Root Cause Analysis- A Resource for Providers and Partners Serving Children with Complex Needs (CWCN)

Root cause analysis (RCA) consists of a group of problem-solving methods aiming to uncover the core causes of an identified problem. Once root causes are determined, teams then select appropriate, well-matched solutions based on a number of factors. Conducting a root cause analysis is ideally a collaborative effort among teams, where a variety of tools and strategies are used to facilitate the process of uncovering the root of the identified problem or challenge to be addressed.

This overview resource is designed to provide an orientation to the RCA toolkit for CWCN providers and system partners serving this population. It describes each step in greater detail and provides helpful tips to get started. The steps in this toolkit are:

Step 1: Problem Definition

Step 2: Problem Exploration

Step 3: Implementing Solutions

Step 4: Testing Chosen Strategies