| Author(s) | United States. Children's Bureau. |
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| Year Published | 2006 |
Children's Bureau T&TA Network's Next Steps
The National Resource Centers (NRCs), which are a part of the T&TA network, are funded by the Children's Bureau. Each NRC provides onsite training and technical assistance to States, tribes, and public child welfare agencies, which includes preparation for and implementation of the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process. As the T&TA network continues their work with child welfare agencies, they should include workforce development in their discussions. When working with jurisdictions to improve practice, implement new models of practice, improve systems and infrastructure, or make organizational or cultural changes, workforce issues should also be addressed. These could include:
- What is the current skill level of the workforce? Are new skills needed?
- How will the organization develop and offer training opportunities?
- How will the organization support the development of the new skills to meet service demands?
- What is the capacity of the workforce? How will the organization balance the new demands with the capacity of staff?
- How is the organization addressing the cultural competence of staff, and how will this affect the proposed changes?
- What is the turnover rate, and how will this affect the proposed changes?
- Does the organization need to assess its hiring practices in light of the new skills needed by the workforce?
The T&TA Network can also address the importance of the front line supervisors and their role in changing practice and culture. This can include:
- Ensuring that frontline staff, particularly supervisors, are included in the decision-making process;
- Engaging supervisors when the agency leadership wants to introduce change, working to ensure that they understand why the change is necessary, securing their buy-in, and training them in the change before their workers are trained;
- Working with the organization to strengthen supervision, particularly to improve clinical supervision;
- Ensuring that supervisors have enough time to provide quality supervision and support to their workers.
Lastly, the infrastructure and staffing needed at all levels of the organization should be included in discussions with the organization. This may include looking at the organization's capacity and demand issues in such areas as policy development, practice and personnel expertise, training, continuous quality improvement, and data.