CWEL

02/19/2026

When we responded to the federal government’s request for a program to build an equitable child welfare system, we had no idea what would happen.

Though the new administration has since defunded us for standing up for social justice, these 16 graduates of our RiseUp program prove that not all is lost. These resilient and ambitious child welfare leaders are still out there paving the way for a better child welfare system, equitably and compassionately changing the lives of children and families.

Hope is still on the horizon, and we honor the changemakers who are bringing it.

Thank you, , for believing in advancing a new era of child welfare—one built on sustainability, diversity, and justice for all. Your partnership with us in this RiseUp fellowship will leave a legacy for generations to come. ❤️

02/13/2026

"I would never have the opportunity to create systems change if it wasn’t for this fellowship."

NEW BLOG POST from Leadership Development Coach Phoenix Santiago:
https://www.cwel.org/workforce-blog/the-power-of-fellowship-for-child-welfare-leaders/

After an abrupt end to our work in December, our team made plans to carry out the wrap-up of our 12-month RiseUp cohort: graduation. 16 RiseUp fellows graduated on January 29 in a remarkable display of resilience and commitment to child welfare transformation.

In our latest blog post, “The power of fellowship,” our RiseUp Leadership Development Coach Phoenix Santiago reflects on the resilience of these changemakers and the lasting legacy they will leave for the future of child welfare.

02/06/2026

Though CWEL was defunded in December, we are so proud of our first RiseUp cohort for the amazing work they put in over an intense 12 months. 🤎

On January 29, 2026, we celebrated the remarkable achievement that 16 of 17 New Jersey fellows successfully completed the fellowship, including several ambitious Organizational Change Projects to build a stronger workforce in New Jersey child welfare. 👏

The CWEL RiseUp program was an answer to a big problem in the child welfare system: leaders are often burnt out and ill-equipped to address nuances and tough topics faced by children and families.

Sustainable system transformation depends on strong, supported leaders who are prepared to navigate complexity and lead with intention, and that's who our RiseUp program was designed to develop.

These phenomenal leaders reflect not only individual dedication to children and families, but the strength of fellowship itself.

Fellows, go forth and lead!

01/16/2026

✊

Change starts with us. This Monday, MLK Jr. Day comes at a time of increased stress in our country, specifically for Black and Brown communities. Unfortunately, these struggles are not new—Black and Brown folks have been facing injustice in America for centuries.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that anyone can be a great leader in the face of oppression, and Families Rising agrees—you don’t need a massive platform or impressive resources to make change. Change starts with your community. It starts with you caring about and standing up for the person in front of you.

Families Rising stands with our Black and Brown communities and honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders like him. Because “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

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12/15/2025

It is with great sadness that we share that our grant from the Administration for Children and Families, which supported the Center for Workforce Excellence and Leadership (CWEL), has been canceled effective December 8th due to our steadfast commitment to recognizing the diverse needs of our child welfare workforce and serving them equitably.

This decision is devastating for our staff, partners, and the more than 200 social work students across six universities who relied on CWEL stipends to fund their education. But our mission has not changed. We will continue to stand with children, youth, families, and the workforce that supports them.​

If you believe equity should never be defunded, share this post, tag a friend, and stand with us. And if you’re able to give this holiday season, a one-time $50 donation to our parent organization, Families Rising, can make a real and immediate difference for our team and the communities we serve: https://web.charityengine.net/wearefamiliesrising

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11/21/2025

📣 We’re opening limited spots for child welfare agencies to receive tailored, no-cost support. Don’t miss out! ⏰

If you’re working in child welfare, you know your role comes with enormous responsibility. And that means you must have the tools and capacity to meet the critical needs of children and families. Yet, you probably have also felt that agencies are experiencing high turnover, which can make your work more challenging. If you are part of an agency struggling with recruiting or retaining staff, or if you and your team are overwhelmed, CWEL can help.

We’ve spent the past year partnering with child welfare agencies in Colorado, New Jersey, and Rhode Island to rebuild workforce capacity.  Now, as we close out the year, we’re opening limited spots for new agencies.

Get in touch to explore CWEL coming to your agency by filling out an interest form or visiting cwel.org - both are linked in our bio.

10/28/2025

Long-term child welfare professionals—share your wisdom! How do you handle feeling overwhelmed? Help a new professional out by dropping your advice in the comments!

10/24/2025

Imagine if all supervisors had these kinds of boundaries…

That’s what CWEL is here for—to help usher in a new era of child welfare where leaders help their teams do this work SUSTAINABLY as the healthiest versions of themselves.

https://www.cwel.org/interested-agencies/

The place for excellence in the child welfare workforce CWEL’s mission is to advance the child welfare workforce, improving workforce recruitment and retention through site-specific support. A strong workforce will lead to better outcomes for all children and families. About CWEL The place for

10/07/2025

Sound familiar, anyone? The average child welfare professional has a lot on their plate. Your agency asks a lot of you. Your community asks a lot of you. And you give.

What would your day look like if you had a normal workload? CWEL can work with your agency to create a SUSTAINABLE workforce so you can thrive at your job, while ensuring families still get the care they need.

Learn more about our work at cwel.org.

10/03/2025

Translation: they’re not. We know this, yet we keep finding ourselves stuck in a pattern of overworking. CWEL is here to help child welfare professionals make (and keep) work-life balance while helping your agency take better care of you, too.

Talk to us about how we can help your child welfare agency do better. Go to https://www.cwel.org/interested-agencies/ to learn more.

09/22/2025

Over two years ago, our team signed a contract with the Administration on Children, Youth, & Families to create a new movement for the American child welfare system. This movement’s goal was to create a workforce that was supported and could better care for our children and families.

In those two years, our nation has gone through a great deal of change. And yet our child welfare workforce has shown up every day, sacrificially serving communities across the country and stepping in for those among us who need it most.

We know your career in child welfare hasn’t come without its own challenges as well as opportunities for growth and contribution. We’re here to say we see you. And we’re here to help.

Without our child welfare workforce, America’s children and families would lose a vital support system. These 210 new child welfare professionals represent countless more kids and families who may be able to stay together, grow together, and hope together.

Our commitment remains the same: we’re here to advance the child welfare workforce and bring an end to the crisis within it. https://www.cwel.org/