National eUpdate Timely, Targeted News & Information from NCWWI | Nov 2018 | Issue 39

NCWWI Request for Proposals Coming Soon!

For a child welfare agency to achieve its mission, it must attract, develop, and retain a skilled and ready workforce. Toward this aim, a Request for Proposals for Workforce Development Projects will be issued in December 2018. This will be an invitation to state, county, and tribal child welfare agencies to join with NCWWI to develop, implement, and evaluate strategies that forward the aims and goals of the jurisdiction/tribe to improve the health of their workforce and improve workforce outcomes.  View the NCWWI RFP Pre-Announcement to learn more.

National Adoption Month Resources for Professionals

A Message of Thanks and a Call to Reduce the Need for Adoption from Jerry Milner Authentic Voices Video Series: Sharing Our Perspective Adoption from Foster Care Campaign Background AdoptUSKids speakers bureau Creating Effective Narratives for Children Waiting to Be Adopted Public Service Announcements Now Showing: Instant Family - a new movie about adoption (click on image to view trailer)

Focus on Safety & Supports for the Workforce

As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to visiting with family and friends and to sharing in the joys of the season. However, this can also be a stressful time. In fact, according to a 2008 American Psychological Association study, eight out of ten Americans anticipated stress during the holiday season. This is especially true for people who have been exposed to trauma or who have suffered a loss.  We hope that you will take time this season to prepare for an increase in your own stress levels, as well as the stress levels for those around you (families, friends, co-workers, clients, and community members). The following list of resources was pulled together to help increase safety during this holiday season: Child Welfare Worker Safety Guide Holiday Safety Surviving the Stresses of the Holiday Season: A Guide Holiday Workplace Safety Tips Behavior Challenges during the Holidays  NCTSN Child Traumatic Grief Speaker Series: Holidays, Celebrations and Traumatically Bereaved Children Safety Planning for the Holidays National Resource Center on Domestic Violence Holiday Toolbox 16 Safety Ideas and Tips for Women facing Domestic Violence over the Holiday Season Secondary Trauma and the Child Welfare Workforce Tips for parents on managing holiday stress Reduce Stress to Prevent Child Abuse During Holidays NASW Guidelines for Social Worker Safety in the Workplace Reference List on Worker Safety

Self-Care Tips and Tools

Self-care is important any time of year, but especially during the holidays. Here are a few resources to help you stay on track with your self-care goals:

101 Self-Care Suggestions for When It All Feels Like Too Much A-Z More Lessons of Resilience for Self-Care Inspiration Being As Kind To Yourself As You Are To Other People Eight Ways to Power Through Your Day Move Your Way: Tools to help incorporate exercise into your day Positive Psychology and Well-Being of Child Welfare Workers: Three Part Series Reducing Stress in the Workplace: Exercises for Social Workers Self-Care Starter Kit Tips for Managing and Preventing Stress: A Guide for Emergency Response & Public Safety Workers University of Houston SSW Professional Self-Care Website

Look for more resources and information coming your way next month. We look forward to continuing to support your workforce development efforts! If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Kollar ( skollar@albany.edu ).  Warmly, as always, Your NCWWI Team

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