system of care for rhode island's children, youth and families

CHAPTER 5: WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Workforce development is a critical component of the Ideal System of Care. Workforce
development includes but is not limited to:
! Undergraduate/graduate education
! Recruitment
! Pre-service education
! In-service education
! Professional Development
! Retention
The children’s’ services area has historically lagged nationwide in a meaningful investment
into this important area of infrastructure development. The Ideal System places a high
priority on this investment in human capital. DCYF works closely with the Department of
Health, the Office of Higher Education, colleges, universities, and public and private
providers to address these important issues.
Rhode Island is fortunate to have well-developed higher education institutions at the
associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. In the Ideal System, DCYF, through the
Child Welfare Training Institute, works closely with relevant department chairpersons at
these institutions to assure that the curriculum reflects up-to-date evidence-based best
practices in the child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, social work, and substance
abuse fields. Appropriate undergraduate curricula are developed to prepare students for the
varied functions needed in both the public and private sector children’s services field
including but not limited to:
! Family Based Care and Family Centered Practice
! Residential services and care
! Case management
! Clinical practice, especially child and family psychologists and child and adolescent
psychiatrists
! Supervision
! Wraparound services
! Management and administration
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