What Works for the Workforce: Leadership Competencies in Action

Coaching to Support Solution-Based Casework in Child Welfare

Webinar held September 26, 2012

Coaching to Support Solution-Based Casework in Child Welfare, was the 5th session in What Works for the Workforce: Leadership Competencies in Action – A National Webinar Series on Leading Change to Strengthen the Child Welfare Workforce.

This webinar describes solution-based casework coaching at Washington State’s Department of Social and Health Services, Children’s Administration. Presenters highlight the core elements of solution-based casework, and the practice model, workforce competencies, and coaching necessary to support this type of meaningful change on the frontlines and throughout the agency. They explain the development, implementation, and outcomes of their solution-based coaching program, and offer specific lessons learned, tips for agencies, and the leadership skills and competencies necessary to sustain it over time.This session was led by:

  • Scott Steuby, who has spent more than 20 years at the Children’s Administration. He is currently the Statewide Program Manager for Permanency Roundtables, CFSR Program Improvement Plan, and Disaster Preparedness/Continuation of Operations. His extensive experience includes work as aCPS Social Worker, Supervisor of CPS Intake/Investigations, Human Resources Manager, Area Administrator, Deputy Regional Administrator, Statewide Program Manager. Scott has received multiple awards for his innovative work and collaboration with community partners and universities, holds Masters’ degrees in both Psychology and Public Administration, and is a graduate of NCWWI’s Leadership Academy for Middle Managers (LAMM).
  • Simon Pipkin, who is the Practice Model Coach in King County, WA for the Alliance for Child Welfare Excellence at the University of Washington, School of Social Work.  Simon has worked in public child welfare for more than 12 years, as a social worker, supervisor, program manager, and trainer.  He began his child welfare career in the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, where he was identified as a future leader and promoted to supervisor in the foster care division in 2004, as well as assisted in the implementation of TN’s Solution-focused Practice Model as a trainer and coach assessing workers’ application of the model. He joined Washington State’s DSHS Children’s Administrationin 2006, and has been a leader in the implementation and integration of Solution-based Casework as the agency’s practice model. Simon earned an MSW from the University of Washington, School of Social Work in 2010.
  • Dana Christensen, PhD, who is the model developer of Solution-Based CaseworkTM, and Professor and Director of the Family Therapy Program in the Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville. Dr. Christensen also directs the Center for Family Resource Development, a center dedicated to developing and enhancing community-based intervention projects, and has written widely in the fields of juvenile justice, child welfare, and family therapy (2 books – Family Therapy: Theory and Practice; Solution Based Casework: An Introduction to Clinical & Case Management Skills in Social Work Practice, as well as numerous journal articles). Dr. Christensen has worked closely with public and private child welfare agencies, assisting in their efforts to improve case assessment, case planning, and casework management practices.
  • Deborah Reed, whois the Project Manager for NCWWI’s Leadership Academy for Middle Managers (LAMM) in The Center for Improvement of Child & Family Services, Portland State University School of Social Work. Deborah previously held positions within the Children’s Administration, including statewide Supervisor of Placement & Permanency Services, CFSR Project Manager and Field Operations-Risk Management Program Manager.

 

1-page Summary

 

Recordings

 

Handouts