| Sumario: | Family engagement, or meaningful family participation and involvement, has been linked to improved child welfare outcomes. Yet, to date, interventions to increase family engagement have been understudied. This study presents information from a pilot of the Texas Permanency Outcomes Project (TXPOP) Practice Model, an innovative model developed to increase family engagement and improve permanency outcomes for children in foster care in Texas. A total of n = 60 practitioners and caregivers completed the practice model training and completed a pre-survey (before any training) and post-survey (six-months after completing the last training). The survey included the scales related to family engagement, demographic information, and open-ended questions to expand on their experiences with the training. In parallel, all participants completed a feedback form with an open-ended question about overall experiences with the training within one week of the training. We examined attitudes toward family engagement and family engagement practices using two scales developed uniquely for the project. We compared pre-post scores on the family engagement measures and used thematic analysis to qualitative code open-ended responses related to family engagement. Four main themes emerged related to engaging families: empowering families, sharing power, providing explanations for children, and building a trusting relationship. Key takeaways for clinical social workers and child welfare agencies are explored.
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