This paper reports results of mixed methods, population survey of housing instability, and homelessness. Child welfare personnel conducted the Quick Risks and Assets for Family Triage (QRAFT), a three-question screening tool intended to identify housing instability and homelessness. The QRAFT requires users to assess family housing history, current housing arrangement, and current housing condition, on a four-point scale from "asset/not a risk" to "severe risk." The QRAFT was completed among 6828 families undergoing new child maltreatment investigations. Approximately 5.4% of families demonstrated significant to severe housing problems; approximately one-third exhibited moderate housing risk. Housing problems and homelessness were significantly associated with the outcome of child welfare investigations; among families with substantiated child welfare determinations, 21% demonstrated significant to severe housing risk, a significantly higher proportion than among families where the investigation outcome was unsubstantiated or differential response (i.e., voluntary services). Of significant to severe housing risk families, 15.7% later met eligibility criteria for a supportive housing intervention, suggesting that housing concerns combined with substantial parent and child functional difficulties. Qualitative data indicated the QRAFT was perceived as easy to administer, effective as a screening tool, and useful to "apply the housing lens" early in child welfare involvement.

The majority of children in the child welfare system enter because of neglect and come from poor families with high rent burden, substandard housing and risk for homelessness. In this paper, we describe a model programme for families with dual vulnerability in housing and child welfare. Clients presented with a variety of parenting, substance use and/or mental health issues. The Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) programme prioritizes prompt family access to housing and related supports and operates from an intensive, family‐centred casework that promotes client engagement as a mechanism for change. We used a mixed methods approach that included the administration of Alpert and Britner's Parent Engagement Measure (quantitative) and open‐ended interviews (qualitative) with 41 parents involved in the child welfare system. Results indicate high levels of client engagement, with convergence across the formal measure and interview themes. SHF promoted client engagement through the swift provision of tangible resources, as well as caseworker resourcefulness and responsiveness. The Parent Engagement Measure performed well psychometrically. We compare findings with prior research and discuss implications, limitations and future directions.

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Over the past 20 years, efforts have been made to broadly disseminate evidence-based practices (EBPs). However, the public health impact of EBPs has yet to be realized and most EBPs are not sustained. Few structured models exist for disseminating and sustaining EBPs across large systems. This article describes the EBP Dissemination and Support Center (DSC) model and how it was used to sustain trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) across Connecticut. More than 600 clinicians at 35 agencies have been trained and nearly all agencies have sustained TF-CBT for up to 9 years. More than 6,200 children have received TF-CBT and have shown improvements in outcomes and quality indicators. Recommendations are made for using or adapting the DSC model.

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