INSTITUTE INSIGHTS
Issue 17 | July 2021
HIGHLIGHT: APPROPRIATION UPDATES
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR We hope that each of you are enjoying the summer while staying safe and healthy. It’s been a busy but productive year so far for the Institute. Recently, we received an appropriation to create systematic change in the education, Dr. Jessica Pryce, director preparation, and professional development of the child welfare workforce. You can view the SB 1326 legislation by clicking here. This past quarter, we hosted our annual research symposium which had the theme: Supporting Foster Youth and Young Adults for Success. It was a very enlightening and rewarding experience to learn from experts in this area, including youth themselves. You can find more information about our symposium, including resources, here. It remains our goal to do our part to improve the child welfare workforce and ultimately enhance the lives of vulnerable children and their families in our communities. With that, we continue to learn from stakeholders and partners through our podcast. Our next season, which focuses on the Family First Prevention Services Act, (FFPSA) will be released July 28th. In addition, our Institute is partnering with Alia Innovations to host four virtual learning and training sessions focused on preparing our child welfare system for a culture shift towards prevention. Read more and register here. Last month, we virtually hosted our annual statewide affiliate meeting. Our affiliate network has continued to expand and members have contributed their time and expertise to several research related videos, reports, and infographics. During our meeting, we welcomed new affiliates and updated our network on current research. We also discussed the opportunities that are on the horizon as our affiliates will be active partners as we expand our work in the coming months. Soon, we will begin to prepare our annual report due to Governor DeSantis on October 1. We look forward to articulating the work that our team and affiliates have accomplished this past year. Stay tuned for our 20202021 annual report. Stay safe and well!
The state budget, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in June, includes $10 million in recurring funding for the Institute. With approval of this appropriation, the Institute’s scope and mission will radically expand, with efforts to execute legislative mandates passed by the Florida Legislature in the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions. The appropriation will provide the resources to execute legislative mandates established in Ch. 2020152 of Florida Law (Senate Bill 1326). The Institute is tasked to:
CONSULTING PROGRAM •
CAREER LADDER •
SOCIAL WORK CURRICULUM •
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design and implement a curriculum that enhances knowledge and skills for the child welfare practice create the curriculum using interactive and interdisciplinary approaches and include opportunities for students to gain an understanding of real-world child welfare cases
establish a consulting program for child welfare organizations to enhance workforce culture, supervision, and management processes to improve retention, effectiveness, and overall well-being of staff to support improved child welfare outcomes
support the The Department of Children and Families to develop an expanded career ladder for child protective investigations staff
In addition, Ch. 2021-169 of Florida Law (Senate Bill 80) mandates a multi-year research initiative focused on teens and young adults who are aging out of our system. The new appropriation will provide the Institute resources to: EVALUATION
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disseminate the curriculum to other interested state universities and colleges and provide implementation support
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evaluate the curriculum and make recommendations for improvement
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describe the current requirements for caregivers, the information and supports they receive, and their level of engagement
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identify best practices for helping youth in foster care develop life skills
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specify barriers to foster youth becoming self-sufficient
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recommend changes to enhance the effectiveness of the state’s approach to prepare youth for selfsufficiency
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include the input of youth currently in and previously in foster care
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT •
design and implement a career-long professional development curriculum for child welfare professionals at all levels and across disciplines
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enhance the performance of the current child welfare workforce
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address retention issues
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provide career-long coaching, training, certification, and mentorship
evaluate the effectiveness of the state’s efforts to assist youth in foster care in developing life skills to become self-sufficient adults
HIGHLIGHT: APPROPRIATION UPDATES
NEW INSTITUTE OPPORTUNITIES: FFPSA
PERMANENCY OUTCOMES
PREPARING FOR THE FFPSA: INSTITUTE TRAINING SERIES
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analyze long- and short-term permanency outcomes
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identify the patterns regarding the length of time to achieve permanency
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describe how the types of permanency vary based on the status of the rights of the parents of the children.
The appropriation also will fund the Institute to develop and implement a statewide professional development network to provide ongoing and accessible support for child welfare professionals as well as professionalize the child welfare workforce in Florida. Dr. Pryce estimates that 60 percent of the appropriation will be dedicated to this initiative. Ongoing research and evaluation efforts will also receive additional support, with a focus on legislative priorities and child welfare workforce issues that can inform professional development strategies. The Institute will partner with the Florida Department of Children and Families, lead community-based care agencies, case management services providers, and other child welfare stakeholders and experts, including members of the Institute’s affiliate network, to ensure all efforts are methodically and systematically crafted.
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Join the Instiute and Alia Innovations for this four-part free training series. Sessions will be held virtually on the fourth Tuesday of every month, July through October, 10:00 am — 11:30 am EST. Session 1: Building a New Way, Together! Tuesday, July 27th Session 2: Managing Organizational Change. Tuesday, August 24th. Session 3: Creating a Traumacompetent Organization: Public & Private. Tuesday September 28th. Session 4: Creating a Traumacompetent Organization: The Role of Leadership & Healing. Tuesday, October 26th. Training will be provided by Dr. Amelia Franck Meyer and Debi Grebenik of Alia Innovations. To learn more about what is covered in each training session, register for the sessions, and share an invitation, please visit our website. CLICK HERE INSTITUTE PODCAST SERIES SEASON 3
MESSAGE FROM DR. PRYCE:
“This is a unique opportunity to initiate systemic change throughout Florida. We are committed to addressing the longstanding issues within our workforce so that our child welfare professionals have the support and resources they need to strengthen vulnerable families throughout our State. We are looking forward to re-shaping and reimagining the Institute and co-creating a new vision for the work ahead”
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Click below to read more about the appropriation, the Institute’s plans, and the effects this will have on Florida’s child welfare system. READ MORE HERE
Make sure to stay in touch with the Institute as we implement these new initiatives and changes. Ongoing project updates will be available on the Institute website. 850-644-7201
The third season of the Institute’s podcast serie premieres soon! Tune in to hear Dr. Jessica Pryce interview leaders in child welfare about the Family First Prevention Services Act. Episode 1: Overview of the Family First Prevention Services Act. Available July 28th. Episode 2: How will the FFPSA Change my Work with Families? Available August 11th. Episode 3: Revisioning Residential Care Services for Children and Youth: FFPSA & The Group Care Quality Standards Assessment. Available August 25th. Episode 4: Collaborating in order to Meet the Evaluation Criteria of the Title IV-E Clearinghouse. Available September 8th. Learn more about the episodes and our guests and listen on our website. CLICK HERE FICW@FSU.EDU
FICW.FSU.EDU
INTRODUCING OUR NEW AFFILIATES CHRISTINE MCCAULEY OHANNESSIAN, PH.D.
WEL
COM NEW E AFFI LIAT ES!
Dr. McCauley Ohannessian received her Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University. She is currently chair of the Department of Family & Child Sciences at FSU. Her areas of expertise are include adolescents and emerging adults and mental health. AMY RUBINSON, PH.D. Dr. Rubinson completed her Ph.D. in Education at Colorado State University. She currently works as chief program and research officer at Educate Tomorrow. Her research interests include foster care, child maltreatment, disparities, and prevention and intervention. JOHN SHEETZ, MSW, FCWP John earned his MSW from Florida State University. He is Child Welfare Certified and is currently a trainer of the Child Maltreatment Index working at the FSU Center for Behavioral Health Integration. John has expertise in training foster parents, trafficking, and workforce issues. DERRICK STEPHENS, LCSW, MBA Mr. Stephens obtained his MSW and MBA from UCF. He currently serves as Research Faculty with the FSU College of Medicine, Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine. He has experience providing behavioral health training and consultations to CPIs, supervisors and leadership. NEW OPPORTUNITY: WEBSITE REDESIGN CFP The Institute is seeking proposals from qualified agencies and professionals for the redesign and development of its website to support a statewide professional development platform for child welfare professionals. This platform will provide on-going and on-demand support to Florida’s child welfare workforce, including e-learning certification courses, webinars, interdisciplinary training, and innovative technology solutions to prepare and assist employees as they face the complexities of their work. Call for Proposals: July 7 Submission Deadline: August 13 Decision Notification: August 27 Project Start: September 15 READ CFP HERE @FSUChildWelfare