The System of Care (SOC) approach can ensure coordinated services for children and families involved in the child welfare system. By collaborating across sectors — including child welfare, behavioral health, Medicaid, juvenile justice, education, health systems, developmental disabilities, and other community providers and local stakeholders — and partnering with families, the SOC approach aims to close gaps in service delivery, reduce fragmented services, and ensure shared accountability for quality and oversight.

This brief, developed by the Center for Health Care Strategies in partnership with Casey Family Programs, shares how the SOC approach can help child welfare systems prevent entry into foster care, meet family needs effectively, and provide coordinated care in their own home and community. The brief highlights how the SOC approach can shift services from reactive to proactive, prevention-driven solutions, helping to both improve care and reduce avoidable costs for states.

A related brief and set of profiles outline practical strategies and state examples for effectively implementing SOC.