South Carolina News Update – September 2017

Did you know?…

NTI is developing two state of the art, standardized, web-based trainings to build the capacity of child welfare professionals and mental health practitioners in all States, Tribes and Territories.  Our end goal is to empower professionals nationally to better understand and address the mental health needs of children, youth and their families moving toward or having achieved permanency through adoption and guardianship.

We’ve been getting great feedback and participation from the initial pilot states, and South Carolina has done well!

Highlighting NTI’s reach in South Carolina:

This 20+ hour online training was launched in January of 2017.

• • 3,800 users are participating in NTI across the nation.
  • 552 have enrolled from SC.   

Thanks to the efforts of the Tracy Rodgers, the State Implementation team and cohort leaders for enabling so many professionals across the state to participate.

• Growing NTI Completion Rate:

  • 397 users have completed the training (74% current completion rate) as of July 31^st.
  • 8,000 hours of training have already been received by SC child welfare professionals and this number is growing daily!

• Almost there…celebrating user completions  

  • 72 completed users away from hitting a very bold goal of 85% completion. Wow!
  • Now Available: NTI Success Chocolate Bars for NTI Completion Celebrations!  Contact your NTI implementation specialist, Mary Wichansky for details.

• A solid statewide public-private training collaboration

Palmetto Association has graciously pulled together over 17 private agencies (Bethany, Collins Children’s Home, Carolina Youth Development Center, Family Connection, Growing Home Southeast, HALOs, Helping Hands Aiken, Homeless no More, Lutheran Family Services, Miracle Hill, Pinelands Group Homes, PAFCAF, Pendleton Place, SCYAP, Sisters of Charity, South Carolina Foster Parent Association, Tamassee DAR School and Thornwall.) Over 100 expect to participate alongside SC’s public child welfare professionals.

Read the news release:
 The Palmetto Association for Children and Families.

Hear from South Carolina:

NTI Users are saying:

“It helps to give us insight into what the needs are and how we can better serve our families.”

“NTI gives participants insight into the lives and feelings of foster children and has emphasized the importance of using some of the tools from the very beginning when children enter care.

“Like that it is online and we are able to work on it on our free time.”  READ MORE 

Please share your NTI training feedback with us HERE!  We want to hear your thoughts and appreciate your insights.

Hear the Buzz from other states:

Facebook Live event: announcing the winners of the Palmetto Association’s NTI drawing which just ended…https://www.facebook.com/PalmettoAssociationforChildrenandFamilies

Facebook Post:  OK Dept. of Human Services announcement: https://www.facebook.com/connectcounselingok/

NTI Research Results

Want a sneak peak of great research results?

Preliminary research is showing great gains from pre to post test.  An impact study of how this training is impacting the day to day practice of NTI completers is now underway.  Formal results Data collection continues until December 31^st.

If you have already enrolled, there is still time to complete the training.  And if you have not enrolled but want to participate, contact Tricia Rodgers

Your NTI Pilot Site Materials ARE HERE!

Remember to check our website regularly for news and updated pilot site materials.

Sign up to Receive Updates and News

NTI Pilot States Contact Information to share with others:

California and Oklahoma   •    Emily Smith-Goering   202.798.3424   Email Emily

Illinois, South Carolina and Tennessee   •   Mary Wichansky   240.606.4846   Email Mary

Maine, Minnesota and Washington   •   Lisa Maynard    585.507.7588    Email Lisa

Funded through the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau, Grant #90CO1121.  The contents of this email do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the funder, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This information is in the public domain.  Readers are encouraged to copy and share it, but please credit the National Adoption Competent Mental Health Training Initiative.