CFS News Monday, November 26, 2007
CFS Staff Among a Group of Experts Contributing to the National Child Welfare Training Institute
CFS staff are among a group of highly qualified child welfare experts contributing to the National Child Welfare Training Institute (NCWLI), a new program offering leadership training for public and tribal mid-level child welfare managers. CFS staff have been asked to provide leadership in curriculum development, e-learning coordination and evaluation activities.
CFS's National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) team, consisting of Karen Blase, Dean Fixsen, Melissa Van Dyke, Tracy Gilbert-Smith and Frances Wallace, is developing the training curriculum on implementation and change management. With evidence-based practice a common link across the entire curriculum, a focus will be on leadership skills that bring about effective relationships among mid-level managers and others within the work setting and within the broader child and family services systems. NIRN is also coordinating e-learning communities, an innovative resource for use following regional training sessions. Regularly scheduled e-learning community meetings will be held via conference call, chat room or other agreed-upon methods. Website resources will be developed for each community and will provide development opportunities (homework/practicum period) that will be accomplished by participants at their home agencies.
Having valuable experience regarding the evaluation of privatized child welfare systems, CFS's Mary Armstrong and Amy Vargo are conducting the evaluation of the training program. Findings will help to shape the content of the curriculum, selection of candidates for training, and activities of the training sessions.
Lead agencies for the initiative are the Social Research Institute, College of Social Work at the University of Utah, together with the Independent Living Resources, Inc. of Durham, North Carolina. Another important partner agency is the American Humane Association in Denver, Colorado.
Currently, child welfare and tribal chief executive officers are encouraged to nominate mid-level managers to participate in the training model. For additional information, visit NCWLI.
The Department of Child and Family Studies is committed to improving the well-being of individuals, children, and families within communities across the country through promoting respect, inclusion, development, achievement, mental health, and an optimum quality of life.
