What Works Now
Supported by the GOALS Grant — California Department of Social Services

Residential Treatment · Youth Services · Clinical Tools

Practical tools for the people
who show up when it's hard.

What Works Now is a clinical training and resource platform built for residential treatment staff, law enforcement, social workers, and everyone in between. No fluff. Just what actually works.

Featured Video

See What Works Now in action

// Watch to learn more about our mission and approach

Three frameworks.
One shared mission.

What Works Now is a grant-funded program built around three interconnected practice frameworks — JUST, WHAT, and WORKS — designed to give residential treatment teams a common language and practical tools for every stage of care.

Whether you're running an intake, managing a crisis, writing a treatment plan, or closing out a discharge, this platform has a resource built for that moment.

JUST Process WHAT Framework WORKS Model CSEC Crisis Response Milieu Management
J
Just SolveStay solution-focused. Keep the path clear.
U
UncomplicatedNo waste. No fluff. Only what adds value.
S
Stated and SharedOne mission. Everyone holds it.
T
Trust / TeamDistributed leadership. Shared ownership.

Who are you?

01

Treatment Staff

Clinicians, direct care staff, supervisors, and program managers working in residential treatment settings.

Go to your resources →
02

Law Enforcement & Probation

Officers, deputies, and probation professionals who collaborate with residential and clinical teams.

Talk to a Real Person →
03

Social Workers & Probation Officers

Social workers, placement workers, and probation officers navigating care coordination and transitions.

Go to your resources →

See it. Try it. Learn it.

01

See It In Action

Educational Content

Behind-the-scenes footage, newsletter breakdowns, and real examples of the frameworks at work in the field.

Browse content →
02

Try It Yourself

Resource Library

Printable PDFs, fillable templates, facilitator guides, shift tools, and ready-to-use resources organized by program stage.

Open the library →
03

Learn It Deeply

Training Library

Self-paced video modules, quizzes, and downloadable tools built around JUST, WHAT, and WORKS — with certificates you can use.

Start training →

The What Works Podcast

Real conversations about what actually works in youth-serving systems. Each episode unpacks a moment from the field and builds toward practical insight you can use Monday morning.

Jason Rinker David Owens
Listen Now →

Book a Session

Still figuring out
where to start?

Book a free 1:1 session with a member of our team. No pitch — just a real conversation about what your program needs.

Talk to a Real Person →