New Child Welfare Directors’ Development Program (NCWDDP)
The New Child Welfare Directors’ Development Program (NCWDDP) supports any recently promoted or appointed directors in any public Child Welfare agency in California. It can also be used by any director in need of a set of resources, tools and content that might help them navigate the current realities of running an organization premised on crisis and the ever-changing Child Welfare landscape.
Child Welfare agencies must be equipped to engage and assess families, develop collaborative case plans with families and youth, provide family-based placements, and facilitate permanency. In support of these goals, the NCWDDP provides a framework to build skills and resilience in Child Welfare directors so they can stabilize and enhance agency functioning and build leadership capacity in their agencies.
Because turnover in the ranks of Child Welfare directors is inevitable and the need for Child Welfare leaders is so great, this program is dedicated to those who are brave enough to take on the challenges, successes and rewards of one of California’s most valuable roles in public service.
View the Program Snapshot to learn more about the nine NCWDDP Modules:
History & Background
The challenges of running a Child Welfare agency run the gamut, from fiscal, contract and human resource issues to creating forward-thinking and progressive programming that addresses community needs. This program was born out of a need, identified by current Child Welfare directors in 2018, to address the inadequate preparation for the demands of the Child Welfare director position. It is intended to acknowledge, reinforce and develop the capacity of the critical role Child Welfare directors have in leading agencies toward improved outcomes for children and families.
Many Child Welfare experts have identified leadership development as a crucial ingredient to improving organizational health, services, and outcomes for children and families. Further, having a uniform program can increase competency statewide and facilitate the sharing of knowledge attained and lessons learned from programs previously or in the process of implementation.
General Format
Each of the nine modules outlined in the snapshot has several components to reinforce learning and development over time: eLearning, narrative content, learning activities, coaching, and preparation activities.
ELearning Module Overviews
There are nine eLearning modules (some with multiple parts) that provide an overview of the content and a transfer of learning knowledge check. The eLearnings can be accessed as many times as needed.
Content & Activities
Each module contains content in the Participant Guide that provides an overview and description of the topic, as well as source materials that provide more complete information that can be read by the director. Content and source materials come from literature in the practice and academic worlds, subject matter experts, and training organizations that have been identified as useful by Child Welfare professionals in California and across the nation. There are also learning activities that include reflection questions and suggested exercises for the director. Most of the exercises will produce results that will be directly useful to the director’s job. Activities within each module are intended to support the learning objectives. Materials and activities will be reviewed and discussed during coaching sessions. The program content is grounded in the policy, fiscal and compliance realities of the job and includes significant focus on leadership and organizational development, implementation science and the leadership behaviors in the California Child Welfare Core Practice Model (CPM) and Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM).
Coaching Structure
Coaching support will take place monthly (which may include two sessions) and may occur more frequently, depending on each participant’s learning needs. The coaching sessions will offer support and guidance within each module’s segments. Each coaching session will begin with a review of reading materials, learning activities, and the director’s professional development plan. Together the coach and director will examine the director’s learning needs in the topic area with the coach guiding the director to identify strengths, needs and action steps to increase subject mastery.
Cohort Development
Cohorts of new Child Welfare directors will be created on a rolling basis. Participants will have the opportunity to meet monthly during the week of CWDA meetings with the CWDDP Program Director and coaches who are available to attend. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences, ask questions, and discuss what is working and challenges they may be experiencing. These cohort meetings will provide the participants with the opportunity to build relationships with their peers, expand their professional network and develop a mentoring resource amongst the Child Welfare directors.
Methodology and Format
This is an intensive learning experience. The program uses a self-paced, guided study approach coupled with supportive coaching at monthly intervals over nine to twelve months. The program consists of nine modules. Program activities for each module include a review of content, one or more coaching sessions, and learning exercises. It is estimated that each module requires four to six hours per month, including the coaching session. Each module is completed over thirty to forty-five days. It is essential that the coach assist the director in planning and scheduling individual learning time in addition to the coaching sessions.