https://doi.org/10.1177/10443894251321346 Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services 1–31 © The Author(s) 2025 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/10443894251321346 journals.sagepub.com/home/fis Article 1321346FIS XX X 10.1177/10443894251321346Families in SocietyWollenhall et al. research-article 2025 1 MSW, research scientist, University of Washington, Seattle, USA 2 PhDc, MSW, MPA, research scientist, University of Washington, Seattle, USA 3 PhD, MSW, research scientist, University of Washington, Seattle, USA 4 PhD, research scientist, University of Washington, Seattle, USA 5 PhD, MSW, associate professor, University of Washington, Seattle, USA Corresponding Author: Sierra Wollenhall, research scientist, School of Social Work, University of Washington, 4101 15th Avenue North East, Seattle, WA 98105, USA. Email: slwollen@uw.edu Scoping Review of Worker Characteristics and Competencies That Support Youth Engagement in Child Welfare Case Planning Sierra Wollenhall 1 , Alanna Feltner 2 , Lori Vanderwill 3 , John Fowler 4 , and Angelique Day 5 Abstract Youth engagement in case planning has garnered attention in recent years from scholars and practitioners alike due to its documented benefits for service recipients and providers. The authors conducted a scoping review to understand what is known about the competencies and characteristics that support child welfare workers to engage with youth. The 125 included articles revealed nine competencies for child welfare workers (partnering with youth, communication and listening skills, building trusting relationships, strength-based approach, prepare and inform youth, advocate for youth, knowledge of adolescent development, trauma- informed care, and cultural humility) and three characteristics (committed, flexibility, and self- awareness) that support successful youth engagement. The findings may be used to develop targeted competency-based recruitment, hiring, and training materials for child welfare workers and to inform new policy development. Keywords child welfare, subjects of practice, authentic engagement, professional issues, modes of practice, partnership, working alliance/client-worker relationship, social workers, public health and social work Manuscript received: September 20, 2024; Revised: December 2, 2024; Accepted: January 17, 2025 Disposition editor: Cristina Mogro-Wilson Introduction There is growing professional interest in engaging youth and families in child welfare planning activities to improve equity and case outcomes (Toros et al., 2018). Prior research indicates that engaging youth in their own permanency planning improves permanency and transition-related outcomes while enhanc- ing both youth and agency wellbeing (Salazar et al., 2021). Youth involvement expands permanency options, resulting in fewer chil- dren leaving care without a connection to a stable, consistent adult (Salazar et al., 2018;