Objective:

The primary objective of this collaboration is to enhance the skills and knowledge of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) workforce through a comprehensive, targeted training program. The initiative aims to better prepare child welfare professionals to handle sensitive and complex situations, particularly those involving domestic violence and young children, by fostering an empathetic, trauma-responsive, and culturally competent approach.

Solution:

Zeihan Prohealth, in partnership with the Arizona State University Center for Child Well-Being, has developed and implemented a robust training curriculum designed to address key areas critical to child welfare practice. The training modules focus on:

1. Understanding Your Positionality and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Child Welfare:
   • This module encourages participants to critically examine their own perspectives and understand the broader context of racial and ethnic disparities in child welfare, promoting awareness and sensitivity in their work.
2. Skills and Application in Empathic Engagement:
   • Practical skills and strategies are provided to enhance empathetic engagement, essential for building trust and positive relationships with families involved in the child welfare system.
3. Skills and Application in Trauma-Responsive Practice:
   • This module equips the workforce with the necessary skills to effectively respond to trauma, particularly in cases of domestic violence, ensuring that the impact on children and families is acknowledged and addressed appropriately.
4. Your Role in Culturally Grounded Practice:
   • The training emphasizes the importance of culturally grounded practice, teaching participants to respect and understand diverse cultural backgrounds in their interactions with families.

Outcome:

The expected outcomes of this pilot project include:

1. Enhanced Workforce Competence:
   • The DCS workforce will be better equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle complex, sensitive situations involving domestic violence and child welfare, leading to improved case outcomes.
2. Increased Empathy and Cultural Competence:
   • Through targeted training, the workforce will develop a deeper understanding of empathy, trauma, and cultural competence, leading to more respectful and effective engagement with families.
3. Improved Child Welfare Practices:
   • The application of the skills and knowledge gained through the training is anticipated to lead to more informed decision-making and better support for children and families involved in the child welfare system.

Impact:

This initiative aims to make a significant impact on the child welfare system in Arizona by:

1. Strengthening the Child Welfare Workforce:
   • The training program is designed to empower the workforce, improving their ability to navigate complex cases with greater confidence and competence.
2. Fostering a More Empathetic and Culturally Competent Approach:
   • By addressing the critical topics of positionality, racial/ethnic disparities, empathy, trauma, and cultural competence, the initiative promotes a more compassionate and effective child welfare system.
3. Laying the Foundation for Broader Implementation:
   • As a pilot project, the success of this initiative could serve as a model for broader implementation across the state, potentially influencing child welfare practices on a larger scale.