Youth Welfare Approach (YWA)

Because of the unique needs of youth, the Virginia Department of Social Services is embarking on a different framework to engage youth, entitled the Youth Welfare Approach (YWA). This approach more adequately addresses the strengths and needs of youth and young adults.

About The YWA and FAQs

Child welfare, as its name implies, has historically focused on providing services to children. While many of its principles may also apply to working with youth in care, a customized approach is needed for child welfare systems to be able to appropriately structure their work in a way that is responsive to the developmental, social, and practical needs of youth. Through the Virginia Department of Social Services, Virginia will be transitioning to this Youth Welfare Approach. Click on the plus signs to read the answers to the questions provided.

YWA is an acronym for the Youth Welfare Approach. It was formerly called the Youth Welfare model.

Because of the unique needs of youth, the Virginia Department of Social Services is embarking on a different framework to engage youth, entitled the Youth Welfare Approach (YWA). This approach more adequately addresses the strengths and needs of youth and youth adults.

The YWA will impact DSS workers, private providers, and youth in VA. DSS workers and private providers can sign up for an overview of the YWA through Project LIFE. Other trainings will occur online through VDSS’ Learning Center. Youth don’t need to be trained, but should experience the changes in how things are done in their LDSS and with their worker.

Historically, child welfare focused on providing services to children in foster care, but over time there has been an increase in older youth in care. Though youth in the child welfare system need to be kept safe, during adolescence the focus of care needs to emphasize promoting permanency, normalcy and prioritizing a successful transition to adulthood. This approach more adequately addresses the strengths and needs of youth and youth adults.

The Youth Welfare Approach recommends shifting our lens from a child-focused system to a youth-focused system in four key areas: from being reactive to proactive; from being case-driven to youth-driven, from being protection-focused to normalcy-focused, and from being focused on the past and present to focused on the future. It is a customized approach that acknowledges youth are the experts of their lives, and it is responsive to the developmental, social, and practical needs of these young people.

Project LIFE has a unique relationship with the LDSSs and private providers around the state and is an expert in training. We will be assisting with supportive services around the Youth Welfare Approach as we adopt this framework. The staff will be a resource for professionals in the field. ILCCs and professionals around the state will be able to receive training through VDSS and the Project LIFE team.

There is an “Additional Resources” section on the bottom of this webpage. There we have listed a few documents, some more extensive than others, that provide more information about the YWA.

Upcoming YWA Trainings

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“I wish I had the YWA [when I was in foster care.] There was so many opportunities where I was frustrated because I felt like my voice wasn’t being heard. But now, I feel way better knowing that this work will help youth have a voice in the future.”

ERYKAH E.
foster care alum., former VDSS ETV Administrative Specialist

Additional Resources for Learning About the YWA

Embracing a Youth Welfare System: A Guide to Capacity Building

This extensive PDF by the Children’s Bureau explains the system. Read it here.
Capacity Building Center for States. (2018). Embracing a Youth Welfare System: A guide to capacity building. Washington, DC: Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

From the same creators, there are some stand-alone documents that can be accessed outside of the full guide. Find them on the Child Welfare website here.

Additional Resources

VDSS, Division of Family Services, has created 3 documents on the Good-Better-Best Continuum of Service Provision for the following categories: Education, Permanency, Transition Planning and IL Needs Assessment

Avoiding Tokenism When Engaging Young People – A two page informational document that shares respectful ways to engage youth.

Ladder of Participation – A one page document created by Voices Youth Center to show the good-better-best ways to involve youth in decision making.

VDSS Practice Profiles – Created by the Family Services department of the Virginia Department of Social Services, these practice profiles cover the optimal, developmental, and unacceptable practices in engaging with youth in all ways, ranging from planning, to communicating, and assessing.

Providing Normalcy For Youth in Foster Care – This two page document provides information on providing normalcy for youth in care, and covers both the law and frequent issues that arise. It was created by the Virginia Department of Social Services.