THE FOSTER CARE UTILIZATION REVIEW PROGRAM (FCURP)
Helping the Helpers
The Foster Care Utilization Review Program is a specialized team within the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign School of Social Work, Children and Family Research Center. We work alongside the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, serving as a trusted partner that helps strengthen the quality of foster care and in‑home services across the state. Our role is to support the people who support children and families. We do this by helping child welfare professionals understand what data means, how it connects to practice, and how everyday decisions shape long term outcomes.
WHAT WE DO
1. We turn data into meaningful guidance for practice.
FCURP is known for its ability to explain complex child welfare case review data in clear and practical ways. We analyze casework activities, identify trends, and connect this information to the work that caseworkers and supervisors do every day. Our interpretations help the field understand how engagement, documentation, decision‑making, and permanency planning influence the experiences of children and families.
2. We provide unbiased information and recommendations.
Because FCURP is housed at a university and not within a state division, our perspective remains independent. We offer leadership and staff objective reporting, impartial insights, and recommendations that support informed decisions. This neutral position helps agencies gain a clear understanding of strengths, needs, and opportunities to improve practice.
3. We build skills through training and shared learning.
Training is central to our mission. FCURP develops and delivers training that helps staff understand federal outcome requirements, state policy expectations, and the casework behaviors that lead to stronger results. Thousands of case workers and supervisors have participated in our sessions, which connect concepts directly to real cases and real situations in the field.
4. We support continuous quality improvement.
FCURP works closely with IDCFS to strengthen the systems that support quality practice. We help design and refine case review processes, support statewide improvement efforts, participate in case reviews, and provide guidance that links review findings to everyday work. Our involvement helps ensure that quality improvement efforts remain practical, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of the field.
OUR UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP MODEL
FCURP represents a form of collaboration that is rare in child welfare. We are a university team fully embedded within a state child welfare agency. This structure allows us to remain connected to the daily realities of casework while preserving independence as external partners. Our ongoing presence in both public and private agencies help bridge research, data, and front-line practice in ways that support real time learning and long-term improvement.
WHAT FCURP CAN DO FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
- Explaining data in clear and accessible terms that directly support casework practice
- Translating trends and findings into practical guidance that staff can use every day
- Providing unbiased analysis and recommendations to help leadership make informed decisions
- Delivering training that strengthens understanding of federal outcomes, state policy, and quality casework
- Supporting continuous quality improvement through collaboration, coaching, and shared learning
- Developing quality-based review tools tailored to your agency’s needs
- Leading project management for the rollout, implementation, and validation of new review processes
- Assisting agencies as they refine their internal evaluation systems and prepare for federal or statewide reviews
- Offering a trusted external perspective while staying connected to the real-world needs of the field
- Bridging research, data, and daily practice through our embedded university partnership model
FCURP’s work is grounded in partnership, clarity, and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and families. We help the helpers by making information meaningful, actionable, and connected to the work that matters most.
You can contact FCURP by emailing Program Director Geraldine Rodriguez at
grodrigz@illinois.edu or
geraldine.rodriguez@illinois.gov,
or by calling
