(a)Subject to an appropriation of state funds, the department shall establish, or contract for the establishment of, the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support. The Department shall consider input from stakeholders regarding the desired priorities of the center.
(b)The center shall provide, or contract for the provision of, multitiered, culturally appropriate training and technical assistance to county child welfare and probation departments, participating tribes, and foster care providers to enhance their practices, policies, and efforts for family finding, support, and engagement. This may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(1)Conducting evidence-based, organization-specific assessments of implementation activities.
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(a)
Subject to an appropriation of state funds, the department shall establish, or contract for the establishment of, the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement, and Support. The Department shall consider input from stakeholders regarding the desired priorities of the center.
(b)
The center shall provide, or contract for the provision of, multitiered, culturally appropriate training and technical assistance to county child welfare and probation departments, participating tribes, and foster care providers to enhance their practices, policies, and efforts for family finding, support, and engagement. This may include, but is not limited to, any of the following:
(1)
Conducting evidence-based, organization-specific assessments of implementation activities.
(2)
Strengthening trauma-informed practices and programs related to finding, engaging, and supporting relatives, and in the case of an Indian child, extended family members, as defined in Section 224.1, and the children with whom they interact as caregivers or as providers of other support toward reunification, permanency, or other ongoing involvement in a child’s life.
(3)
Developing and training workforce regarding how to support family finding and engagement, including, in the case of an Indian child, ensuring due diligence to inquire pursuant to Section 224.2, and improving staff skills and practices regarding reunification, permanency, or other ongoing involvement of relatives or extended family members in a child’s life.
(4)
Providing guidance and research on evidence-based family finding and engagement models and practices.
(5)
Providing peer-to-peer learning opportunities for counties, participating tribes, and providers to share and leverage best practices for family finding and engagement program and practice development and sustainability.
(6)
Other relevant training and technical assistance for counties, participating tribes, and providers regarding reunification, permanency, or other ongoing involvement of family members in a child’s life, including, in the case of an Indian child, the child’s tribe and tribal community.
(c)
Once the center has been established and a training model has been developed, the center shall train family finding and engagement program staff
from counties, participating tribes, and contracted nonprofit community-based organizations to ensure model fidelity and best practices.