify and connect the child and their family to essential services, such as substance abuse treatment, education, job training, social supports, and counseling—immediately addressing issues before families fall deeper into crisis while ensuring longer-term stability. This preventive, person-centered approach not only stabilizes families in the present but empowers them to break free from the cycle of recurring involvement with the child welfare system. In recent years, federal child welfare policy has increas ingly prioritized prevention, data-driven decision making, and technological modernization, transforming how state and local agencies approach family well-being. The Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and the Supporting America’s Children and Families Act (SACFA) have reshaped funding streams, encouraging states to leverage data integration, predictive analytics, and artifi cial intelligence (AI) to enhance early intervention efforts. Unlike just a few years ago, when siloed systems and reactive case management were the norm, today’s child welfare landscape demands interoperable data systems, virtual service delivery, and evidence-based prevention strategies. By harnessing a holistic view of their data, states have the opportunity to transform the citizen expe rience—connecting children and families with services across the entire continuum of care. As agencies evolve to the changing policy priorities, maximizing the potential of technology to drive prevention requires an intentional and holistic approach to people, systems, and data.

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