National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) Leadership Academy
Intended Audience
- Child Welfare Supervisors
Targeted Age Group(s)
QIC-EY Engagement Model Components (i) The engagement model components were identified through the QIC-EY Environmental Scan as critical to the support of youth engagement in the attainment of permanence.
- Engage Specialized Staff
Description
The National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) Leadership Academy seeks to develop leadership skills for sustainable systems change to improve outcomes for children, youth and families. This curriculum has been redesigned to integrate the concepts and components of the Leadership Academy for Supervisors (LAS) and the Leadership Academy for Middle Managers (LAMM) trainings. Funded by the Children’s Bureau, the NCWWI Leadership Academy builds workforce capacity through leadership development of child welfare supervisors and managers across the country who work in public/private child welfare systems or private agencies that provide services traditionally provided by state child welfare agencies.
The NCWWI Leadership Academy uses a problem-based learning model. Learners are enrolled in five online modules that are each followed by classroom modules that can be delivered virtually or in person. Additionally, at the completion of each classroom module, participants have the opportunity to attend monthly coaching sessions facilitated by a trained leadership development coach.
Implementation Considerations
LAMM is for Master’s-level social workers who have comprehensive and successful history in child welfare and management experience. Credible LAMM trainers will have a working knowledge of the programs that address the needs of children, youth and families as well as of the workforce, stakeholders, funding and political dynamics. This program typically is delivered in a child welfare agency. Preparation time prior to face-to face-training typically is scheduled 3-4 months or 13 hours. Face-to-face training is implemented over 6 days, and coaching after training is available for 6 months (1 hour per month). A manual describes how to deliver the training.
Completing LAMM takes approximately one year in all. Initial recruitment and selection of participants and dates begins 6 months prior to face-to-face training. This allows for a considered selection process, setting up a location, individual scheduling and prework. Resources include a hotel setting that provides lodging, meals, one large meeting room and two breakout rooms for meals and small groups; three trainers, on-site logistics personnel (an event planner) and a program manager; audiovisual equipment including a projector and microphones (for tables and presenters, as needed) and Wi-Fi for working on laptops (preferred); round tables; flip charts; etc. The curriculum includes a specific description of equipment and tools needed for each module.