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QPI Champions

The Youth Law Center’s Quality Parenting Initiative is an effort to transform foster care agencies into relationship-based systems whose primary goal is to ensure that each child develops and maintains strong, positive relationships and has effective parenting while in care.

“QPI Champions” are internal advocates who have been trained in QPI values, theory, and techniques. These champions, including agency staff, foster and kinship parents, birth parents, and youth, form a strong team and work together to disseminate QPI in their local communities.

As of March 2024, QPI has trained over 580 Champions nationwide!

What does a QPI Champion do?

  • Ensure that the agency is following the principles and methods of QPI by prioritizing excellent parenting.
  • Explain QPI publicly and communicate the vision to all stakeholders.
  • Develop an action plan that includes at least three new practices or policies.
  • Build a steering committee and workgroups to advance the action plan.
  • Involve birth, foster, and kinship parents and youth in decision-making in a culturally competent manner.
  • Engage with the QPI network by participating in sharing opportunities, such as monthly practice exchanges, conference workshops, and one-on-one meetings.
  • After the first year, aid in mentoring and developing another site.

What is the time commitment?

  • Champions undergo robust training on QPI values, theory, and techniques.
  • Trained QPI Champions should be prepared to dedicate time to QPI work, including steering committee meetings, stakeholder education, advocacy, activities that assess progress, and network-wide practice exchanges.
  • Champions are also expected to attend national events for continued learning.

What makes a good QPI Champion?

  • Core values that place the child’s experience at the center of practice.
  • Credibility and respect among peers/stakeholders in the community.
  • Systems-level thinking and a desire to make systemic change.
  • Sufficient time to prioritize QPI (which requires leadership support for staff).
  • Openness to trying new things and learning from mistakes.

For more information on QPI Champions, please email info@qpiylc.org.