The Partnership has identified four areas of focus that are crucial to future child welfare improvements in California. The following describes the results the Partnership seeks in each area:

• Practice Development and Evaluation — Innovative child welfare models and practices for the field are developed, tested and evaluated to inform practice and policy development both locally and statewide.
• Workforce and Leadership Development — A coordinated system is in place to develop and support child welfare staff and leaders, to train workers in innovative practice models and to advance best practices in the field.
• Supportive Policy and Fiscal Environment — Public policies and the allocation of resources are driven by the best available evidence about what works to improve child welfare outcomes.
• Shared Responsibility and Accountability — Child welfare agencies, other public agencies, the courts, community partners, and the general public embrace and share responsibility for improving the safety, permanency and well-being of California’s children and families.

2010 priorities include:

1) Permanency and Well-Being for Children and Youth
Improve permanency and well being outcomes for children and youth in foster care and at risk of involvement in the child welfare system by promoting concepts and strategies throughout multiple systems that build connection to, strengthen and preserve families. And ensure all children and youth experience the love and belonging needed to grow and thrive into healthy adults.

2) Federal Finance Reform
Expand California's access to and utilization of federal resources to improve our capacity to provide the necessary services and meet the needs of vulnerable children and families.

3) Fostering Connections to Success
Increase the ability of the child welfare and education system to ensure each foster child and youth has the essential family connections and receives the preparation and support needed to succeed in school and make successful transitions by informing and engaging leaders and stakeholders on targeted activities across both systems.

4) Program Evaluation
Collect and disseminate information and create opportunities for key stakeholders and partners to guide the development of an informative evaluation process that would support child welfare system improvement efforts and to guide future investments.