Beth Ann Rodriguez and Kelley Gruber
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The OCWTP is constantly assessing the environment and listening to its constituents in an effort to maintain its viability and value to Ohio's child welfare system. This assessment provides us a map for growth and development. Trainers must also be aware of the needs and trends in the child welfare system in order to respond to them, thereby maintaining their value to the system.
In 2010 the OCWTP Needs Assessment Work Team collected data from PCSAs through focus groups and consolidated their findings. Caseworkers who participated in focus groups or completed surveys commented on the need for:
- More in-depth training for seasoned staff
- Increased application opportunities in classroom training
- Supervisory-specific training regarding transfer of learning and motivating and empowering staff
Participating caseworkers also had these comments regarding caregiver training:
- After initial training, they need in-depth training with less theory, and more "hands on" information.
- Caregivers don't need another 6 hour overview... They need specific strategies about what to do...
- Provide an overview and then build on it through a series of more in-depth trainings.
- Give caregivers specific strategies they can use...
Our constituents continue to tell us we need to increase the level of depth and specificity of our learning activities. Overview/introductory learning activities typically address the awareness (first) level, as do our standardized trainings which include Core, Preservice, and Fundamentals of Fostering. Many existing specialized and related workshops cover a broad range of information and don't address any one topic too deeply. If you have been with the OCWTP long enough, you've heard us refer to these broad-based workshops as going "a mile wide and an inch deep." These types of workshops are necessary in a competency-based training system. However, awareness and knowledge without understanding, application, and skill will not promote best practice.
The second level of learning in a competency-based system is knowledge and understanding. Many of the current specialized and related learning activities offer knowledge, defined as "a body of concepts, principles, and factual information about a topic."* Learning and repeating facts is an example of knowledge. But to be able to use the knowledge, participants have to develop understanding. The development of understanding cannot happen through a 20-minute lecture. Participants must be given time to draw parallels between the learning content and their personal experiences, as well as challenge their preconceived beliefs and attitudes, to promote an openness to considering other perspectives. They must simultaneously develop personal capacities for self-awareness and critical thinking.
The application learning level answers the question, "Now that I understand all this, how should I use it?" Application activities define and describe, often in considerable detail, how the new learning should be implemented within the day-to-day activities of the job. It also includes a variety of on-the-job and field-based learning activities that help the learner clearly define how to use newly acquired learning, describe the appropriate steps in completing job tasks, and articulate the skills they must yet develop to effectively perform each job activity.
Skill development is the fourth level of learning and is highly dependent on practice, coaching, feedback, technical assistance, and support. These activities typically take place on the job but must also be addressed by the training system. In order to move toward skill development, trainers need to develop learning activities that have a very narrow focus, and really drill down to help the participant understand the concepts, apply them to their job tasks, and begin to develop skills.
In order for OCWTP to continue to be viable and meet learning needs, it is vital for trainers to develop more learning activities focused on application and skill. Steps to take:
- Select one or two areas to focus your expertise, areas in which you have received professional education and/or training and experience. Continue to develop your knowledge, understanding, and skill in that area and keep up with changes by reading professional literature and research on the subject matter.
- Assess the level of depth of your workshops. Determine what you can do to take that learning activity to the next level of learning, and then take it there.
- Consult with RTCs and IHS as you work on updates to your workshop to ensure you are moving in the right direction.
Descriptions of the levels of learning taken from Rycus and Hughes, Levels of Learning: A Framework for Organizing In-service Training.
Revised and updated from, Common Ground, October 2011.
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Are You Ready for Winter?
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This season brings the potential for great challenges for trainers who have to travel the state! It is a good time for you to review the weather advisory information found in the OCWTP Trainer Handbook starting on page 51. You will also find contact information from each of the RTCs that will be useful to you during this season.
Here is some helpful information from the
Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness:
Prepare a winter emergency kit for your vehicles. Supplies should include:
- At least two blankets or a sleeping bag
- Flashlight or battery-powered lantern and extra batteries
- Booster (jumper) cables
- Emergency flares
- Extra clothing, particularly boots, hats and mittens
- A steel shovel and rope to use as a lifeline
- Bottled water or juice and nonperishable high-energy foods (granola bars, raisins, nuts, peanut butter or cheese crackers)
- First-aid kit and necessary medications
- Sand or non-clumping cat litter for tire traction, if your vehicle gets stuck in snow or ice
- A cell phone and car charger
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Use the chart below to assist you in choosing methodologies that will help your learners achieve the identified learning objectives.
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Level I: Awareness
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Presentation and use of audiovisual aids
Experiential exercises
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Gives a broad overview of the topic and stimulates interest
Raises awareness and helps learners recognize what they have yet to learn
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Level II: Knowledge/
Understanding
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Guided group discussion
Directly challenging learners' thinking
Experiential exercises
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Identifies and fills gaps in learners' knowledge, exercising their critical thinking skills
Exercises their critical thinking skills
Helps them apply their learning to a variety of problems and circumstances, promoting self-awareness
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Level III: Application
to the Job
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Experiential exercises
On-the-job learning activities such as coaching and supervised practice
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Allows them to demonstrate applying the concepts to practice
Provides opportunity to practice applying the skills on the job, adjusting behavior based on feedback
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Level IV:
Skill Development
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O
n-the-job learning activities such as practice, coaching, feedback, technical assistance, and support
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Provides considerable practice in a variety of settings and situations, with frequent constructive coaching and feedback
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From: Common Ground-2011
Rycus and Hughes, Levels of Learning:
A Framework for Organizing Inservice Training
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Foster Care Alumni Corner
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A Rare Opportunity
When Jamole Callahan heard about an opportunity to attend an
international foster care conference this past fall sponsored by
the International Foster Care Organization (IFCO) in the United
Kingdom, he got busy making the necessary preparations to
attend. This annual event, held Oct 1-4 in Sheffield, UK, drew
a crowd of hundreds of foster care advocates representing 23
countries that came together to network and exchange
information about best practice in family-based foster care.
Jamole enjoyed the experience of being among a multi-cultural
audience where children, young people, foster caregivers, parents
whose children are in foster care, social workers, educators,
researchers, volunteers, media, policy makers and others met to
share experiences and support each other.
During the conference, Jamole presented a workshop on Engaging the Consumer which emphasized the value foster care alumni contribute to a child welfare training program.
Jamole gained knowledge on how child welfare looks on a global scale, and got to see what other countries are doing to improve outcomes for youth. He left the conference more enlightened and with three important takeaways:
- Foster care is indeed a global issue
- Implementation of policies and resources are major barriers to improving outcomes
- There are still places that have no child welfare infrastructure, and, the needs and want to provide homes are high
Jamole regularly trains foster caregivers and child welfare staff for the OCWTP and several private agencies. He says his trip to England helped broadened his perspectives and passion about the value of advocacy and training.
For more information about IFCO, visit,
http://www.ifco.info/about-ifco/mission-statement.
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Sister Madeleine Rybicki was named the NEORTC 2016 Trainer of the Year and was honored at the 26th Annual Liaison Retreat on October 21, 2016 at the Brushwood Shelter, Richfield Ohio. As customary, the Trainer of the Year presents a three hour training to the liaisons. Sister Madeleine's topic was, "
Balancing Work and Life as a Child Welfare Professional: How to Renew and Refresh Your Mind, Body, and Soul to Avoid Burnout".
Her years of training experiences, international travel and life lessons made for an exciting training. She shared many stress reduction tools, techniques and strategies to take care of oneself; physically, emotionally and spiritually. Her training could be summed up by this quote:
"We have an obligation to our clients, as well as to ourselves, our colleagues and our loved ones, not to be damaged by the work we do."
Thank you Sister Madeleine for all that you are and all that you do for OCWTP!
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Meet Newly Approved
OCWTP Trainers
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Virginia Lester
Therapist
Adoption and Attachment Therapy Partners
Workshops
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Becoming a Love and Logic Parent
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Parenting with Love and Logic
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Caring for Toddlers with Love and Logic
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Carla Storer
Foster and Adoptive Parent
Highland, Clinton, and Clermont Counties
Workshops
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Social Service Supervisor
Clark County Department of Job & Family Services
Workshops
- She is developing a workshop for caseworkers working with kinship families.
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Gina Oriti
Adoption Caseworker
Summit County Children Services
Workshops
- Assessor Tier II - Openness in Adoption
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Lucie D. Blumenthal
Director of Adoption Services
Adoption Circle
Workshops
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Assessor Tier I, Adoption Assistance
- Assessor Tier I, Placement Strategies
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April Barker-Casey
Social Worker/Therapist
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Workshops
- She will develop trauma workshops for caregivers.
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From Around the OCWTP
The Latest News, Updates, and Announcements
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Congratulations to our Staff Training Coordinator, Alexis, who was married in August. She is now Alexis Parsons. Her e-mail address will be changing but currently remains
SEORTC staff participated in Athens County Children Services annual staff appreciation day held on November 4. The theme was the 80's. It was a fun afternoon, totally!
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Welcome New RTC Staff!
In July 2016,
NEORTC welcomed Jessica Fought as our new clerical specialist for staff training. Jessica has a BA in Psychology and is also certified as a Social Work Assistant. Jessica is very motivated in helping to support staff trainers here at NEORTC and is eager to learn more about NEORTC. As trainers come to train at NEORTC, please take a moment to say "welcome" to Jessica!
Karla Davis-McGowan is the new Foster Care Coordinator for the
NWORTC. Karla has worked at Lucas County Children Services for 27 years, most recently as a supervisor in the Placements Department. Karla is married with three children and recently her daughter gave birth to Nyla, Karla's first granddaughter.
Goodbye Dilya Limes!
IHS said goodbye to Dilya in August. She was a great partner in our Trainer Development Team. We will miss her but we wish her well in her new adventures, raising her two sons and working in the family business.
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Resources for OCWTP Trainers
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Check out the resources tagged
NEW!
to see what's been added this month.
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Your Input Is Needed!
Please share your feedback and ideas about topics for future
issues of Common Ground by following
this link
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Upcoming OCWTP Learning Opportunities for Trainers
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So You Want to be an OCWTP Trainer
(9am-1pm)
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January 23, 2017 - CORTC
May 22, 2017 - CORTC
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Stand Up and Take Charge of the
Learning Environment
(9am-4pm)
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December 1-2, 2016 - CORTC
February 7-8, 2017 - CORTC
April 18-19, 2017 - CORTC
June 6-7, 2017 - CORTC
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Curriculum Development
(9am-4pm)
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November 29-30, 2016 - NEORTC
March 27-28, 2017 - CORTC
May 4-5, 2017 - CORTC
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Strengthening Presentation Design to Enhance Learning
(7pm-9pm)
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February 21 and 28, 2017 - Go-To-Training
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Addressing Diversity Issues in Your Training
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TBD
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2017 OCWTP Trainer Conference
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April 10, 2017 - Crowne Plaza Columbus North Hotel
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For more information or to register please contact
Debra Sparrow
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