Training in Context: Advancing Program and Policy through Training

1
Training in Context Advancing Program and Policy
through Training

• Laurie Drabble, Ph.D.
• Brenda L. Underhill, MS, CAC

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Training in Context Linkages to...

• Policy
• Program
• Outcomes for People

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Sources

• Review of literature
• Needs assessment conducted in multiple counties
  in California
• In-depth needs assessment in one large California
  County

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Linkages to Policy

• Cross-system response to federal, state, or local
  policy mandates
• Clear organizational policies and job performance
  expectations
• Management level collaborative team for planning,
  problem solving, and systems intervention
• Formal memorandum of understanding (financial and
  procedural)

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Linkages to Program

• Screening
• Assessment
• Treatment/case planning
• Communication, client releases, and
  confidentiality between systems
• Case conferencing and case management
• Interface with other systems (family court, other
  criminal justice, other social service)

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Linkages to Outcomes for People

• Outcomes for child safety and permanency
• Outcomes for treatment/family recovery
• Outcomes for staff performance
• Outcomes for interagency functioning through line
  staff and management

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Questions to Explore

• What needs to be addressed in training?
• How should training occur to meet the needs of
  adult learners and to impact performance?
• What are the barriers to effective training and
  cross training and how might these be addressed?
• What is the role of county state agencies?

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Content Areas Checklist Both Fields

• Confidentiality laws
• The language of the other system
• Interface and conflicts in system/client time
  frames
• Case management (from each perspective)
• Cultural competence
• Dynamics of AOD abusing families impact on
  parenting family interventions
• Values, primary focus, intersection of fields

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Perceived Prognosis for families in AOD
Data from Collaborative Values Inventory (n520)
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Perceived Prognosis for families in CWS
Data from Collaborative Values Inventory (n520)
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Content Areas Checklist Substance Abuse Field

• Systems
• Child welfare systems and mandates child abuse
  reporting law
• Concurrent planning, adoption law, dependency
  court timelines and reporting requirements
• Multidisciplinary case management, family
  conferencing, other local opportunities for
  shared case planning

• Practice
• Child abuse reporting law
• Child development/ impact of AOD abuse
• Assessment of family issues/family treatment/
  parenting and age appropriate discipline
• Treatment planning and parenting, alternative
  care, or relinquishment

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Content Areas Checklist Child Welfare Field

• Practice
• Effective screening, assessment referral
• Engagement and motivational interviewing
• Neurobiology/physiology dynamics of use, abuse,
  addiction
• Process of recovery and relapse prevention
• Initial and continued assessment of all family
  members

• Systems
• Modalities, mandates, structure and requirements
  of local programs
• AOD confidentiality regulations
• Treatment systems (including matching to needed
  level of care, evidence based interventions)
• AOD prevention and treatment for youth

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Training to Specific Collaborative Programs

• Training/learning opportunities in specialized
  topics related to working across systems
• Training in emerging evidence-based approaches
  that might be adopted or adapted to model/program
• Training/Coaching to facilitate expert
  practitioners to provide technical assistance and
  training to colleagues in other disciplines
• Integration of practice-based learning
  opportunities

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Training in the Context of Adult Learning

• Adults need to know why they need to learn
  something
• Adults need to learn experientially
• Adults approach learning as problem-solving
• Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate
  value

(Knowles, 1984)
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Training Strategies

• Use of real experts
• Active training
• Useful training materials
• Facilitation of supervisor support
• Strategies to address values/attitudes
• Use of interdisciplinary training teams
• Training to develop specific plans

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Active Training Approaches

• Demonstration and explanation of skills,
  practicing skills, constructive feedback
• Simulations and role-plays (modeling and practice
  of specific skills)
• Reflective activities
• Critical incidents
• Use of other visual and audio methods
• Facilitated discussion (encourage expression of
  attitudes/beliefs and capitalize on the expertise
  of members

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Training into Practice

• Post-training skills deteriorate or shift without
  refreshers, corrective feedback and
  organizational support
• Knowledge/attitude gain does not translate into
  skill gain
• Skills maintenance is related to organizational
  support and supervision
• Refreshers that offer retraining, practice and
  error correction are key to maintaining knowledge
  and skills
• (Michael Nunno, DSW, Family Life Center, Cornell
  University)

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Barriers to Effective Training and Cross Training

• Addressing whats in it for me
• Scarcity of resources
• Insufficient pre-employment training (e.g., MSW
  education in substance abuse)

• Attitudes and values of workers
• Systems level values conflicts
• Out of date theories and frameworks

Drabble Underhill (2002)
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Obstacles to Implementing Training Goals

• Work-Related Events
• Lack of time/resources
• Coworker dependent
• Worker skill
• Lack of management support/approval
• Emergencies
• Doing others work
• Paperwork

• Client Characteristics
• Denial/dishonesty
• Missed appointments
• Resistance
• Personal/Family Events
• Family illness
• Personal illness
• Gregoire, T.K. (1994). Assessing the benefits
  and increasing the utility of addiction training
  for public child welfare workers A pilot study.
  Child Welfare LXIII(1), 69-81)

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Roles of County State AgenciesLinks to Policy

• Provide a forum for examining the impact of new
  policies on the field
• Develop cross systems response to address
  policies - including training and cross-training
• Weigh in on policy impacting the field
• Gather/disseminate data to inform policy

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Roles of County State AgenciesLinks to Program

• Serve as a resource for appropriate program
  tools for the field
• Import information about useful training models
  within/between states.
• Disseminate information about training resources
• Identify/support training expertise in AOD system
• Train state staff for state level program goals

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Roles of County State AgenciesLinks to People

• Identify expected outcomes and ways to evaluate
  cross-systems training efforts
• Disseminate models for post-training performance
  evaluation
• Seek resources needed to obtain and retain staff
  in the system
• Lead by example - create internal support for
  staff work related to advancing training and
  collaboration

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Key Resources

• Children and Family Futures www.cffutures.org
• National Center on Substance Abuse and Child
  Welfare link link to other resources
• National Clearinghouse on Alcohol and Drug
  Information (NCADI) http//ncadi.samhsa.gov/
• Treatment Improvement Protocols and Technical
  Assistance Publications
• National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect
  Information http//nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/
• The Child Welfare-Substance Abuse Connection A
  Compendium of Training Curricula and Resources