Building Better Child Welfare Outcomes Through Data, Partnerships, and Innovation

For decades, JBS has worked alongside child welfare agencies and their leaders, communities, and federal partners to strengthen outcomes for children and families. Through this work, we have built strong expertise grounded in policy knowledge, practical experience, and a commitment to supporting those impacted by the child welfare system. 

Our dedication to strengthening child welfare systems is evident in every project. We support states by developing review instruments, training materials, and automated systems that help them assess progress toward safety, permanency, and well-being. We also work directly with jurisdictions to analyze data and codesign innovative, efficient solutions that reduce burden through a human-centered approach to complex challenges. Using advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and continuous quality improvement, we help states uncover insights from their data and identify strategic paths forward to improve the lives of children and families.

This blend of approaches is what sets JBS apart. We know where data and instruments alone are valuable, yet we recognize that data alone won’t drive change. By taking time to understand each jurisdiction’s unique context, including its communities, workforce, data, and today’s realities, we uncover the story behind the numbers, which leads to better solutions.

We translate insights into action through collaborative problem-solving and hands-on technical assistance. Our teams work alongside jurisdictions to design solutions that strengthen local practice, whether that means rethinking foster home recruitment strategies, expanding kinship pathways, or piloting new approaches to improving performance outcomes. We use human-centered design to ensure that families, youth, and direct-service staff help actively shape solutions rather than simply responding to them. 

This combination of expertise and partnership is especially valuable as jurisdictions navigate a rapidly evolving child welfare landscape. We collaborate with states and territories to respond to emerging federal priorities, such as improving the ratio of foster homes to children in care and accelerating progress on key performance measures, by supporting both strategic insight and practical implementation. Our focus is on building systems that are resilient, responsive, and grounded in real-world evidence and family voice.

By weaving together analytics, policy expertise, practical experience, and tailored, hands-on support, JBS offers child welfare systems a trusted partner dedicated to meaningful, measurable progress and a future where every child has a safe, stable, and loving home waiting for them.