Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center MPCWIC

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Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center

MPCWIC

A Service of the Children’s BureauA member of the National Child Welfare Training

and Technical Assistance Network

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/


Webinar Agenda

• Introduction• Theoretical Approach• Goals• Advisory Committee• Outreach Approach, Activities and Accomplishments• Bi-Regional Forum• Technical Assistance• Peer to Peer• Application Process and Implementation Projects• Evaluation• Discussion and Questions

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Project Partners

University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, Judith Granger Birmingham Center of Child Welfare

Arlington, Texas

University of Denver, Butler Institute for Families Denver, Colorado

Native American Training Institute Bismarck, North Dakota

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Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation CenterMPCWIC

Geographical Service AreaRegion 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas

Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

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A Service of the Children’s Bureau A Member of the T/TA Network

• MPCWIC is one of the five Implementation Centers in the country to have entered into a cooperative agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration, Children’s Bureau.

• As a member of the existing T/TA Network, MPCWIC provides expertise in the implementation of change strategies through in-depth and long-term consultation and support to state and tribal child welfare agencies to improve outcomes for children, youth and families.

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MPCWIC Theoretical Framework

• Model of implementation practice based on the literature and science on implementation

• Implementation does not happen all at once and is not a linear process but one that is both recursive and compensatory.

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Our approach for each implementation project will focus on six stages• Exploration• Installation• Initial implementation• Full implementation• Innovation• Sustainability

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MPCWIC Theoretical Framework Core implementation components supporting the change in

the practitioner behavior:• Staff Selection• Pre-service and in-service training• Ongoing coaching and consultation• Staff performance assessment• Data Systems• Facilitative administration• Systems intervention

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Alignment of all these elements will be key to the MPCWIC team work with the state and tribes to assure support of the work of the child welfare practitioners in the systems

intervention

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Primary Goals

• Goal 1: Establish an infrastructure of technical assistance to state and tribal child welfare agencies in Regions 6 & 8 to promote systemic practice changes

• Goal 2: Provide intensive technical assistance to state and tribal child welfare agencies to develop and initiate implementation projects for systemic practice changes

• Goal 3: Encourage projects designed to develop, implement and evaluate a model of practice relevant to the targeted population of the states and/or tribes

• Goal 3: Evaluate the process and outcomes of MPCWIC

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Bi-Regional Advisory Committee

• The MPCWIC developed a Bi-Regional Advisory Committee to provide input into the planning of the MPCWIC and its ongoing activities.

• The Advisory Committee is comprised of seventeen key state and tribal agency administrators, private-not-for-profit child welfare agencies and other community stakeholders. A Regional Officer from each ACF region participates in all Bi-Regional Advisory Committee meetings.

• The Advisory Committee has bi-annual face-to-face meetings and quarterly conference calls.

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Bi-Regional Advisory CommitteeRoles and Responsibilities

• Work with the MPCWIC team on revising and finalizing plans for outreach

• Assist with planning regional forums• Attend the regional forum meetings• Assist with Peer to Peer networking consultation• Participate on the Application review and selection of proposals• Assist in the development and review of project evaluations

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Bi-Regional Advisory Subcommittees

Based on preference and expertise members serve one or more of the following subcommittees:

“Peer to Peer Networking” “Regional Forum” “Implementation Projects” “Evaluation

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Outreach Approach, Activities & Accomplishments

Approach

• Substantial “on the ground” agency and community technical assistance

• Use of technology– Web site– Go To meetings– Teleconferencing

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Outreach• Announcement letters and emails sent to all 11 states and 75 tribal agencies • “Tool Kits” sent to all state and tribal agencies• Site visits and/or other outreach to all states and tribal agencies• Regional Officers held informational meetings with tribal agencies, conference calls

with state agencies and emailed invitations to states and tribes• Bi-Regional Advisory Committee contacted state agency directors to ensure

participation at the forums• Held two informational bi-regional forums

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Approach to Tribal Outreach• Recognizing outreach and networking among the tribal agencies requires a

different approach, our partner NATI takes the lead on a multifaceted outreach approach to complement the outreach activities

• NATI reviews any written materials for cultural appropriateness • Reviews Outreach strategies for tribal feasibility • NATI informs and updates National Indian Organizations, the Governor’s

Interstate Indian Council of activities occurring in Region 6 and 8 • NATI lead a half day informational regional forum for tribal agencies

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MPCWIC Activities & Accomplishments FY 09• Established a Bi-Regional Advisory Committee• Held two face to face Bi-Regional Advisory Committee meetings and one

conference call • Held a regional forum in Region 6 and Region 8 to introduce the concept

of MPCWIC and provide assistance in developing implementation project applications

• NATI developed an informational brochure • Provided resources and technical assistance to initiate implementation

applications, site selections, and approved projects

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MPCWIC Activities & Accomplishments FY 09• MPCWIC and the Regional Officers teamed together to provide

outreach to state and tribal child welfare agencies to develop peer consultation and networking

• Accepted and processed 15 Implementation Center project applications

3 Project applications in June 200912 Project applications in August 2009

• Selected two Implementation Center projects during the first year and assisted with project implementation

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Bi-Regional Forum “Promoting Strategies for Change to Improve Outcomes for Children”

Region 6 April 14-16, 2009 Arlington, TX

76 Participants:19 Federally recognized tribes5 Child Welfare State Agencies

22 State Agency attendees20 Tribal Attendees

Children’s Bureau Central Office, Region VI Regional Office,

Bi-Regional Advisory Committee T/TA Network

Region 8 April 27-29, 2009 Denver, CO

65 Participants:5 Federally recognized tribes

5 Child Welfare State Agencies17 State Agency Attendees

10 Tribal AttendeesChildren’s Bureau Central Office,

Region VIII Regional Office, Bi-Regional Advisory Committee

T/TA Network

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Bi-Regional Forum• Tribal Agencies were provided a half day introductory meeting the day

before the first day of the regional forums• The first day included an overview of the goals and objectives of the

MPCWIC and it’s designated focus on organizational systemic change through the development and implementation of a practice model for child welfare services

• All participants were provided guidelines to assess their current practices in an informational tool kit

• Building on an organizational assessment, the participants were encouraged to devise a plan of action to build their practices into a full model of practice

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Bi-Regional Forum• The assessments served as the basis for small group discussions led by

MPCWIC team members in the afternoon of the first day to identify: – Potential networking groups– Partners for projects– Status of individual states and tribes in developing and implementing a

model of practice• The last half day focused on technical assistance provided to each group

on steps to move to the next phase of preparing an application for funding • The MPCWIC team developed a preliminary plan for continued technical

assistance with the participants who expressed interest in submitting an application

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Bi-Regional ForumsWhat did we learn from Forum Evaluations?

Preferences for TA Information Sharing:• One-on-one in person TA (42% of all respondents)• Peer Networks (24% of all respondents)• One-on-one telephone TA (19% of all respondents)• Listserves (12% of all respondents)• Webinars (10% of all respondents)

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Bi-Regional ForumsWhat did we learn from Forum Evaluations?

Assistance needed in preparing proposals:• 43% of respondents wanted feedback on their draft proposals• 16% of respondents wanted a list of frequently asked questions and

definitions of terms• 16% wanted more info on what types of things the MPCWIC would

approve/fund• 13% wanted more info on content experts and resources on specific topics

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Bi-Regional ForumsAdditional Suggestions for Improving Forum

• Include more input from the tribes• Have a separate tribal forum from the states• Allow more time for networking between the states and tribes• Have a shorter forum (20% of respondents)• Provide more clarity about, and examples of possible implementation

projects early in the forum (20% of respondents)• Spend more time on actually developing project proposals/concept papers

(20% of respondents)

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Technical Assistance

• 78% to 83% Forums-Participants expressed a high degree of likelihood that they would apply for an implementation project

• Following the Forums: 9 of 11 States (Arkansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, Texas, & New Mexico) and 8 separate Tribes or Tribal collaboratives (Chitimacha, Osage Nation, Kaw Nation, Cheyenne & Arapahoe Tribes, Absentee Shawnee Tribes, Sac & Fox Nation, United Keetoowah Band, New Mexico Tribes) requested TA

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Types of TA Requested by

States & Tribes Following Forums

• Review & feedback on proposals • Review & feedback on logic models• Development of outlines and proposals• Integration with other initiatives

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Peer-to-Peer Networking (P2PN)/ConsultationMPCWIC Bi-Regional Advisory Committee & staff discussed a variety of tools/opportunities to address barriers and encourage state and tribal networking and learning such as:• Project web site• Annual regional roundtable linking projects & involving pre-applicants• Virtual and\or on site meetings• Webinars for collaborative communication between MPCWIC projects• Webinars for collaborative communications between IC projects• WIKI for developing a repository of IC knowledge to be shared

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Peer-to-Peer Networking & Consultation Issues identified were:• Technology based P2PN tools work best if build on personal contact• States, tribes, and future applicants may be unaware of P2PN tool or have those

tools blocked by agency firewalls, e.g., Skype, video streaming, Facebook, etc. • Difficulty of projects and future applicants to easily find other relevant

efforts/projects/people• Giving advice on what % of resources to allocate for P2PN, e.g., balancing the

benefits & need for individual consultation with the high cost, e.g., travel• P2PN activities may cut across ICs & involve the T/TA network, e.g., topical

webinars for linking similar projects and potential applicants, developing a wiki, etc• Balancing the need for information with the need to protect intellectual property

and privacy, e.g., failures offer many lessons which sites may be reluctant to share

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Implementation Projects

Primary Targets for funded projects• State child welfare agencies in ACF Regions VI and VIII • Federally recognized tribal child welfare agencies in ACF Regions VI

and VIII

Examples of potential projects• Strengthening the practice model for tribal-state collaboration • Providing support to the development of the practice model for a

large tribe and/or consortium of tribes

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Examples of potential projects

• Need-service match• Developing targeted intervention strategies for subgroups of

maltreating families• Safety assessment• Developing a full practice model for a state• Revising administrative practices

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Request for Application Process• Complete the “Practice Model Review”• Complete the “Organizational Readiness for Change Review”• Complete and submit a Logic Model• Submit a Formal Application request• Applicants were encourage to submit draft applications • Written and verbal feedback provided on draft applications• Formal Applications submitted• Review of applications: Application Review Teams (MPCWIC, Bi-

Regional Advisory subcommittee, ACF Regional Officers)• Award of projects• Conference call with selected applicants

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Request for Application Process• Notification letters all applicants• Recommendations on TA from T/TA Network will be made to non selected

applicants• Round Table March 2010: Non selected applicants from prior application

rounds will be invited to attend to encourage “Peer to Peer” learning and readiness for implementation projects

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Request for Application Process

Round 1 June 2009 Applications Received: 3 3 States Applications Recommended to

CB for Implementation Projects: 3

Site selections approved : 2

Round 2 August 2009 Applications Received: 12 8 States and 4 Tribes Applications Recommended to CB: Implementation Projects: Site Selection:

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June 2009 ProjectsColorado Selected SiteRegion VIII Service Area

• Colorado Child Welfare System Reform: Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Welfare Services (DCWS) IC Project will integrate multiple reform initiatives for the essential purposes of obtaining and sustaining exceptional outcomes for children and their families in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being.

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June 2009 ProjectsNew Mexico Selected Site

Region VI Service Area

• Developing a New Mexico Child Welfare Practice Model: The Protective Services Division (PSD) of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department IC Project will be focused on the development and implementation of a clearly articulated practice framework, inclusive of vision, mission, values and operating principles, to guide all of the change initiatives underway in the State.

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States & Tribes Requesting TAMajor Obstacles Cited for not Submitting

Applications• State had recently revamped entire State administrative team• Difficulty pulling together partners to create application• Need to take time to build partnerships, including tribal partners• Bad Timing: immediate priorities including IV-B reviews, 5-year CFSR

plans, PIP deadlines

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MPCWIC Selected Evaluation Questions

• Do state and tribal systems improve with respect to issues addressed in their individual implementation projects?

• Do state and tribal systems make significant advancements toward the development of successful practice models?

• How do state and tribal characteristics or organizational factors contribute to the development of successful practice models?

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MPCWIC Selected Evaluation Questions

• What is the impact of the implementation project activities and integration of the practice model on state or tribal CSFR and PIP outcomes?

• Individually, do state and tribal partners accomplish goals set forth in their multi-year strategic plans for sustainable systems change?

• Are state and tribal partners successfully able to use practice model frameworks with fidelity to guide daily practice?

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Evaluation Issues Developing a Practice Model Assessment

Different Processes: During Development • Constituent Engagement & degree of engagement• History of relationships with ethnic/cultural minorities• Has organization address different organizational levels?• Do they have the appropriate expertise at the table?• Operationalize leadership changes

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Evaluation Issues Developing a Practice Model Assessment

Different Processes: During Implementation• What organizational areas will be effected during implementation?• Are stakeholders ready to hold each other accountable?• Is implementation clearly articulated as part of business process?• Are areas of incompatibility clearly defined & addressed?• Has sustainability been addressed (i.e., leadership changes)

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Contact Information

Maria Scannapieco, MSW, Ph. D.Principal Investigator Professor and DirectorCenter for Child WelfareSchool of Social WorkUniversity of Texas at Arlington211 South CooperArlington, Texas 76019Phone : 817.272.3535E-mail: [email protected]

Susan Ferrari, LMSWProject CoordinatorMPCWICCenter for Child WelfareSchool of Social WorkUniversity of Texas at Arlington211 South Cooper, Box 19129Arlington, Texas 76019Phone : 817.272.0634E-mail: [email protected]


mailto:[email protected]


Contact Information

University of Texas at Arlington • Dick Schoech, Ph.D. Professor E-mail: [email protected]• Donna L. Cleveland MPCWIC Administrative Assistant E-mail: [email protected]

Native American Training Institute• Deborah A. Painte NATI Director E-mail: [email protected]• Joseph J. Walker NATI Evaluation Specialist E-mail: [email protected]• Camille Driver, LSW NATI Child Welfare Development Specialist E-mail: [email protected]

University of Denver Butler Institute for Families• Cathryn Potter, MSW, Ph.D. Executive Director E-mail: [email protected]• Nancy C. McDaniel, MPA Program Administrator E-mail: [email protected]• Julie R. Morales, Ph.D.

Senior Research Associate E-mail: [email protected]• Sandra Spears, MSW, LCSW Director E-mail: [email protected]• Charmaine Brittain, Ph.D.

Program Manager E-mail: [email protected]• Linda Metsger

Training and Program Administrator E-mail: [email protected]

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Discussion and Questions?

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Documents

Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center MPCWIC