Child Welfare Education Partnership

Granite State College has contracted with the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to provide education and training to DCYF staff, prospective foster and adoptive parents, children’s residential staff, non-licensed relative caregivers, and other eligible community members.

Mission Statement

The Child Welfare Education Partnership strives to enhance the potential of positive outcomes for children in care and New Hampshire families by providing quality education. Curricula is developed responsively, collaboratively, and in a manner designed to maximize adult learning. Whether classroom based, or online, courses are delivered in a supportive atmosphere that recognizes participants’ level of experience. The Child Welfare Education Partnership embraces a system of quality improvement and program evaluation that is both proactive and comprehensive.

Programs

Foster and Adoptive Care Essentials (FACES)

Foster and Adoptive Care Essentials (FACES) is offered to individuals interested in pursuing a license to provide foster/ adoptive care. It consists of a minimum of 21 hours of training that promotes a better understanding of working with children, families and the child welfare system. This training assists in preparing the applicant to be a skilled caregiver, birth parent role model and a professional team member. Courses are primarily instructed by foster and adoptive parents.

Caregiver Ongoing Education (COT)

The goal of Caregiver Ongoing Training(COT) is to enhance the quality of care for children living outside of their own homes and to provide the skills and mutual support necessary to address the daily issues that confront substitute caregivers. It is the mission of the Child Welfare Education Partnership to help children and strengthen families through well trained and supported caregivers. Courses are offered for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and are designed to meet the requirements for:

• Foster parent re-licensure
• Emergency Foster Care
• Specialized Care
• Staff development

Core Academy

A wide range of adult learning modalities are used to provide over 200 hours of pre-service training to newly hired Child Protection, Juvenile Justice, Sununu Youth Center staff, nurses, and legal staff employed by DCYF in partnership with coaching from an Instructor Coach and a trained DCYF mentor.

DCYF Advanced Training

On-going learning is offered to all DCYF staff to provide enhanced skill development, address DCYF quality improvement priorities, refresh key skills and knowledge of staff, and include needs assessment data from the field.  On-going training is offered to be accessible, needs-based, outcomes-focused, and provided virtually or in local District Offices.

Supervisory Core

A supervisory pre-service training incorporating DCYF supervisory standards and best practices and in conjunction with DHHS supervisory expectations is provided to the field. This 6-day training was piloted and is now in the process of being updated and finalized this fiscal year for delivery to all new DCYF supervisors.

Better Together

Through an intensive two-day workshop facilitated by one birth parent/foster parent and/or one staff/ally, Better Together with Foster and Birth Parents adheres to a guiding set of principles that includes honoring parent voices and promoting parent leadership; shared decision-making; acknowledging shared purposes and common values; engaging extended family members and other supporters within the community; understanding and then overcoming the disparity in power between parents, staff and allies; and providing parents with a forum in which they can express what they need.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

OLLI at Granite State College (GSC) is a member-driven, volunteer-based educational program for older adults who are eager to explore ideas and interests in a safe and relaxed environment with a community of peers. Members explore ideas and interests with their peers in traditional classrooms, on-line, and out in the community. Social events, travel, special interest groups (SIGS) and a wide array of volunteer opportunities enhance member benefits. There are no tests, grades, or prerequisites and courses are developed in response to member interests.

OLLI courses and events are offered via Zoom, on Granite State College campuses, and in accessible community locations. These exciting courses in our four learning regions are facilitated by volunteers who enjoy sharing their specific expertise with learners whose life experiences enrich an open exchange of ideas.

OLLI values include high standards of program excellence with an emphasis on educational and social enrichment, volunteerism, fiscal sustainability, a diverse membership, mutual respect, and member safety.

OLLI at Granite State College is one of 125 Osher Lifelong Learning Insitutes at colleges and universities nationwide, representing more than 170,000 members and serving 394 cities and towns.