Children s Bureau Training and Technical Assistance Network

1. Children’s Bureau Training and Technical Assistance Network Good afternoon. I want to join my colleagues in welcoming you to the 2008 Waiver meeting. I’m Jane Morgan, the Director for the Capacity Building Division at the Children’s Bureau. Thank you for this opportunity to share information about the Training and Technical Assistance available from the Children’s Bureau’s Training and Technical Assistance Network and information about our 2008 discretionary funding announcements. Good afternoon. I want to join my colleagues in welcoming you to the 2008 Waiver meeting. I’m Jane Morgan, the Director for the Capacity Building Division at the Children’s Bureau. Thank you for this opportunity to share information about the Training and Technical Assistance available from the Children’s Bureau’s Training and Technical Assistance Network and information about our 2008 discretionary funding announcements.

2. Children’s Bureau Our History… Oldest agency for children within the Federal government Primary responsibility for administering Federal child welfare programs

3. Children’s Bureau One of two bureaus within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Annual budget of over $7 billion Works with State and local agencies to develop programs With an annual budget of over $7 billion, the Children's Bureau works with States, Tribes and local agencies to develop programs on matters related to child welfare, including child abuse and neglect, child protective services, family preservation and support, adoption, foster care, and independent living. The Children's Bureau recommends legislative and budgetary proposals, initiatives, and projects and issue areas for evaluation, research and demonstration activities. With an annual budget of over $7 billion, the Children's Bureau works with States, Tribes and local agencies to develop programs on matters related to child welfare, including child abuse and neglect, child protective services, family preservation and support, adoption, foster care, and independent living. The Children's Bureau recommends legislative and budgetary proposals, initiatives, and projects and issue areas for evaluation, research and demonstration activities.

4. Children’s Bureau Mission Provide for the safety, permanency, and well-being of children through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with States, Tribes and communities The Children’s Bureau supports child welfare professionals in their work to with children and families families through the support of Federal legislation, funding demonstration programs, raising awareness, coordinating training and technical assistance, supporting collaborations and partnerships and disseminating positive results and strategies. The Children’s Bureau supports child welfare professionals in their work to with children and families families through the support of Federal legislation, funding demonstration programs, raising awareness, coordinating training and technical assistance, supporting collaborations and partnerships and disseminating positive results and strategies.

5. Child Welfare Monitoring Child and Family Services Reviews Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews AFCARS Reviews SACWIS Reviews Child Welfare Monitoring In order to help States achieve positive outcomes for children and families, a key responsibility of the Children's Bureau is to monitor State child welfare services through the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs), Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews, the (AFCARS), and SACWIS Reviews. Child Welfare Monitoring In order to help States achieve positive outcomes for children and families, a key responsibility of the Children's Bureau is to monitor State child welfare services through the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs), Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews, the (AFCARS), and SACWIS Reviews.

6. Child & Family Service Reviews Partnership Between the Federal Government and the State State Plan Requirements in Titles IV-B and IV-E Links Reviews to Joint Planning, Technical Assistance and Program Improvement Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) The Child and Family Services Reviews are designed to enable the Children's Bureau to ensure that State child welfare agency practice is in conformity with Federal child welfare requirements, to determine what is actually happening to children and families as they are engaged with State child welfare systems, and to assist States to enhance their capacity to help children and families achieve positive outcomes. Through the Child and Family Services Reviews and the Program Improvement Process, the Children’s Bureau is promoting systemic changes that will lead to lasting improvements in State child welfare systems. By systemic change, we are referring to changes that target the culture of child welfare agencies so that a set of guiding principles are operationalized in all aspects of the work that occurs within the agency Systemic change must address how we work together with our partners in each State including the courts, the tribes and youth And it must address the capacity of agencies to support good practice and positive outcomes, and most importantly, the day-to-day practice of child welfare in the field. Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) The Child and Family Services Reviews are designed to enable the Children's Bureau to ensure that State child welfare agency practice is in conformity with Federal child welfare requirements, to determine what is actually happening to children and families as they are engaged with State child welfare systems, and to assist States to enhance their capacity to help children and families achieve positive outcomes. Through the Child and Family Services Reviews and the Program Improvement Process, the Children’s Bureau is promoting systemic changes that will lead to lasting improvements in State child welfare systems. By systemic change, we are referring to changes that target the culture of child welfare agencies so that a set of guiding principles are operationalized in all aspects of the work that occurs within the agency Systemic change must address how we work together with our partners in each State including the courts, the tribes and youth And it must address the capacity of agencies to support good practice and positive outcomes, and most importantly, the day-to-day practice of child welfare in the field.

7. Child & Family Service Reviews Inform National Policy Provide Feedback to States on Program Performance and Outcomes Assists States in Becoming Self-Evaluating Over Time

8. CFSR Practice Principles Family-Centered Practice Community-Based Practice Individualizing Services Strengthening Parental Capacity We have provided a conceptual framework for the things we evaluate in the CFSR. Family-centered practice We have included measures in the CFSR that further define family-centered practice, including issues such as family assessments, engaging families in case planning activities, examining safety issues within the entire family, working with fathers as well as mothers, encouraging the use of family-based placements rather than institutional placements and temporary shelters, and focusing on the broad and underlying issues that affect safety, permanency, and well-being rather than just the presenting factors. Community-based services We have tried to operationalize the principle of Community Based services by evaluating States on issues such as proximity of foster care placements to the families and communities from which children come, access to services, and providing services to families in their own homes. Individualizing services to children and families We have attempted to reinforce the principle of individualizing services to children and families by looking specifically at how well we assess the needs of individual family members and provide the appropriate services based on those assessments and at how well the service array lends itself to individualizing services. Strengthening the capacity of parents to provide for their children's needs The principle of strengthening the capacity of parents runs through many of the indicators we have included in the review, such as engaging parents in making decisions about their goals, needs, and plans; encouraging caseworker visits with parents; a special focus on fathers and paternal relatives in addition to mothers and maternal relatives; and preserving the relationships that children have with their families while they are in foster. We have provided a conceptual framework for the things we evaluate in the CFSR. Family-centered practice We have included measures in the CFSR that further define family-centered practice, including issues such as family assessments, engaging families in case planning activities, examining safety issues within the entire family, working with fathers as well as mothers, encouraging the use of family-based placements rather than institutional placements and temporary shelters, and focusing on the broad and underlying issues that affect safety, permanency, and well-being rather than just the presenting factors. Community-based services We have tried to operationalize the principle of Community Based services by evaluating States on issues such as proximity of foster care placements to the families and communities from which children come, access to services, and providing services to families in their own homes. Individualizing services to children and families We have attempted to reinforce the principle of individualizing services to children and families by looking specifically at how well we assess the needs of individual family members and provide the appropriate services based on those assessments and at how well the service array lends itself to individualizing services. Strengthening the capacity of parents to provide for their children's needs The principle of strengthening the capacity of parents runs through many of the indicators we have included in the review, such as engaging parents in making decisions about their goals, needs, and plans; encouraging caseworker visits with parents; a special focus on fathers and paternal relatives in addition to mothers and maternal relatives; and preserving the relationships that children have with their families while they are in foster.

9. National Resource Centers Child Welfare Information Gateway TTA Centers CW Leadership Institute Quality Improvement Centers Training and Technical Assistance The Bureau provides training and technical assistance through a Network of 21 organizations including National Resource Centers, Child Welfare Information Gateway, TTA Centers on issues of Substance Abuse, and Mental Health and most recently the CW Leadership Institute and Quality Improvement Centers. The TTA Network is designed to engage and assist States with their Systems Change efforts. This may include working with the State on the development and implementation of program improvement plans. The Bureau provides training and technical assistance through a Network of 21 organizations including National Resource Centers, Child Welfare Information Gateway, TTA Centers on issues of Substance Abuse, and Mental Health and most recently the CW Leadership Institute and Quality Improvement Centers. The TTA Network is designed to engage and assist States with their Systems Change efforts. This may include working with the State on the development and implementation of program improvement plans.

10. National Child Welfare Resource Centers NRC for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning NRC for Youth Development AdoptUsKids NRCs that play a key role in working with States and Tribes on Youth issues are: Family Centered Practice and Permanency Planning focuses on increasing the capacity and resources of State and Tribes publicly to promote family-centered practices that contribute to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children while meeting the needs of their families. Youth Development National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development works with States and Tribes to effectively help youth in care establish permanent connections and achieve successful transitions to adulthood. AdoptUsKids provides training and technical assistance to help States and Tribes develop and implement quality recruitment and retention services for foster and adoptive families as well as promoting the use of interjurisdictional placements. NRCs that play a key role in working with States and Tribes on Youth issues are: Family Centered Practice and Permanency Planning focuses on increasing the capacity and resources of State and Tribes publicly to promote family-centered practices that contribute to the safety, permanency, and well-being of children while meeting the needs of their families. Youth Development National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development works with States and Tribes to effectively help youth in care establish permanent connections and achieve successful transitions to adulthood. AdoptUsKids provides training and technical assistance to help States and Tribes develop and implement quality recruitment and retention services for foster and adoptive families as well as promoting the use of interjurisdictional placements.

11. National Child Welfare Resource Centers NRC for Organizational Improvement NRC for Child Welfare Data & Technology NRC for Adoption NRC for Legal and Judicial Issues NRC for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) provides TTA is to improve management and operations, bolster organizational capacity, promote service integration, and develop supervisory and management systems, resulting in improved outcomes for children and families. The NRCOI also coordinates, facilitates, and evaluates onsite training and technical assistance across the seven NRCs and AdoptUsKids. NRC for Child Welfare Data and Technology helps States, Tribes, and courts improve the quality of data collected, build the capacity to use the information for decision-making in daily practice, and develop or improve case management and data collection systems, including Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS). NRC for Adoption works with States, Tribes, and agencies to increase States' capacity in adoption including preparing children and youth for adoption. NRC for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) provides TTA is to improve management and operations, bolster organizational capacity, promote service integration, and develop supervisory and management systems, resulting in improved outcomes for children and families. The NRCOI also coordinates, facilitates, and evaluates onsite training and technical assistance across the seven NRCs and AdoptUsKids. NRC for Child Welfare Data and Technology helps States, Tribes, and courts improve the quality of data collected, build the capacity to use the information for decision-making in daily practice, and develop or improve case management and data collection systems, including Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS). NRC for Adoption works with States, Tribes, and agencies to increase States' capacity in adoption including preparing children and youth for adoption.

12. Implementation Centers Five New Centers Center I Regions I & II Center II Regions III & IV Center III Regions V & VII Center IV Regions VI & VIII Center V Regions IX & X Program announcement closes July 11. The CB has announced the funding of five new TTA Implementation Centers. Unlike the NRCs and many of the other member of the TTA Network that focus their TTA on a national level, each of the TTA Implementation Centers will be providing TTA to the States in Two regions. Program announcement closes July 11. The CB has announced the funding of five new TTA Implementation Centers. Unlike the NRCs and many of the other member of the TTA Network that focus their TTA on a national level, each of the TTA Implementation Centers will be providing TTA to the States in Two regions.

13. Implementation Centers Facilitate Peer to Peer Mentoring/Networking Partner with States/Tribes to Implement Change Strategies Long-term, In-depth TTA The Centers will Facilitate Peer to Peer Mentoring/Networking Partner with States/Tribes to Implement Change Strategies Long-term, In-depth TTA The Centers will Facilitate Peer to Peer Mentoring/Networking Partner with States/Tribes to Implement Change Strategies Long-term, In-depth TTA

14. CB DISCRETIONARY FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 2008 05/22/2008-07/21/2008: Supporting Evidence-Based Home Visitation Programs to Prevent Child Maltreatment, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CA-0130 05/15/2008-07/14/2008: CAPTA: National Quality Improvement Center on Preventing the Abuse and Neglect of Infants and Young Children, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CA-0044 The Children’s Bureau has nine discretionary funding opportunities for 2008. They can be found at the Grants.govThe Children’s Bureau has nine discretionary funding opportunities for 2008. They can be found at the Grants.gov

15. CB DISCRETIONARY FUNDING 2008 05/12/2008-07/11/2008: CAPTA: National Quality Improvement Center on Differential Response in Child Protective Services, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CA-0056 05/06/2008-07/07/2008: Child Welfare Training: Curriculum Development and Evaluation for Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CT-0057 05/12/2008-07/11/2008: Cooperative Agreements for Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Centers, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CO-0058

16. CB DISCRETIONARY FUNDING 2008 03/07/2008-06/05/2008: Child Welfare Training: National Child Welfare Workforce Initiatives, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CT-0047 02/29/2008-05/29/2008: Adoption Opportunities: Diligent Recruitment of Families for Children in the Foster Care System, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CO-0046

17. CB DISCRETIONARY FUNDING 2008 02/25/2008-05/27/2008: Abandoned Infants Assistance: Comprehensive Support Services for Families Affected by Substance Abuse and/or HIV/AIDS, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CB-0045 02/12/2008-05/12/2008: Grants to Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Migrant Programs for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Programs, Funding Opportunity No. HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-CA-0050

18. CB DISCRETIONARY FUNDING 2008 GRANTS.GOV

19. Child Welfare Information Gateway Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. For use by professionals, families and agencies. http://www.childwelfare.gov/ Information Gateway: Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources including Strategies to achieve permanency for youth Model programs for youth permanency State and local examples of promising practices Information Gateway: Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources including Strategies to achieve permanency for youth Model programs for youth permanency State and local examples of promising practices

20. Stay Connected… In closing, I want to thank you for your systems change efforts. We would challenge States to continue to use the Child and Family Services Planning Process, the Child and Family Services Reviews and the Program Improvement Plans as opportunities to make needed changes in your programs to address these issues, to adopt processes for ongoing self-evaluation and to involve courts, tribes and youth collaboratively as you develop and implement strategies. The Children’s Bureau and our Network of Training and Technical Assistance want to partner with you in this important work which can result in improved outcomes for the children, youth and families we are all here to serve. Thank you. In closing, I want to thank you for your systems change efforts. We would challenge States to continue to use the Child and Family Services Planning Process, the Child and Family Services Reviews and the Program Improvement Plans as opportunities to make needed changes in your programs to address these issues, to adopt processes for ongoing self-evaluation and to involve courts, tribes and youth collaboratively as you develop and implement strategies. The Children’s Bureau and our Network of Training and Technical Assistance want to partner with you in this important work which can result in improved outcomes for the children, youth and families we are all here to serve. Thank you.