Policy & Practice August 2017

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Policy&Practice August 2017 32
What Works in
Training and Technical
Assistance? Introducing
the NSDTA Journal
Training and Development in Human
Services—Supporting Change in Child
Welfare: An Evaluation of Training
and Technical
Assistance is the
latest journal
published by the
National Sta
Development
and Training
Association
(NSDTA). It
presents findings
from a series
of studies to evaluate the National
Resource Centers and Implementation
Centers funded by the Children’s
Bureau over the past years.
Guest Editors—Anita P. Barbee
from the University of Louisville
and Brian Deakins and Jane Morgan
from the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services—assembled a
comprehensive look at what works
for building organizational capacity
and o er important lessons on how to
implement and sustain change e orts.
The journal concludes with an article
examining how Pennsylvania’s child
welfare training system utilizes the
APHSA Organizational E ectiveness
(OE) model in their training and
technical assistance partnership with
local child welfare agencies to build
e ective child welfare organizations.
Research on embedding an OE model
into a training system shows evidence
of producing positive outcomes on
worker performance and organiza-
tional change.
Led by APHSA’s OE team, the process
used the DAPIM™ model to assist
the agency in achieving a sequential
approach of quick wins, short-term
goals, and long-term outcomes. Survey
respondents said the work led to
positive organizational changes that
have been sustained over time. Projects
were most often directed toward con-
tinuous quality improvement of agency
processes and operations, with smaller
percentages focusing on culture and
climate, practice change, sta develop-
ment, workforce issues, development
of internal OE capacity, and client
outcomes. Research on embedding
an OE model in a training operation
shows evidence of its e ectiveness in
producing positive outcomes on worker
performance and organizational
change. In addition to the specific
changes targeted by the OE projects,
key informants described a new
emphasis on accountability, greater
empowerment of sta , and more inclu-
sive and participatory decision-making
within their organizations. According
to Barbee, “The model of providing
both training and technical assistance
to courts, tribes, and states is one that
local child welfare systems should
consider as they approach building
capacity in their own jurisdictions.”
The downloadable journal can be
found at:
NSDTA/en/home.html
NSDTA Annual Conference
Join the learning explosion at the
National Sta Development and
Training Association (NSDTA) Annual
Conference in Savannah, GA, at the
Hyatt Regency from September – !
Gather keys to unlocking performance
by building on the past, growing in
the present, and innovating for the
future. Come explore and actively
participate in cutting edge, innovative
techniques and ideas. Expect to leave
with enhanced learning along with
an awareness of new advancements
and technologies. This year’s features
include:
� The Honorable Mayor Eddie
DeLoach presenting the Key to the
City.
� Bobby Cagle, Director, Georgia’s
Division of Family and Children
Services (GA DFCS), welcoming
everyone by sharing innovations
occurring in Georgia.
� Attend presentations from not one
but four nationally recognized
keynote speakers!
> Art Kohn, AKLearning, inspires
with “How the Brain Learns and
Retains Information”
> Joe Urbanski, Total Solutions
Group, with an action-packed
“Make Training a Want To Not a
Have To ”
> Ray Jimenez unleashes creativity
with “Micro-Learning and the
Shrinking World of Work”
> Ginger Pryor, Deputy Director,
GA DFCS, motivates with “Setting
the Tone: Value Propositions for
Building Strong Leadership”
� Play and learn at the Innovation
Station . Stop by, interact, and apply
technology on the spot. Receive keys
that will help unlock information for
future application.
� More than Workshops o ered
by national experts to unlock
performance.
� Join Lunch and Learn opportuni-
ties for sharing past experiences
and brainstorming innovative ideas
together.
� Dine-Around with experts in the
field. Join Joe, Ray, Art, Ginger,
and others for dinner at a variety of
restaurants.
� Network, Network, Network!
Come get your learning on! Gather
the keys to unlock your future for inno-
vative and creative new ideas! Hope to
see you in Savannah!
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