Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSW Jessica Pryce, MSW June 6, National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved.

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1 Joan Levy Zlotnik, PhD, ACSW Jessica Pryce, MSW June 6, 2014

2 Title IV-E Training Funds! Title IV-E of the Social Security Act " Major federal source for educating and training the child welfare workforce. " Created as part of the Child Welfare and Adoption Assistance Act of 1980 (P.L ). " Social work education programs can partner with child welfare agencies for training and education. " Strengthens child welfare workforce including supporting current and prospective employees to earn BSW and MSW degrees.

3 Title IV-E Training Funds Network of Title IV-E partners communicate through listserv and annual meetings/conf. No consistent source of information about status of partnerships. CSWE 1996 survey (Zlotnik & Cornelius, 2000) CSWE Summary of Annual Statistics - /File.aspx?id=62011 IV-E Website

4 Title IV-E Training Funds! Long-standing lack of clarity of regulations and policies! Variations in interpretation! Concerns due to cost allocation and IV-E eligibility! Concerns raised about termination or cutbacks in programs.

5 Title IV-E Training Funds NASW Social Work Policy Institute launched survey to gather information on current status of the use of Title IV-E to support BSW & MSW students.

6 2012 Survey on Use of Title IV-E to Support BSW and MSW Education Built on a previous study (Zlotnik & Cornelius, 2000) Content Validity Survey Distribution

7 2012 Survey on Use of Title IV-E to Support BSW and MSW Education! The questionnaire included questions related to: " Specifics regarding the Title IV-E Program " Evolution of the Title IV-E Program " Title IV-E Policies and Procedures " Implementation of Title IV-E Program

8 2012 Survey on Use of Title IV-E to Support BSW and MSW Education! 65 total respondents " 56 usable surveys! Represented 31 states and 94 Social Work Programs " 73 of those 94 schools (76%) are a part of a consortium. " There were four instances where the administrative director of the multi-school consortium responded on behalf of all universities

9 Results: Number of Students and Recent Graduates! There were 1,853 current students receiving Title IV-E funds (88 schools)! There were 803 students (43%) who were currently working child welfare while earning their degree (81 schools)! 395 students (21%) entered the Title IV-E program without any previous child welfare experience (55 schools)

10 Results: Follow-up of Graduates! 1,144 students who had graduated within past two years were currently working in child welfare paying back their requirement " 45 schools indicate using surveys and questionnaires as follow-up " The next form of follow up reported was some type of informal contact

11 Results: Length of Educational Partnership # of programs 5 0 < 5 yrs 6-10 yrs yrs > *15 yrs

12 Results: Changes in Program in last 3 years! 5 respondents report their program was terminated! 16 of the respondents report growth! 17 of the respondents report that their program has remained the same! 18 of the respondents report shrinkage! Overall, 71% of the Title IV-E educational partnerships remained the same, shrank or were terminated within the past 3 years.

13 Results: Financial Support for Students! Stipends range from $1,600-9,500 per semester! Factors that impact Title IV-E expenditures " Reimbursement formulas " States Title IV-E eligibility rate (penetration rate) " Current economy

14 Results: Supports/Impediments Federal Regulations Adequacy of Resources Organizational Structure Political Issues Class Action Lawsuits

15 Results: Supports/Impediments Supported Federal Regulations 28 Resources 13 Org Structure 25 Political Issues 14 Class Action Lawsuits 10 Impeded Federal Regulations 15 Resources 33 Org Structure 20 Political Issues 26 Class Action Lawsuits 11

16 Results: Terminated Programs! Budget cuts resulting in hiring freezes! Lack of and miscommunication between the state, the federal regional office and the university! Changes in cost allocation and reimbursement rate and match! Changes in leadership at state level, loss of institutional knowledge and attrition

17 Results: Positive Outcomes! Agency-focused outcomes include: " Enhanced professionalization of the child welfare workforce and increased number of MSWs in child welfare " Facilitation of a career ladder by having BSW graduates move on to receiving an MSW degree " Increased number of agency administrators and supervisors who have a social work degree

18 Results: Positive Outcomes! University-focused outcomes include: " Enhanced child welfare curricula " Opportunities for students to have access to high quality training offered both locally and nationally " Universities are more attuned to agencies needs " Social work education programs recruit more ethnically diverse students

19 Moving Forward! Additional states have experienced cutbacks.! Continued communication with ACYF needed.! SWPI Policy Brief outlines policy recommendations /10/SWPI-TitleIV-E-Policy.pdf.! National organizations consider child welfare financing changes.! Federal law requires state information on staff to be reported (CAPTA reauthorization in 2010).

20 Resources! Administration for Children and Families. (April 17, 2012). Information Memorandum ACYF-CB-IM Promoting! Social and Emotional Well-Being for Children and Youth Receiving Child Welfare Services. Retrieved from im1204.pdf.! General Accounting Office. (1993). Foster care: Federal Policy on Title IV- E Share of Training Costs. Retrieved from 220/ pdf.! Government Accountability Office. (2003). Child welfare: HHS could play a greater role in helping child welfare agencies recruit and retain staff [GAO ]. Washington DC: Author.! Social Work Policy Institute. (2012). Educating Social Workers for Child Welfare Practice: The Status of Using Title IV-e Funding To Support BSW & MSW Education - Policy Brief TitleIV-E-Policy.pdf

21 Resources! Zlotnik, J. L. & Cornelius, L. (2000). Preparing social work students for child welfare careers: The use of Title IV-E training funds in social work education. Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, 5(2), pp ! IASWR (2005). Understanding Retention in Child Welfare: Suggestions for Further Research and Evaluation /06/8-CW-SRR-Brief3.pdf.! Title-IV-E Website index.php.

22 For More Information! Contact " Joan Levy Zlotnik! " Jessica Pryce "