POST CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
= materials are posted below [All items are .PDFs.]

REGISTRATION PACKET MATERIALS
Severson Center Bibliography: Engaging Families in Child Welfare
For a copy of the FIS CD you received in your registration packet, please contact Kirstin Anderson.

Thursday, January 25
3–5 p.m.
The Real Story Behind the Florida and California IV-E Block Grant Waivers

• Two states have taken the plunge into block granting IV-E with funds
  waiver from the federal government. Florida and California have both
  negotiated block grants for the next 5 years that could have significant
  implications for not only them but for the country and the future
  financing of child welfare services. Representatives from the Florida
  and California public and private sectors will share the mechanics of
  these block grants, why the states have agreed to them and how their
  systems will be affected by this significant federal funding change. If
  you provide any child welfare services, this session will inform you
  about the changing dynamics in the federal/state relationship for the
  provision of child welfare services.
  
  Presenters: Michael Cusick, executive director, Florida Coalition for
  Children; Steven Murphy, president and CEO, Partnership for Strong
  Families; Carroll Schroeder, executive director, California Alliance of
  Child and Family Services; and Don Winstead, deputy secretary,
  Florida Department of Children and Families.
  
  California waiver document
      [Please Click here for the full CA Waiver document.]
  Florida waiver document
      The Alliance IVE Child Welfare Refinancing Paper

Special thanks to today’s presenters for sponsoring this session.

Conference

4–6 p.m. Registration

6:30–8 p.m. Welcome Reception
Join your colleagues for networking and light hors d’oeuvres.

Special thanks to Lawrence Hall Youth Services for sponsoring this reception.

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Friday, January 26
7:45–8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

Special thanks to Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, LLC for
sponsoring this breakfast.

8:30–8:40 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Peter Goldberg, president & CEO, Alliance for Children and Families

8:40–10:30 a.m.
Performance Based Contracting with Eyes Wide Open

• Performance based contracts can provide significant opportunities,
  new operational and programmatic demands, and real risks. It is
  critically important that agencies go into them with their eyes wide
  open! How are funders developing them, and how do you analyze them
  financially and programmatically to assure you can achieve the goals
  of the contract under the payment mechanism being offered? What
  are strategies for being more involved on the front end of the
  development of the assumptions and data behind these contracts?
  Fred Wulczyn, director, Center for State Foster Care and Adoption
  Data, Chapin Hall Center for Children will share with us his
  experiences in developing performance based contracts and helping
  organizations understand, develop and manage them. If your agency
  currently receives performance based contracts or will be in the
  future, do not miss this rare opportunity to learn from and network
  with someone with a very unique experience in developing
  performance based contracts.
  
  Presenter: Fred H. Wulczyn, director, Center for State Foster Care and
  Adoption Data, Chapin Hall Center for Children.
  
  Performance Based Contracting - presentation
  To purchase your own copy of Fred's book, visit Amazon.com.

Special thanks to today’s presenter for sponsoring this session.

10:30–10:45 a.m. Break
Special thanks to Kentucky United Methodist Home for sponsoring this break.

10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Engaging Families-Achieving Results Part I

• This session will provide you with excellent program models for
  working with families with children in foster care as well as locating
  and engaging relatives as placement resources and supports. Gail
  Biro from Neighbor to Family, which operates a program in multiple
  states, specializes in placing sibling groups together and working in
  full partnership with the birth family, foster family and other
  community partners. Sherri Solomon, from St. Vincent Catholic
  Charities, will share her experience under a SAMHSA grant in
  transforming their organization’s philosophy and approach to being
  family driven and youth directed with the children in their care. How do
  we locate the families of children beyond those who are immediately
  known? Do we look far enough? Brad Norman from EMQ in California
  will challenge us by revealing there are many more relatives for
  children in the child welfare system than we have ever thought. He will
  present EMQ’s proven program for locating and engaging the family
  members of children from far and wide. This program works and is
  being replicated across the country. This session is a must if you
  provide out of home care, case management services and/or
  recruitment of foster families.
  
  Presenters: Gail Biro, vice president, Florida programs, Neighbor to
  Family; Bradley D. Norman, director, Family Partnership Institute, EMQ
  Children and Family Services; and Sherri Solomon, president & CEO,
  St. Vincent Catholic Charities.
  
  Family Council handout
  Family-Driven Outcomes - St. Vincent Catholic Charities
  Impact Family Council December Report
  Neighbor to Family - an innovative approach to foster care
  Family Search & Engagement - EMQ handout
  Family Search & Engagement - EMQ presentation
  
  Want more information on Wendy's Wonderful Kids?  Please contact Rita L. Soronen, executive director, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption at (614) 764-8482.

Special thanks to today’s presenters for sponsoring this session.

12:45-1 p.m. Break

1–2:15 p.m. Luncheon
Every Child, Every Time – Integrating Effective Residential Treatment into the Continuum of Care

• It is time to break the tension and understand the appropriate and
  critical role excellent residential services play within the continuum of
  care and services which allow every child, every time to receive the
  services he or she needs. The Alliance for Children and Families was
  represented by 4 member agencies at a historical summit organized
  by SAMHSA that brought together the full range of providers, families,
  youth and other experts. The outcome of this summit was the
  development of a joint resolution to advance a statement of shared
  care principles that, for the first time, bring greater clarity to the role
  of residential services in this time of significant reform efforts in
  children’s services. This luncheon session features the Alliance
  representatives at the summit and is an opportunity for us to
  explore the summit joint resolution and its implications and
  opportunities for providers of services.
  
  Panelists: Gary Blau, Ph.D., chief, Child Adolescent and Family Branch, Center for Mental Health Services; Dr. Raquel Hatter, president and CEO, Whaley Children’s Center; Greg Peters, chief executive officer, United Methodist Family
  Services; and John Solberg, executive director, Rawhide.
  
  Building Bridges Joint Resolution
  Redefining the Role of Residential Treatment - AACRC paper
  Redefining Residential-Becoming Family-Driven - AACRC paper

Special thanks to today’s panelists for sponsoring this session, and
Starr Commonwealth for sponsoring this luncheon.

2:15-2:30 p.m. Break

2:30–4 p.m.
Taking Benchmarking to the Next Level – A Clear Path for Continuous Improvement

• Many of us are engaged in some form of benchmarking to compare ourselves to our peers. A new technique, known as process benchmarking, can be used to understand why some agencies achieve better results than others. The Alliance for Children and Families is embarking on a national benchmarking project for its members that will provide benchmarking data in critical areas. It will also offer opportunities for members to participate in process benchmarking sessions where potential best practices in areas of programming, administration and management can be discovered.
  
  In this session, Paul M. Lefkovitz, Ph.D., president of Behavioral Pathway Systems will take us through an actual hands-on Process Benchmarking exercise so we can experience first-hand the power of using benchmarking data to identify potential best practices. The topic will be staff turnover of front-line supervisors. We will use process benchmarking to identify the specific tactics and practices that are related to low levels of turnover among first-line supervisory staff.
  
  A Guide to Participation will be made available prior to the conference to assist attendees prepare for their active involvement.
  
  Presenter: Paul M. Lefkovitz, Ph.D. president, Behavioral Pathway
  Systems.
  
  Beyond Outcomes BHT article
  Process Benchmarking BHT article
  Taking Benchmarking to the Next Level presentation
  Use this form to register to be a part of the Alliance National Benchmarking     Project.

Special thanks to today’s presenter for sponsoring this session.

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Saturday, January 27
7:45–8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

Special thanks to Whaley Children’s Center for sponsoring this breakfast.

8:30–10:30 a.m.
Supervisors Are Often the Key!

• We all know that in order to attract and retain a high performing staff,
  we must have supervisors who are competent in their jobs with the
  ability to guide, develop and manage the staff that depend on them.
  The University of Michigan School of Social Work has undertaken a
  federally funded research project with the State of Michigan to develop
  curricula for supervisory training based on their research and
  understanding of the crucial competencies, knowledge and skills
  supervisors must possess. John Tropman, Ph.D. and co-principal
  investigator on the project will share with us their research, findings
  and insights as we work to assure supervisors have the clarity,
  confidence and skills they need to be successful. Michigan State, also
  working under a federal grant, has developed a supervisory
  curriculum. Mary Myers, president and CEO of the Judson Center, Inc.
  in Michigan, will present their implementation of the curriculum and
  their positive results so far.
  
  Presenters: Gary R. Anderson, Ph.D., director, School of Social Work, Michigan State University; Margaret Frausto, vice president of organizational development, Judson Center, Inc.; and John Tropman, Ph.D. professor of Social Work, University of Michigan School of Social Work.
  
  University of Michigan - Supervising for Retention presentation
      [Please see last page of above PowerPoint for additional resources.]
  Developing Staff Recruitment-Retention Models - Michigan State presentation
  
  To learn more about the Executive Management Institute (EMI), visit the EMI Web site.

Special thanks to today’s presenter for sponsoring this session.

10:30–10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Engaging Families-Achieving Results Part II

• This session will stress the principles behind family engagement from a residential treatment perspective. Trillium Family Services, Inc. and St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Inc. will share the unique aspects, challenges and opportunities that residential treatment providers must consider as they embark on a family centered philosophy and approach to providing services. They will share their years of experience and commitment in being a part of the continuum of care for children and their drive to achieve positive and lasting outcomes for the children they serve by engaging and working with families.
  
  Presenters: Tim Grove, director of foster care services, St. Aemilian-
  Lakeside, Inc.; Margaret Puckette, family partner, Trillium Family Services, Inc.; Derenda Schubert, Ph.D., chief operating officer, Trillium Family Services, Inc.; and Ann Umhoefer, chief administrative officer, St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Inc.
  
  Engaging Families - St. Aemilian-Lakeside
  Family Driven Services Initiative - Trillium Family Services

Special thanks to today’s presenter for sponsoring this session.

12:45–1:30 p.m. Networking Luncheon

Special thanks to Children’s Aid and Family Services, Inc. for sponsoring this luncheon.