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Session Title: Community-Derived Research Partnerships: Working Together to Improve Human Services
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Panel Session 878 to be held in INDEPENDENCE on Saturday, Nov 13, 2:50 PM to 4:20 PM
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Sponsored by the Human Services Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Cynthia Flynn, University of South Carolina, cynthiaf@mailbox.sc.edu
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| Discussant(s):
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| Diana Tester, South Carolina Department of Social Services, diana.tester@dss.sc.gov
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| Abstract:
Using a new model, Community-Derived Research and Evaluation, The Center for Child and Family Studies in the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina has re-envisioned the traditional process where universities identify the evaluation and research questions. With the Community-Derived Research model, the research and evaluation questions come directly from our partner, the SC Department of Social Services. Working side by side, the evaluation study is developed and implemented. Findings are immediately applied to practice and policy. Three papers describing evaluation projects conducted as part of this partnership are discussed by research faculty at the Center. Each presentation highlights how the Center and the state agency work together. The research director at our partner agency will serve as discussant describing the partnership from the agency perspective for each of the projects presented.
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Establishing a Professional Development Consortium of Social Work Programs in South Carolina: Needs Assessment for Stakeholder Engagement
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| Dana DeHart, University of South Carolina, danad@mailbox.sc.edu
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The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) has partnered with seven colleges and universities throughout the state to create a Professional Development Consortium (SCPDC). The purpose of the consortium is to provide training and professional development to new and current DSS employees to ensure that best practices are taught and followed. The Center for Child and Family Studies at the University of South Carolina conducted a needs assessment consisting of 50 interviews of key stakeholders at DSS and those involved in the social work programs at the colleges and universities. This part of the panel will focus on the results of the needs assessment, specifically how to establish a collaborative partnership and how to engage those stakeholders to promote the quality of future education.
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Connecting for Kids: Navigating Community Partnerships for Family-finding Services
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| Suzanne Sutphin, University of South Carolina, sutphist@mailbox.sc.edu
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South Carolina Connecting for Kids is a three-year federal grant awarded to the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS). The Center for Child and Family Studies at the University of South Carolina wrote, and is subsequently conducting, the evaluation. The grant consists of two parts: (1) kinship navigator services to provide relatives caring for children in open treatment cases access to needed community resources and (2) a family finding service to aid foster youth ages 16-18 in establishing permanent family connections before they leave the foster care system. Many other community partners, such as the SC Association of Children’s Homes and Family Services and the SC Guardian ad Litem program, are working with DSS to provide the described services. This part of the panel will focus on conducting an evaluation while navigating relationships between multiple community partners and present preliminary findings from both the navigator and family finding services.
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Family Group Conferencing for Children in Foster Care: Assessing the Effectiveness of a New Model for Engaging Families
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| Cynthia Flynn, University of South Carolina, cynthiaf@mailbox.sc.edu
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The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS), in collaboration with Casey Family Programs, is implementing Families First, a family group decision making model that allows families to plan for their children’s care and protection. The goal of this approach is to develop a plan that addresses safety, permanence, and well-being for children in foster care. Individuals from the South Carolina Association of Children’s Homes and Family Services and other organizations contract with DSS to facilitate these family group conferences. The Center for Child and Family Studies in partnership with DSS is conducting an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the South Carolina Family Group Conference model. This part of the panel will focus on using evaluation to make informed decisions regarding the implementation of new programs. Preliminary findings from the evaluation will also be reported.
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