The Training and Technical Assistance division of the The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections is responsible for providing on-site training and technical assistance to public, private, and Tribal child welfare agencies around issues related to the provision of quality foster care services and timely permanency planning for children and youth in out-of-home care.
As is mandated by the Children's Bureau, our work is currently prioritized toward providing technical assistance to States, Tribes, and US Territories that are implementing Program Improvement Plans (PIPs) in order to achieve substantial conformity through the child and family services reviews. The NRCPFC also provides TA to the Family Connections grantees
We have also been exploring innovative ways to provide technical assistance through technology and new methodologies. We were the first NRC to produce webcasts on subjects of interest in the field, we also utilize teleconference series and podcasts.
Our NRCPFC staff and consultants - in collaboration with the federal regional offices and the Children's Bureau - provides individualized assessments of needs, explores initiatives already in place, and strategically works with child welfare agencies to tailor our services to address and sustain changes needed. For more information please contact our Associate Director and Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator, Stephanie Boyd Serafin by e-mail at stephanie.serafin@hunter.cuny.edu or phone at 212/452 7049.
| Sample areas of Training & Technical Assistance include: |
- Strategies to engage parents & community partners in the provision of safety-focused, individualized family-centered services to children, youth & families
- Strategies to develop skills in the practice of family group conferencing & family group decision making
- Practices that engage families in assessment, case planning, case review & timely decision making about reunification, adoption, guardianship, kin placement or appropriate use of APPLA
- Working with states to implement practices that relate to the Fostering Connections legislation
- Promoting practices to reunify families
- Promoting practices in relative care
- Promoting the practice of family search & engagement strategies to identify family members for children & youth separated from their birth families
- Promoting practices that utilize guardianship when appropriate
- Worker/child & worker/parent (foster & birth) visiting
- Visiting between children & youth in care & their parents
- Promoting the practice of Visit Coaching
- Promoting the practice of Concurrent Permanency Planning
- Retention & support of resource families & dual licensure issues
- Promoting practices to insure placement stability the underpinning of which are sound practices in assessment, case planning, active engagement of families & case management
- Promoting practices that focus on cultural competency to increase understanding of diverse cultures
- Disproportional Representation of Children & Youth of Color in Foster Care
- Promoting practices that build relationships between tribes & states
- Engaging fathers & paternal resources in permanency planning
- Unpacking Permanency for older adolescents
- Appropriate application of APPLA as a permanency goal
- Promoting practices that provide continued connections for Siblings
- Working with birth families to promote reunification
- Working to promote partnerships between parents & foster parents
- Working toward a full collaboration between child welfare & legal & judicial partners
- Health & mental health care issues for children & youth in foster care
- Expanding the service array & improving accessibility to services
- Child welfare practice that addresses substance abuse, domestic violence & mental health services
- System of care approaches
- Promoting supervisory practices that include supervisory coaching & mentoring
- Post-permanency services
- Promoting competent and affirming services, policies & practices for working with LOBTU children, youth & families
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| We provide free on-site training or technical assistance to States and Tribes in our areas of expertise, after negotiation with and approval by your Regional Office staff. |
| Region I |
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont |
Bob Cavanaugh
Child Welfare Lead
JFK Federal Building - Rm. 2000
Boston, MA 02203
P: (617) 565-1020 /F: (617) 565-2493
bcavanaugh@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region II |
New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands |
Junius Scott
Child Welfare Lead
26 Federal Plaza - Rm. 4114
New York, NY 10278
P: (212) 264-2890 x145/F: (212) 264-4881
junius.scott@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region III |
District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia |
Lisa Pearson
Child Welfare Lead
150 S. Independence Mall West-Suite 864
Public Ledger Building
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3499
P: (215) 861-4000/F: (215) 861-4070
lisa.pearson@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region IV |
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee |
Ruth Walker
Child Welfare Lead
Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street SW - Suite 4M60
Atlanta, GA 30303
P: (404) 562-2900/F: (404) 562-2983
rwalker@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region V |
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin |
Carolyn Wilson-Hurey
Child Welfare Lead
233 N. Michigan Avenue - Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60601
P: (312) 353-4237/F: (312) 353-2204
carolyn.wilson-hurey@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region VI |
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas |
June Lloyd
Child Welfare Lead
1301 Young Street - Suite 914
Dallas, TX 75202
P: (214) 767-9648/F: (214) 767-3743
jlloyd@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region VII |
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska |
Rosalyn Wilson
Child Welfare Lead
Federal Office Building - Room 276
601 E 12th Street
Kansas City, MO 64106
P: (816) 426-3981/F: (816) 426-2888
rwilson@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region VIII |
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming |
Marilyn Kennerson
Child Welfare Lead
Federal Office Building
1961 Stout Street - 9th Floor
Denver, CO 80294-3538
P: (303) 844-3100/F: (303) 844-2313
marilyn.kennerson@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region IX |
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Outer Pacific Islands |
Sally Flanzer
Child Welfare Lead
90 7th Street, Ninth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94103-6710
P: (415) 437-8425/F: (415) 437-8436
sally.flanzer@acf.hhs.gov |
| Region X |
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington |
John Henderson
Child Welfare Lead
2201 Sixth Avenue
Suite 300, MS-70
Seattle, WA 98121
P: (206) 615-2482/F: (206) 615-2574
jhenderson@acf.hhs.gov |
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