1. Purpose
The purpose of the Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development
(CCFWD) will be to improve the delivery of social, mental health, and health-related
services to Montana’s high-risk children and families. By capitalizing on
accomplishments that have occurred during the University of Montana’s Child Welfare
Training Partnership (CWTP) 15 year collaboration with Montana’s Department of
Public Health and Human Services - Child and Family Services Division (CFSD), tribal,
and private organizations serving families and children, the CCFWD will promote child
well-being, strengthen families, and enhance services provided by the organizations and
professionals serving them. Transitioning from a partnership to a center is an important
next step in the organization’s evolution and will accomplish the following goals: 1)
consolidate a wide range of expertise and program services under one organizational
structure; 2) improve the visibility and credibility of current and future services,
solidifying well-established relationships and creating opportunities for new endeavors;
and 3) build infrastructure that will improve opportunities to obtain additional extramural
funding.
The following objectives will be accomplished by continuing to use federal Title IV-e
funds as the primary revenue source for the CCFWD.
2. Objectives
1. Workforce Development
a. Customize the current training curriculum to ensure that frontline staff and
managers working with children, youth, and families receive the requisite skills,
knowledge, perspectives, and values to advance their ability to perform their
respective responsibilities.
b. Expand organizational improvement and workforce development activities by
providing workforce studies, technical assistance, and consultation to
organizations to address problems associated with organizational culture and
climate, administrative leadership, and job satisfaction.
2. Research
Provide program evaluation and outcome studies for public, tribal, and private
non-profit organizations and programs that are required to meet specific outcomes
and adhere to standards of fidelity. The studies will promote best organizational
practices and achieve program outcomes.
3. Community Development
Assist communities and organizations statewide to develop systemic prevention
programs that connect local organizations and leaders to help address problems
specific to children and families (e.g., child abuse, drug abuse, suicide,
depression).
4. Advocacy
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Shape policies and services that are informed by empirical evidence and
nationally-recognized best practices.
3. Activities
1. Workforce Development
 Provide professional development training to public, tribal, and private
organizations that serve high-risk children and families.
 Provide technical assistance regarding workforce problems and facilitate
organizational and cultural change to address workforce problems.
 Provide management and leadership development training to mid-level and
executive administrators.
 Expand access to current UM social work courses that address child abuse and
neglect, child welfare law, at-risk youth, and prevention of child maltreatment.
 Recruit, screen, and monitor undergraduate and graduate students who are eligible
for Title IV-E stipend funding and contractually agree to become employed with
CFSD and tribal social services following graduation.
 Alter the current training curricula and improve its accessibility to address social
service workforce training needs statewide.
2. Research
 Engage in research that is informed by problems specific to Montana’s high-risk
children and families. Disseminate findings to assist organizations in adopting
best practices and improving outcomes.
 Collaborate with public, tribal, and private non-profit organizations in grant
writing and program development.
 Develop and implement evaluation studies to measure program outcomes and
monitor fidelity to program models.
3. Community Development
 Organize summits with stakeholders with the goals of informing public policy,
developing community-based interventions, and accessing extra-mural funding.
 Strengthen partnerships with Montana’s tribal social services to reduce the
disproportionate number of American Indian children and their families involved
in the child welfare system.
4. Advocacy
 Inform community leaders, legislators, and other community members about the
diverse needs of high-risk children and families.
 Inform legislation that targets high-risk children and families.
4. Partners
A representative from each of the following will constitute the advisory board. The
board’s unique composition should strengthen partnerships between public, tribal, and
private child and family service providers and utilize the state’s vast expertise.
 University of Montana School of Social Work
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Montana Child and Family Services Division
National Native Children’s Trauma Center
Intermountain Children’s Home – Helena, AWARE – Anaconda, Yellowstone
Boys and Girls Ranch, or Youth Homes-Missoula
Indian Health Services - Montana
State of Montana Attorney General’s Office
Montana Pediatricians Association
Casey Family Program
5. Organizational Structure
The CCFWD will be part of the College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences
and located within the School of Social Work.
6. Relationship to the Institutional Mission
The CCFWD will meet the mission of the University of Montana as it seeks “to capitalize
on its unique strengths to create knowledge, provide an active learning environment for
students, and offer programs and services responsive to the needs of Montanans.”
The CCFWD will meet the goals of the University’s Strategic Plan for 2020 by creating a
vision of research and creative scholarship, and strengthening Montana’s communities
through outreach. More specifically, the CCFWD will address the core values and
strategic issues in the following ways:
Leadership: Discovery and Creativity
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The CCFWD will strengthen existing partnerships with public, tribal, and private
organizations, elected leaders, and UM faculty with expertise in children,
families, and workforce development. These partnerships will build collaborative
potential and evidence based interventions that improve outcomes for high-risk
children, families, and the organizations that serve them.
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The CCFWD compliments the goals of similar UM centers and departments that
address the needs of high-risk children including the Institute for Educational
Research and Service (IERS), the National Native Children’s Trauma Center
(NNCTC), the Rural Institute, and the departments of psychology and counselor
education. It does, however, have a more concentrated focus on working
primarily with social service organizations that serve vulnerable children and
families and are impacted by problems that impact workforce recruitment,
retention, and professional development.
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The CCFWD will complete additional workforce studies to identify
organizational strengths and areas that need development. Center staff will
provide training and technical assistance to improve workplace policies and
procedures, leadership, and organizational climate.
Engagement: Partnering for Student Success
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Social work students will assist in providing technical assistance to partnering
organizations. They will have opportunities to interact with faculty members,
professionals, and legislators through coursework, internships, practica, and
research.
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Graduates employed in organizations serving children and families will have
professional development and training opportunities readily available.
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The CCFWD will continue to provide educational stipends and specialized
instruction to students who commit to working with children and families.
Diversity: Dynamic Learning Environment
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The CHPBS has three centers that emulate the proposed center. The Montana
Area Health Education Center, Montana Geriatric Center, and the Native
American Center of Excellence provide essential services to citizens who
frequently have limited access to health, mental health, and social services. The
centers share goals that include increasing workforce recruitment and retention in
specific health care and social service areas that are underserved in Montana.
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The CCFWD will focus on the disproportionate number of American Indian
children in the child welfare system and children living in poverty.
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The CCWFD will utilize the expertise of campus partners and offer diverse
interdisciplinary learning opportunities to address problems specific to Montana’s
children and families. These partners include the School of Social Work, the
Institute for Educational Research and Service - National Native Children’s
Trauma Center, Neural Injury Center, departments of counselor education and
psychology, and Montana Kid’s Count.
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Independent study and advanced research opportunities for BSW and MSW
students will be available through faculty and the CCFWD partners. The
opportunities will include conducting extensive research on best practices and
providing evaluative studies to organizations.
Sustainability: Education for the Global Century
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The CCFWD will offer its services statewide and collaborate with similar centers
housed in schools of social work at Portland State University, University of
Minnesota, and University of California – Berkeley.
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The CCFWD will conduct a five year research project that involves the evaluation
of the CFSD’s Title IV-E program that involves the use of a “differential
response” model to improve permanency in cases of child neglect.
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The CCFWD will expand its current online children and family courses, continue
to provide educational stipends, and field-based experiential learning
opportunities to improve workforce training and job placement opportunities.
7. Similar Programs in Montana and the Northwest
Montana does not have a similar center or program. Comparable centers in the
surrounding region include:
 The Children and Family Services Training Center is a partnership between
the University of North Dakota and the North Dakota Department of Human
Services Division of Children and Family Services.
 The Idaho Child Welfare Research and Training Center is a partnership between
the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Division of Family and Community
Services and the Eastern Washington School of Social Work.
 The Partners for Our Children is a collaboration between the University of
Washington’s School of Social Work and the Washington State Department of
Social and Health Services.
 The Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services is a collaboration
between Portland State University and the Oregon Department of Human
Services.
8. Budget
The attached budget outlines revenue and expenditures projected for 2014-15.
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