Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center MCWIC Purpose Our purpose is to facilitate the implementation of systemic change to improve outcomes for children and families

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Our approach Multidisciplinary staff and consultant expertise

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Our approach Multidisciplinary staff and consultant expertise

Major Activities and Accomplishments Identification and hiring of core staff Locating, securing and equipping office space Designing and publishing MCWIC’s website Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

Major Activities and Accomplishments Forming and strengthening relationships with our FPO, Regional Office staff in ACF Regions V & VII, members of the T/TA Network, and CB Central Office staff and leadership Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

Major Activities and Accomplishments Outreach to States and Tribes  teleconferences, , on-site  focused on Tribal outreach  went to ICWA Coalition meetings in  Minnesota  Wisconsin  Nebraska Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

First Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Creating Connections to Enhance Tribal Child Welfare Systems March 19, 2009 Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin

First Tribal Gathering Goals Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Begin to establish relationships Build and reinforce peer connections Develop participants’ knowledge & skill Provide RFA process guidance & support

First Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Plenary Session: Challenges in Raising Healthy Native American Children from a Child Welfare Perspective Priscilla Day, Professor of Social Work, University of Minnesota-Duluth

First Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Work Groups Challenges in Tribal Child Welfare Needs: what would help? Strengths and resources in our community Building coalitions Report out: sharing approaches & ideas

First Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Feedback Keynote presentation provided useful information – 81% agree or strongly agree. 96% made at least one new peer contact.

First Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Feedback 92% interested in attending another Gathering event. 85% feel comfortable contacting MCWIC staff.

First Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Feedback Satisfied with opportunities to discuss networking – 95% agree or strongly agree. Better informed about opportunities for Implementation Projects with MCWIC – 73% agree or strongly agree.

Regional Forum Goals Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Build and reinforce participants’ connections Identify participants’ needs for peer connections Build participants’ knowledge and skill Provide project application guidance and support

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Attendance Eight of ten states twelve of twenty-nine tribes Eighty-six participants: 27 from state agencies 29 from tribal agencies Representatives from T/TA Network Regional Offices Children’s Bureau Central Office

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 93% of participants said they would benefit from additional peer to peer networking 82% of participants said they understood the purpose of MCWIC

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 52% of participants were using a multidisciplinary problem solving approach 73% indicated the approach was one they would try and use more

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 84% of participants understood the purpose of and eligibility criteria for implementation projects 87% of participants understood MCWIC’s RFA process

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 92% of participants indicated they had an increased understanding of the theory and practice involved in implementing change in child welfare systems because of the information presented by Tony Hemmelgarn and Peter Watson

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 92% of our participants said they had an increased understanding of the importance and role of leadership in child welfare system change based on Judge James Payne’s presentation on Leadership of Child Welfare System Change

First Regional Forum Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 78% of participants rated the organization and format of the forum very good or excellent several participants thought the one and one half day conference was too short a time period and several suggested at least two days would be helpful

Request for Application Process Application Process Steps: 1) Two-Page Concept Paper 2) Internal Screening Assessment 3) Teleconference Regarding Concept Paper 4) Written Feedback 5) Formal Application 6) Review of Formal Applications 7) Award of Implementation Projects 8) Teleconference with RO & agency regarding follow-up TA Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

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

MCWIC Selected Site * five additional project applications currently under review Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Iowa Department of Human Services Partnering with Parents for System Change

MCWIC Selected Site State / AgencyProject Iowa Department of Human Services Parents with prior system involvement will mentor parents with children in care to support the completion of case plan goals, and educate parents regarding available services. This project will also build a cadre of parents actively engaged in all levels of child welfare practice and policy development in Iowa. Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

MCWIC Approved Project * five additional project applications currently under review Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Indiana Department of Child Services Statewide Implementation of a Centralized Intake Unit

MCWIC Approved Project State / AgencyProject Indiana Department of Child Services The Indiana DCS is developing a centralized intake unit with specially trained and centrally located staff. This centralized system will replace the current system of approximately 210 different phone numbers staffed by case managers, supervisors and contract employees located throughout the 92 counties in Indiana. Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

Second Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Looking Back, Moving Forward: Building the Future on Traditional Values August 27-28, 2009 Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel Tama, IA

Second Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Strategic Planning and Tribal Practice Models State/Tribal/County Partnerships Tribal Child Welfare Data & Technology Considerations Keynote: When our children are old, will they know we fought for them?

Second Tribal Gathering Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center 50 participants 11 different tribes represented Regions V & VII Office Representatives 3 state ICWA specialists

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Peer Networking MCWIC’s Connect will provide the advantages of internet community sites in a controlled environment without distracting advertising and will provide features that meet the unique needs of state, county, and tribal child welfare workers.

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Peer Networking

Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center Peer Networking

MCWIC Implementation Project Evaluation Plan Process Outcomes & methods developed cooperatively Project evaluations conducted by MCWIC in cooperation with State/Tribe Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

MCWIC Implementation Project Evaluation Plan Process Outcomes focused on – Formative implementation process – Child Welfare System Improvement – Direct Project Outcomes – Child and Family Outcomes Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center

Questions? Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center