ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS
Our Work in Action
In addition to Organizational Effectiveness work, the Organizational Effectiveness Department also provides various types of technical assistance and collaborates across various initiatives and projects.
Transfer of Learning/Support Sessions
Transfer of Learning Sessions (TOL) enable workers to implement the knowledge gained at trainings into action in their everyday work with families. TOL sessions assist workers in thinking critically though various tasks, initiatives, and/or skills. In these sessions we will facilitate a group discussion around real cases with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning.
Examples of TOL Sessions:
- Safety and Risk Support Sessions
- Family Service Planning Support Sessions
- Concurrent Planning
- Building and Sustaining Father Engagement
- Independent Living
- Developing Facilitation Skills
- Engaging Clients from a Strengths-based Solution Focused Perspective (Caseworker and/or Supervisor) Strengths-based, Solution-focused Supervision
- Supporting Supervisors (Caseworkers) in Using Critical Thinking Skills Family First Prevention Planning
Technical Assistance
Training and Technical Assistance (TA) is also available to County Child Welfare Agencies. Practice Improvement Specialists can help determine what training and services are available, facilitate sessions on various topics, and how to best support continuous quality improvement efforts for your agency. These TA efforts are tailored to the specific needs of your agency to improve services and outcomes for youth and young adults. Please contact your Practice Improvement Specialist to learn more.
CFSR/QSR
The Organizational Effectiveness Department is committed to statewide continuous quality improvement efforts through the support of Child & Family Service Reviews (CFSR) and Quality Service Reviews (QSR). We serve in reviewer and quality assurance roles during onsite reviews and support counties in the development and implementation of County Improvement Plans (CIP).
Cross Systems Teaming
Your Practice Improvement Specialist can partner with your county and/or other agencies to assist on various topics including Permanency Roundtables, Critical Case Reviews, SWAN/IL Conferences, and more.
Research and Evaluation
The OE Department works with county agencies and partners to assess, develop, monitor, and evaluate county and statewide improvement efforts. In addition, we work internally with our research and evaluation department to ensure continued improvement with the application of our tools and processes. We continue to partner with our research and evaluation department to support county specific efforts.
Some of the Research Projects we can support are:
- Organizational Readiness for Change Project
- Stay Interviews
- Qualitative Staff Interviews
- Truancy Projects
- Surveys and/or Focus Group development and facilitation Needs-Based Budget
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
The Organizational Effectiveness department is committed to creating and maintaining an environment of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in all of our work. The department remains committed to individual and collective education to improve our understanding and interactions with those we serve. We will continue to provide ongoing internal and external support to facilitate growth related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in child welfare practice.
Independent Living Program Support for PA Counties
Annual IL Site Visits
The PA Child Welfare Resource Center (CWRC) Practice Improvement Specialist assigned to a county will arrange an annual visit to review the county's IL program, highlighting strengths, addressing challenges, and offering technical assistance (TA) or resources to continue to support the work being provided to older youth in that county. To continue to strengthen services and outcomes for IL youth, many partners in the work are in attendance: first and foremost, youth and alumni who are or had been receiving IL services; in addition, Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF), Children and Youth Agency administrator, management staff, fiscal officer, IL supervisor/IL coordinator, casework staff working directly with older youth, Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN), and other staff, including permanency professionals and private providers.
Additional Independent Living Supports for Counties
Statewide Quality Improvement Department (CWRC)
Older Youth Statewide Retreat (CWRC)
Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
https://fieldcenteratpenn.org/fostercaretocollege/
https://www.fosterclub.com/
https://youth.gov/
https://www.casey.org/casey-life-skills/
Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN/IL)
SWAN Contact Person/Map
Conferences/Events
Juvenile Law Center
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more about the Organizational Effectiveness Model and how it can positively impact you or your agency, please contact your Practice Improvement Specialist or consider attending the OE Facilitator Training.
