Indiana Dept. of Child Services (IDCS) is Making Indiana Adoption Competent and NTI Training a Priority!

Indiana Department of Child Services (IDCS) is preparing professionals to support adopted children and their families from the beginning of their journey, through the adoption process and beyond, and views it a priority. They responded to the Adoption Call to Action by increasing the number of adoption consultants available to field staff seeking permanency for children. The DCS adoption consultants also completed the NTI Adoption Competency Training, which gives them the tools to better serve Hoosier children, families and their caseworkers. The adoption program supervisors are making sure to use NTI strategies from the transfer of learning to ensure that the training is being incorporated into daily work and practice.

In conjunction with the federal Administration for Children and Families – ACF, Indiana is hosting a virtual adoption event, “Make Indiana Adoption Competent,” in October 2020. The event will feature the NTI Adoption Competency training, the ACF assistant secretary’s “ALL-IN” Foster Adoption Challenge and it will highlight the DCS support programs for pre and post adoptive families. The event’s purpose is to encourage all adoptive and mental health providers throughout the state to seek training on the core issues impacting adopted children and their families.

Serving adopted children and families can be a challenging but a rewarding journey. The families need a trusted competency skill level from mental health and child welfare professionals to prepare, support and maintain lifelong family connections. DCS contractors were also encouraged to take the NTI Adoption Competency training to better serve children and families. By encouraging all child welfare providers to use the free NTI web-based training, DCS is working to make Indiana adoption competent! For info about the Indiana NTI Launch, email Michelle.Savieo@dcs.in.gov. Learn more about NTI trainings: https://bit.ly/36YU6XZ