Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

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. 2  Federal technical assistance: Regional Offices  T/TA Network services and resources  Intensive services from the National Resource Centers (NRCs) and Implementation Centers (ICs)

National Resource Centers NRC 3 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

Implementation Centers 4 IC 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

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

Collaborative Multi-disciplinary Multi-level Systems Based MCWIC Approach

Informed by Implementation Science knowledge and strategies Provide intensive technical assistance and support to systems change implementation projects proposed by states and tribes MCWIC Approach

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 stages of process

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

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

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

Peer Networking CONNECT is an internet social networking site designed to serve child welfare workers, administrators, trainers, and their support network

Peer Networking

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

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 Regional Forum Objectives

Regional Forum Agenda 9:00 AMPresentation: 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 AMBreak, snack provided 10:15 AMPresentation: Implementing System Change in Child Welfare Cathy Fisher, Director, Atlantic Coast Child Welfare Implementation Center 11:00 AMConcurrent Small Group Discussions regarding presentations 12:00 PMLunch (provided)

1:15 PMKeynote: 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 PMPresentation: 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 PMBreak, snack provided 3:15 PMConcurrent 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 Regional Forum Agenda

4:00 PMConcurrent Small Group Discussions “New Technical Assistance Model” Congress Ballroom Ohio Office for Families and Children “Best Outcomes for Indian Children” Nebraska Room Wisconsin Department of Children and Families 4:45 PMWrap-up, Evaluation & Adjourn 5:30 PMInformal Networking and Reception Walnut Room Regional Forum Agenda

Wednesday, April 13, :45 AMPresentation: 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 AMBreak, snack provided 10:15 AMPresentation: Fostering Connections Implementation Support & Resources ACF Regional Office Staff

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

Questions? Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center