Safety • Permanency • Well-being

1. The Children’s Bureau Training & Technical Assistance Network NCIC Tribal GatheringNovember 2 – 4, 2009 Safety • Permanency • Well-being

2. Presentation Overview • Purpose of T/TA provided and supported by the Children’s Bureau • Types of T/TA and eligibility • Federal Technical Assistance: Regional Offices • T/TA Network: services and membership • National Resource Centers and Child Welfare Implementation Centers: tailored & intensive T/TA services by request or application • National Resource Centers • Keys to accessing and using services • Child Welfare Implementation Centers • Filling a gap • Different structures and complementary roles

3. Children’s Bureau & T/TA • CB provides guidance, consultation, and resources to States, Territories, and Tribes to meet Federal standards, comply with Federal statutes, and pursue systemic changes that will improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. • Federal technical assistance • T/TA Network services and resources • Intensive services from the National Resource Centers (NRCs) and Implementation Centers (ICs)

4. Federal Technical AssistanceCB’s Regional Office State Leads and Tribal Liaisons provide Federal guidance and technical assistance on a variety of topics. • Guidance and information about Federal laws, regulations, and policies related to CB-administered child welfare programs • Policy clarification • Assistance related to applying for and claiming Federal funds • Review, guidance, and approval of State and Tribal plans (including, IV-E, CFSP, APSR)

5. Federal Technical Assistance *Federal technical assistance is available to ALL States, Territories, and Federally-recognized IV-funded Tribes that inquire about CB-administered programs and related statutes, regulations, and policies. • Practice area consultation and referral to other Federal TA • Review and approval of requests from States, Territories, and Tribes to receive services from the National Resource Centers • Consultation with Implementation Centers in the selection process for implementation projects 5

6. CB’s Child Welfare Training & Technical Assistance Network • The T/TA Network is designed to improve child welfare systems and to support States, Territories, and Tribes in achieving sustainable, systemic change that results in greater safety, permanency, and well-being for children, youth, and families. • *General T/TA Network services and resources are available to everyone, including the public. • Client-specific services are available from particular T/TA Network members, each serving a group of eligible entities or individuals within larger child welfare systems.

7. T/TA Network Currently comprised of 29 members, including intensive technical assistance providers Complements Federal technical assistance from the Children’s Bureau Funded entirely or partially by CB through grants, contracts, interagency agreements Provides services to a variety of systems, agencies, organizations, and institutions Network members collectively intended to promote positive systems change 7

8. T/TA Network - Principles CB expects members of the T/TA Network to promote systems change while partnering with one another in a manner consistent with the Systems of Care (SOC) framework and CFSR principles. T/TA Network members collaborate with one another and collectively offer an array of services capable of building capacity and facilitating systemic change. T/TA Network services will be: • Proactive • Integrated • Culturally- Competent • Collaborative • Individualized • Client-centered • Strengths-based

9. T/TA Network - Functions

10. T/TA NETWORK MEMBERS – NRCs • Organizational Improvement • Child Protective Services • Legal and Judicial Issues • In-Home Services (new NRC) • Permanency and Family Connections • Adoption • Youth Development • Child Welfare Data and Technology • Tribes (new NRC) • Recruitment and Retention of Foster and Adoptive Parents at AdoptUsKids

11. T/TA Network - Members • National Quality Improvement Centers (QICs) • QIC on Non Resident Fathers • QIC on Privatization of Child Welfare • QIC on Early Childhood • QIC on Differential Response • Child Welfare Information Gateway • National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (NDACAN)

12. Building Evidence of Effective Practice T/TA Network - Members • National TA Center for Children’s Mental Health (NTAC) • Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health • National TA & Evaluation Center for SOC Grantees • NRC on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) • National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center (AIA Resource Center) • NRC for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (FRIENDS) Providing Consultation and Transferring Knowledge Organizing and Managing Information

13. T/TA Network - Members • National Child Welfare Workforce Institute • TA to State Legislators on the CFSR • Child Welfare Implementation Centers • Northeast & Caribbean IC • Atlantic Coast IC • Midwest IC • Mountains & Plains IC • Western & Pacific IC Providing Consultation and Transferring Knowledge Organizing and Managing Information

14. National Resource Centers & Implementation Centers States, Territories & Tribes

15. NRCs and ICs *Provide States and Territories, Tribes, and Tribal Consortia that receive formula grants administered by CB (IV-B funds at a minimum) individualized and intensive T/TA to: • Improve child welfare administration and practice • Meet Federal monitoring standards and implement effective programs • Pursue sustainable and positive systems change • Improve outcomes for children, youth & families

16. National Child Welfare Resource Centers

17. Accessing NRC Services • No wrong door for accessing T/TA • Contact Regional Offices or specific NRCs for help and information • T/TA is free, available on-site, and customized • T/TA is intended to build capacity within States, Territories, and Tribes to improve child and family outcomes • NRCs tailor services to be culturally appropriate • Many other services available in addition to formal, on-site T/TA

18. How the T/TA Process Works • Typical process for approved, on-site T/TA --Work with States, Territories, and Tribes to assess T/TA needs --Develop expectations and work plans --Deliver on-site T/TA --Follow-up and adjust work plans if necessary • Commitment to flexible, coordinated T/TA --Working with multiple T/TA providers takes time and effort --Development of TA plans and matrices facilitates coordination and follow through

19. Keys to Effective Use of NRCs • Talk to RO and NRCs before formally requesting T/TA • Involve key stakeholders in TA planning and implementation • Identify clear lead in State, Territory, or Tribe for TA initiatives • Link T/TA to leadership priorities • Specify action steps that will occur after on-site T/TA • Develop T/TA coordination plans if multiple organizations (NRCs and others) providing T/TA

20. Regional Office Role with NRC T/TA • Help States, Territories, and Tribes identify needed T/TA and appropriate NRCs • Hold conference calls prior to T/TA approval; discuss needs, preparation for T/TA, and coordinate NRCs providing the T/TA • Approve on-site T/TA requests prior to the provision of T/TA

21. Regional Office Role - continued • Maintain open and continuous communication between Regional and Central Offices, States, Territories, Tribes and T/TA providers • Help States, Territories, and Tribes prepare for T/TA; engage leadership in T/TA and ensure T/TA results in long-lasting systemic change • Coordinate and monitor T/TA across multiple NRCs; actively ensure quality of T/TA being provided

22. T/TA Requests for NRC Assistance • Penny Mattor in Region I (Boston) • (617) 565-1109 or penny.mattor@acf.hhs.gov • Evelyn Torres-Ortega in Region II (New York) • (212) 264-2890 x 146 or • evelyn torres-ortega@acf.hhs.gov Inquire with a National Resource Center or contact your assigned Children’s Bureau Regional Office State Lead or Tribal Liaison. If you are uncertain about who has been assigned to you, please contact: 22

23. Child Welfare Implementation Centers

24. Implementation Centers Filling the Gap States and Tribes are sometimes without the resources necessary to implement comprehensive strategic plans, and the current T/TA Network has been limited in its ability to provide intensive, long-term TA. Implementation Centers enhance the ability of the T/TA Network to provide in-depth and long-term consultation and support to States and Tribes. Implementation Centers possess expertise in strategic implementation, organizational change, and systemic intervention.

25. Implementation CentersGeographic Service Areas

26. Implementation Centers Primary Components & Activities • Outreach & Regional Forums • Peer-to-Peer Networking • Implementation Projects • Evaluation

27. Implementation Centers Implementation Projects • IC-administered but partnering with States and tribes • Providing expertise, support and resources • A Request for Applications selection process • Mutually binding agreement

28. Implementation Centers • Tailored and coordinated services • Intensive TA over 2 to 4 years • Projects must be a minimum of 24 months and a minimum of $100,000 per project period

29. Accessing the Implementation Center • Northeast and Caribbean (NCIC) • Project Director: Susan Kanak • skanak@usm.maine.edu • (207) 780-5840 • http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/ncic

30. Accessing the Implementation Center – NCIC Tribal Liaisons • Julie Atkins, Tribal Liaison • jatkins@usm.maine.edu • 207-780-5872 • Penthea Burns, Tribal Liaison • pburns@usm.maine.edu • 207-780-5861

31. So what is the difference between NRCs and ICs?

32. National Resource Centers • Possess topical expertise in • assigned areas of child welfare • Respond to T/TA requests from • States, Tribes, and Territories across • the country that are approved by Regional Offices • Serve as repositories of knowledge and resources on effective and promising practices in their respective areas of responsibility • Provide universally accessible technical assistance

33. Implementation Centers • Possess expertise in implementation strategies, systemic intervention, and the process of organizational and systems change • Operate in defined geographic service areas comprised of two ACF Regions • Enter into mutually binding agreements for implementation projects • Provide in-depth, long-term technical assistance and resources to selected project sites

34. NRCs and ICs are designed to complement each other! • Can work simultaneously with the same child welfare system • Offer on- and off-site TA, including assessment, strategic planning, and implementation • Provide tailored technical assistance • Support peer-to-peer activities • Provide coordinated services • Build capacity in child welfare systems • Promote sustainable systems change

35. Stay Connected… Children's BureauAdministration on Children, Youth and Families1250 Maryland Avenue, SWEighth FloorWashington, DC 20024http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb