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 Training (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

Supervisory Core training is offered to any DCYF supervisor which incorporates 5 modules which reflect best practices for supervisors in child welfare in conjunction with DCYF supervisory expectations.

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.

Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH)

Based on the educational foundation built through the Community College System of New Hampshire, students can seamlessly continue studies at Granite State College. Over 80% of Granite State students arrive with transfer credit. The College curriculum is designed to provide a smooth transition and maximize credit from NH Community Colleges. Information about transfer pathways that offer optimal transition from conferred Associate Degrees to Granite State College Bachelor’s programs may be found at https://www.granite.edu/why-gsc/transfer-credits/ccsnh/.

Military Partnerships

U.S. Air Force

Granite State College partners with the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) to help currently serving members in the regular Air and Space Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guardmeet their college education goals.

The College is an official General Education Mobile (GEM) institution. Enlisted personnel pursuing an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) through CCAF can fulfill their general education requirements at Granite State College. Those who wish to pursue a bachelor’s degree may participate in the Air University Associate- to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC). Eligible students who have completed the associate degree through CCAF will not have to take more than 60 credits to complete select CCAF degree programs. More information is available at https://www.granite.edu/become-a-student/military-veterans/community-college-air-force/.

U.S. Army Concurrent Admissions Program

Granite State College participates in the Army’s Concurrent Admissions Program, which helps soldiers create a plan to attend college and use military or VA education benefits earned from military service.