Cultivating Partnership and Collaboration in Child Welfare Training: A Joint Session With CFACE, DSS and FCRP
On July 1, trainers from the Center’s Family-Centered Practice project (FCPP) were invited to attend the NC Division of Social Services’ (DSS) annual staff retreat in Durham along with UNC’s Family and Children’s Resource Program. The joint event focused on promoting dialogue, communication and collaboration across training teams in child welfare. These teams have all been going through various levels of change, growth and transition, and it has been nearly five years since DSS, CFACE and FCRP have been able to come together and discuss partnership in a joint session!
Overview of PATH NC
Participants at the event engaged in cross-training as a larger team, explored different learning styles and received an overview of PATH NC (Partnership and Technology Hub for North Carolina) to help with system familiarity in the training room. PATH NC is a new statewide information system that will bring all of North Carolina’s 100 county departments of social services together for the first time into a unified system that equips child welfare staff with real-time data and decision making tools to improve the administration of services across the state.
Partnership Engagement
CFACE’s program manager, Jenny King, also facilitated a partnership activity where members of various teams had the opportunity to discuss what partnership looks like for them and what tools, actions and approaches can be put in place to strengthen and enhance co-training events. Bringing everyone together for these kinds of events is particularly impactful, as CFACE regularly co-delivers Pre-Service and Permanency Planning trainings with DSS. The joint session created a valuable opportunity for shared understanding and alignment across training teams.
TIMs Meetings
The FCRP’s Statewide Trainer Impact Meetings (TIMs) were also discussed during this retreat. These professional development sessions are offered quarterly and designed by trainers, for trainers. With over 30 participants attending each session, the meetings provide a collaborative space to share ideas, build a statewide trainer network and address real-time challenges like participant engagement. Each session is shaped by attendee input, ensuring the content is responsive, practical and rooted in the everyday needs of the training community.
Looking Forward
In the future, the CFACE team is looking forward to more opportunities to come together, learn from and collaborate with DSS and FCRP. Events like this joint retreat and the TIMs sessions reaffirm the importance of connection, communication and shared purpose across North Carolina’s child welfare training community. As each organization continues to evolve and adapt, creating intentional spaces for reflection, dialogue and co-creation ensures that trainers are not only aligned in their goals but also supported in their work. By investing in partnerships and centering the voices of trainers, CFACE, DSS and FCRP are strengthening the foundation of child welfare training across the state.
