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Indianapolis (December 19, 2006) - Today the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) and Indiana University School of Social Work announced a new training initiative that will implemented on January 2, 2007. The new partnership is the next step in an ongoing effort by DCS to ensure staff are equipped with proper training and skills needed to work with abused and neglected children and their families. The partnership will allow for consistency across curriculums and trainers and provide for a thoroughly trained workforce that supports the development of a high quality, consolidated and intensive child welfare learning and professional development system. In the end, Indiana's professional development and training system will be competency based, regionally delivered, outcome measured, distance technology-supported and fiscally accountable.

"Training is one of the most important tracks to the success of any organization. The public partnership of DCS with the IU School of Social Work will ensure the highest quality training possible in an effort to make sure that children are protected and families are better supported to raise their children," stated Judge James Payne, DCS Director.

The Department of Child Services and Indiana University have formed such a partnership to provide a comprehensive Training System which will include four deliverables:

• Effective curriculum development and training delivery for all new Family Case Managers; Established Family Case Managers, Supervisors, Managers and Support Staff
• Technical support including development of web-based courses, videos and other distance learning techniques
• A comprehensive Training Records Information System to assist with registration and verification of attendance
• A Four Stage evaluation process to continually monitor the competencies developed through training and make modifications as appropriate

"The partnership between the Department of Child Services and the Indiana University School of Social Work has been strengthening over the last several years. Utilizing the leadership, talents, and expertise of our two organizations allows the School of Social Work to support the Department of Child Services in providing the highest quality, most effective training possible to address child abuse and neglect in Indiana," stated Michael Patchner, Dean of the I.U. School of Social Work, headquarter at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

The training initiative is a part of DCS new practice model efforts to overhaul child welfare in Indiana in order to engage families and better assess the safety of children. DCS and I.U. School of Social Work have formed the partnership to provide a comprehensive training system because well-trained family case managers are essential to positive child/family outcomes. Nation-wide, numerous partnerships have been developed between child welfare agencies and universities combining the strengths of research-based practices and practical applications.

"The Partnership with Indiana University provides an opportunity to incorporate best practice as defined by research with practical field experience so that all DCS' workers will be equipped with the best knowledge and skills available, better preparing them to engage with and work collaboratively with families to improve outcomes for children who are victims of abuse and/or neglect," stated M.B. Lippold, DCS Deputy Director of Staff Development.

The Department of Child Services protects children and strengthens families through services that focus on family support and preservation. The department administers child support, child protection, adoption and foster care throughout the state of Indiana. The mission of the department is to protect children from abuse and neglect by partnering with families and communities to provide safe, nurturing, and stable homes. To accomplish this, DCS is hiring new family case managers, lowering caseloads, providing better training for staff, and implementing the new practice model throughout the child welfare system.