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 1 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 2 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 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. 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. 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 3 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. Graduates employed in organizations serving children and families will have professional development and training opportunities readily available. 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 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. The CCFWD will focus on the disproportionate number of American Indian children in the child welfare system and children living in poverty. 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. 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 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. 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. 4 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. 5