Neglect accounts for the majority of child welfare cases, with 1 in 4 children experiencing a neglect investigation before age 18 and 70% of children being separated from this families into foster care due to neglect. Neglect is NOT a crisis that happens suddenly. Yet, the system prioritizes surveillance over prevention, missing opportunities to support families before crises occur. To address this, the Institute for Child and Family Well-Being (ICFW) launched Strong Families, Thriving Children, Connected Communities (SFTCCC)—a systems change initiative dedicated to preventing separation due to neglect. As a field catalyst, the ICFW strengthens cross-sector collaboration, fosters shared learning, and accelerates systems change by connecting changemakers and mobilizing collective action. This session will introduce attendees to SFTCCC’s scalable system change framework, based on the Waterfall of Systems Change, to explore how to identify leverage points to shift policies, practices, resource flows, relationships, power dynamics, and mental models can contribute to reducing child welfare involvement. This session aligns with both Transforming the Narrative and Insights for Impact strategic priorities, as the ICFW will share examples of how we’ve used storytelling and framing to build a cross-sector network of changemakers focused on neglect. We’ll also share lessons learned from moving this network from building a shared understanding to building collective action. Key Takeaways: • Building shared understanding of neglect through data, strategic framing, storytelling, and community engagement. • Developing networks of changemakers to align efforts on key issues like mandated reporting reform. • The role of field catalysts in accelerating system change and scaling solutions. • Tracking progress and adapting strategies using developmental evaluation approaches. • Transformative Scenario Planning as a tool for shifting from shared learning to shared action. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to apply these strategies in their own communities, fostering collaboration, shifting narratives, and advancing policies that prevent family separation.