National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement

Who We Are

The National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) strengthens and supports State and Tribal agencies committed to the welfare of children, youth, and families through training, technical assistance, and evaluation. The aim is to improve management and operations, bolster organizational capacity, promote service integration, and develop supervisory and management systems, resulting in improved outcomes for children and families.

The NRCOI also coordinates, facilitates, and evaluates onsite training and technical assistance across the seven NRCs and AdoptUsKids. The NRCOI facilitates the intake and assessment of agency requests, assists in the development of work plans, and evaluates the impact of network services. States can contact the NRCOI for assistance in identifying the NRCs to meet their needs.

How We Can Help

The NRCOI offers technical assistance, training, and publications to assist States and Tribes in the following areas:

Strategic Planning
The NRCOI can help State and Tribal agencies with all aspects of strategic planning, including planning for the development of CFSR Statewide Assessments and Program Improvement Plans (PIPs), assessing community needs and resources, developing and implementing comprehensive strategic plans across the agency, integrating strategic plans, and developing annual progress and services reports.

Quality Improvement
NRCOI staff can help train administrators and staff on how to develop and implement quality improvement systems, integrate CFSR processes and requirements into those systems, develop targeted performance outcomes, use outcome data, and make data-driven decisions at all agency levels.

Stakeholder Involvement
The NRCOI helps States and Tribes develop collaborative strategies and involve stakeholders in the CFSR process and other ongoing agency activities. Staff also can help agencies work collaboratively with community and public agencies to expand the array of targeted services for children and families.

Training Systems and Workforce Development
The NRCOI helps agencies assess and improve their comprehensive training systems for new and experienced workers by incorporating feedback from quality improvement and other systems. The Center also helps States implement innovative strategies related to recruitment, retention, and other workforce issues.

CFSR Comprehensive Training and Technical Assistance Package
The NRCOI coordinates a process with other NRCs to provide targeted technical assistance to State agencies to help them prepare for the second round of the CFSRs, enhance leadership and management capacity, and achieve better outcomes through systemic change.

Peer Networks
The NRCOI hosts three national peer networks for child welfare staff:

Peer to Peer Call Series for Child Welfare Trainers and Educators is a quarterly forum for exchanging ideas on all aspects of child welfare training.
Child and Family Services Plan/Review Peer Network Coordinators hold bimonthly calls to facilitate the exchange of information and peer-to-peer consultation.
Quality Improvement (QI) Peer Network national staff hold quarterly calls that focus on the successes of, barriers to, and strategies for implementing QI systems.

Teleconferences and Publications
The NRCOI offers numerous free teleconferences and publications, including:

Teleconference Sessions
- Actively Engaging Stakeholder and Community Partners on the CFSR Process
- CFSR Data Indicators and Composites
- Using Coordinated Technical Assistance to Improve Placement Stability
Print and Web Publications
- Coping With Disasters and Strengthening Systems: A Framework for Child Welfare Agencies
- Training System Assessment Guide
- Strategic Planning for Child Welfare Agencies
- A Framework for Quality Assurance in Child Welfare
Newsletters
- Innovations in Training
- Coping With Disasters: Tips for Child Welfare Agencies
- Stakeholder Involvement in Child Welfare

For More Information

Address:	Muskie School—USM P.O. Box 15010 400 Congress Street Portland, ME 04112-5010
Phone:	800 HELP KID or 207.780.5810
Fax:	207.780.5817
Email:	helpkids@usm.maine.edu
Website:	http://www.nrcoi.org
Contact:	Peter Watson, Director

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