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The View from the Agency Perspective. Jefferson County. State supervised, county administered child welfare system 180 employees in the Division Serving 1800 children 550 children in out of home placement 90 county foster homes, 100 annual finalized adoptions. Getting Started.
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Jefferson County • State supervised, county administered child welfare system • 180 employees in the Division • Serving 1800 children • 550 children in out of home placement • 90 county foster homes, 100 annual finalized adoptions
Getting Started • Commitment from top leadership • Steering committee representation • Listen and accept reality • Organizational culture change • Focus on Leadership Group
Issues / Solutions • Issue: Work/life balance: Solution: Flexible/ Alternative work schedules • Issue: Vacant positions from turnover (workload distribution)Solution: Pre-vacancy positions • Issue: Organizational Culture Solution: Improved training and organizational development
Issues / Solutions • Issue: Ill-prepared workforce Solution: Provide standard On the Job Training with evaluation • Issue: Staff not feeling appreciated Solution: Rewards and recognition plan • Issue: Fragmented communication amongst all levels of agency Solution: Communication plan
Challenges • Ongoing communication and follow through to build trust and organizational change • Connecting accomplishments to R&R work • Living within fiscal constraints
Sustainability • Policy development • Increased retention and institutional knowledge • Significant impact on practice and linkages to CFSR • Personal commitment and diverse wide-spread staff participation
SAVE THE DATE Scaling the Summit: Effective Strategies for Recruitment & Retention August 5 -6, 2008 Denver, CO