child welfare workforce development month event
TRANSCRIPT
Child Welfare Workforce Development Month Event
Presenters
Bacall Hincks, LCSWClinical Program DirectorDahlia’s Hope
Terrell Thomas, MSWStrategic Initiative OfficerStanford Sierra Youth and Families
Overview
Opportunities for leadership exist at all levels – regardless of job title or years of experience.
The child welfare field continues to face challenges recruiting and retaining staff who are qualified and diverse and reflect the families served.
These challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant impact of recent and historical social and racial justice issues.
One of the significant challenges impacting emerging leaders in the child welfare workforce is lack of opportunity, support, and coaching for career advancement.
Today’s Objectives
Provide helpful steps that emerging leaders can take to promote their own growth and development of critical leadership skills in their existing position or program and share concrete ways organizations can support emerging leaders.
Provide participants helpful resources they can use now to continue building their leadership skills.
Poll Questions
CWLA Emerging Leaders Committee
Purpose: The Child Welfare League of America’s (CWLA) Emerging Leaders Committee is a network of child welfare professionals who seek to achieve the following: Connect a demographic of child welfare professionals ranging from new
graduates to those with less than 20 years of experience in the field to provide a professional forum for support and opportunities for career growth. Provide a safe space for the exchange of ideas related to the child welfare
field and create learning opportunities targeted toward emerging leaders. Provide future leaders with connections to mentorship and the
development of leadership skills to support the evolving child welfare landscape.
CWLA Emerging Leaders Committee
Values Partnership – we actively seek opportunities to connect and collaborate
with member and non-member organizations to strengthen the support offered to young and emerging professionals.
Equity and Diversity – we are committed to providing equal access and opportunity to the diverse membership of this committee that ultimately reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.
Professional Growth – provide a forum for opportunities to cultivate growth and the development of leadership skills to influence the evolving child welfare profession.
Icebreaker
Please use the Chat box to share “What’s
Your WHY?”
Panelists
Gabrielle Aiosa-Perrin, LMSWDirector of Children’s Corps & Equity Fostering Change for Children
Michelle Clinch, MSEdNational Campaign ManagerNational Child Welfare Workforce Institute
Alycia Blackwell, MSW, JDDeputy Director for Programs and ServicesFairfax County Department of Family Services
Michael Schultz, Ed.D.CWLA Senior FellowChild Welfare League of America
Moderated by: Bacall Hincks, LCSW
www.fosteringchangeforchildren.orgFor more information, visit us at
FCFC is dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, and the individuals that support them. FCFC believes in creating
positive solutions to challenges withing the child welfare system.
Children’s Corps strives toRecruit SelectTrainSupport
Diverse Emerging Leaders
Developing the child welfare workers of today
and the leaders of tomorrow!
[email protected] Aiosa-Perrin, LMSWDirector of Children’s Corps
Our Approach
Recruitment & Selection
We recruit intentionally, building relationships with colleges, universities, and community
partners on a large scale (locally, nationally, in-person and online).
Our application & interview process uses behavioral-based questions to identify candidates
with the traits and characteristics necessary to succeed in child welfare. We utilize different
modalities, including videos, case vignettes, short essays, and group
activities.
Support (Retention)We provide unwavering, wrap-
around support services in several modalities for members
during their 2-year Corps commitment (team building
events, professional development lectures & training, alumni mentorship & coaching).
We have a vast Alumni Association. 70% of our Alumni will obtain graduate degrees & professional licenses in human services. 75% of our Alumni continue to serve children,
youth, and families.
Pre-Service TrainingWe build a cohort during
pre-service mindset training (building on Corps members’
existing traits & characteristics that will be beneficial in child welfare
work).
Members are provided with a foundation of “real world” experience, knowledge,
policy, theory, and competency skills. Training
takes place both in the classroom & in the field.
[email protected] Aiosa-Perrin, LMSWDirector of Children’s Corps
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute
Leadership Development Resources
Offered by AdoptUSKidsProfessionals
12-month program designed to support the development of leaders of color
Develop an action research project
Paired with mentors to work on areas of practice where there is disproportionality
Minority Professional Leadership Development Program
NCWWI’s Leadership Academy
Previous Iteration Current Iteration
For implementation support, contact Sharon [email protected]
Offered by Center for Tribes Currently being piloted & finalized in
2022 Will be available to tribal child welfare
programs that receive Title IV-B/IV-E funding
Based upon indigenous leadership concepts that support nation-building and tribal sovereignty, the training will be provided in-person or virtual, with elearning practice opportunities and spaces for collaboration and connection.
Tribal Child Welfare Leadership Academy
Emerging Leaders Committee Pilot
Facilitated Group and Individual conversations with Dr. Michael Schultz Four, two-hour Zoom sessions with ~6 members of Emerging Leaders
Committee Practiced leadership skills including effective communication, using a
Five-Step Approach to group facilitation to enhance “scope of influence.” This approach was applied to a range of important topics that were relevant to each member.
Provided opportunity for coaching and peer feedback.
Summary of Framework
Five Key Components Cultivating safety and trust Creating a predictable level of
structure and support ‘Normalizing’ experiences and
validating responses Empowering the group in
decision-making and responsibility
Marking changes and processes through rituals and ceremonies
Summary of 5Ps Clarity of Purpose Parameters Participants Place Process
These precursors set the stage for productive facilitative processes and experiences.
Benefits & Key Takeaways
Skilled facilitation and coaching pushed participants to sharpen skills Opportunity to engage with colleagues across the country Safe space to be vulnerable and normalize professional challenges Structured yet flexible enough for diverse experiences Diversity in participants’ positions and agencies added depth and richness
of perspectives Model can be replicated
To learn more about CWLA’s Emerging Leaders Committee, Contact Membership: [email protected]
Q&A
Child Welfare Workforce Development Month Event
NCWWI.org/CWworkforce
Thank you for attending!