Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

1. Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

2. Children’s Bureau Training and Technical Assistance 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: Regional Offices • T/TA Network services and resources • Intensive services from the National Resource Centers (NRCs) and Implementation Centers (ICs)

3. 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 • Serve as repositories of knowledge and resources on effective and promising practices in their respective areas of responsibility • Provide universally accessible technical assistance

4. 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

6. MCWIC Purpose • Our purpose is to facilitate the implementation of systemic change to improve outcomes for children and families

7. MCWIC Approach • Collaborative • Multi-disciplinary • Multi-level • Systems Based

8. MCWIC Approach • Informed by Implementation Science knowledge and strategies • Provide intensivetechnical assistance and support to systems change implementation projects proposed by states and tribes

9. stages of process Project Application Process 1) Concept Paper 2) Internal Assessment 3) Teleconference 4) Written Feedback 5) Formal Application 6) External Review 7) Submission to CB 8) Refine request 9) CB approves project

10. review by • MCWIC • MCWIC’s External Consultants • T/TA Network • Children’s Bureau • Central Office • Regional Office • CFSR Unit Application Review Process

11. MCWIC Approved Projects four implementation projects • Indiana: Centralized Intake • Iowa: Parent Partner Approach • Wisconsin: Best Outcomes for Indian Children • Ohio: Partners for Ohio’s Families

12. Peer Networking & Outreach • Tribal Gatherings (4) • Regional Forums (2) • National Webinars (2)

13. Peer Networking http://connect.mcwic.org CONNECT is an internet social networking site designed to serve child welfare workers, administrators, trainers, and their support network

14. Peer Networking

15. Regional Forum Objectives • Increase knowledge about the process of systems change and promote solution focused dialogue among States and Tribes through • presentations regarding the science of implementation applied to “real world” child welfare challenges • structured, facilitated topical discussions • panel presentations regarding the implementation of agency-designed child welfare initiatives

16. Regional Forum Objectives • Increase awareness about resources available to States and Tribes from the Children’s Bureau’s National Child Welfare Training and Technical Assistance Network • Increase understanding of the knowledge and skills needed to successfully lead and sustain strategic organizational change initiatives • · Provide networking opportunities for state and Tribal child welfare leaders in ACF Regions V and VII to strengthen peer-to-peer relationships and learn about systemic change efforts

17. Regional Forum Agenda 9:00 AM Presentation: The Dance of Leadership: A framework for implementation in child welfare Dr. Katharine Cahn, Assistant Professor at the Portland State University School of Social Work, Executive Director and Assistant Dean of Continuing Education & Training 10:00 AM Break, snack provided 10:15 AM Presentation: Implementing System Change in Child Welfare Cathy Fisher, Director, Atlantic Coast Child Welfare Implementation Center 11:00 AM Concurrent Small Group Discussions regarding presentations 12:00 PM Lunch (provided)

18. Regional Forum Agenda • 1:15 PM Keynote: Common Ground: Preserving Families and Tribes • Anita Fineday, Chief Judge for the White Earth Nation and Tribal Attorney for the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians • 2:15 PM Presentation: Preliminary Findings from the National Needs Assessment of Tribal Child Welfare Programs • Kathy Deserly, Associate Director, National Resource Center for Tribes and Robin Leake, Evaluator, • 3:00 PM Break, snack provided • 3:15 PM Concurrent Small Group Discussions • “Centralized Intake Unit” Congress Ballroom • Indiana Department of Child Services •  “Partnering with Parents for System Change” Nebraska Room • Iowa Department of Human Services

19. Regional Forum Agenda 4:00 PM Concurrent Small Group Discussions “New Technical Assistance Model” Congress Ballroom Ohio Office for Families and Children “Best Outcomes for Indian Children” Nebraska RoomWisconsin Department of Children and Families 4:45 PM Wrap-up, Evaluation & Adjourn 5:30 PM Informal Networking and Reception Walnut Room

20. Regional Forum Agenda Wednesday, April 13, 2011 8:45 AM Presentation: The Core Elements of the Fostering Connections Act: Resources for States and Tribes Judy Blunt, Assistant Director, National Resource Center on Permanency & Family Connections 10:00 AM Break, snack provided 10:15 AM Presentation: Fostering Connections Implementation Support & Resources ACF Regional Office Staff

21. Regional Forum Agenda 11:15 AM Presentation: Evaluating the Implementation of Child Welfare System Change Jeff Chambers, Project Evaluator, Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 12:00 PM Lunch (provided) 1:00 PM Concurrent Small Group Discussions Group A: Fostering Connections Implementation Group B: Project Evaluations Group C: Implementing Change in Tribal Child Welfare Agencies 1:45 PM Wrap-up, Evaluation & Dismissal

22. Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Questions?