From the Ground, Up is a statewide initiative to strengthen California’s child welfare system by centering the wisdom of those directly impacted by it. Solutions to improve the system will not come from a small group of insiders or from outside consultants. They are already here, embedded in our communities, cultures, and collective wisdom. Through this work, we will create a space for solutions to emerge and be put into practice.
As we enter the next phase of From the Ground, Up, we’re bringing this work closer to home through the formation of Local Chapters, teams that will integrate community-based design directly into their county-level continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts. Each Local Chapter will be led by an experienced facilitation team, meeting regularly online and in person to directly engage the community in the work of shaping their local child welfare system..
Alongside Local Chapters, we’ll launch Communities of Practice (COPs): time-limited, topic-focused learning collectives where participants can share strategies, troubleshoot challenges, and spread effective practices across the state. COPs may form around priorities such as prevention services, or kin-first culture, or specialized topics like dual-system youth. By connecting COPs through these focused learning spaces, we can accelerate change, strengthen community influence, and sustain momentum statewide.
What’s Next: Launching Local Chapters & Communities of Practice
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