4th Annual Title IV-E Child Welfare Roundtable at Southwest Texas State University

The 4th Annual Title IV-E Child Welfare Roundtable, sponsored by the Center for Children and Families at Southwest Texas was held on June 22-23, 2000 at the Aquarena Springs Conference Center in San Marcos, Texas. The event was coordinated by Dr. J. Karen Brown and Dr. Nancy Feyl Chavkin, co-directors of the Center for Children and Families, Department of Social Work and Richter Research Institute (formerly Walter Richter Institute of Social Work Research) in the College of Health Professions. SWT has received funds over the past six years from the United States Department of Health and Human Services Title IV-E funding to prepare students to work in the field of child protective services.

The purpose of the event was to build a strong collaborative network for universities and agencies who prepare personnel to work with children and families. All Texas undergraduate and graduate schools of social work with an interest in Title IV-E funding for preparing social workers for child welfare attended. Attendees included: the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas--Pan American, the University of Houston, Texas A & M University-Commerce, Texas A & M University-Kingsville, Baylor University, Southwest Texas State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, and representatives from state and local child protective services offices in the Austin, Arlington, Dallas, Houston, Nacogdoches, and San Antonio regions. In addition, state and university representatives from Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas participated to share ideas from their programs.

Acting President Robert Gratz of Southwest Texas State University opened the meeting by welcoming participants to Aquarena Springs Conference Center and Dean Rumaldo Juarez extended greetings from the College of Health Professions. Presenters included: Joe Woodard and Patricia Newlin of the Administration for Children and Families and Grace Sanders from the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, Child Protective Services. Five focus groups on issues relating to field practicum, evaluation, recruitment/retention, budget/recoupment, and collaboration/partnership convened during the two-day meeting. Each of the focus group presented what was new and what was needed for next year. The collaboration/partnership group provided a written summary of what the different Title IV-E programs looked like in Texas, the recruitment/retention committee shared copies of recruitment materials from selected programs, and the budget committee prepared a list of issues and challenges. The evaluation committee shared numerous instruments used nationwide, a bibliography, and a plan for evaluating Title IV-E recipients statewide. The field committee discussed the many curriculum and contract issues that arise in the different programs.

Major recommendations for next year included: (1) continue to have focus group framework and have groups meet throughout the year; (2) establish a planning committee of the chairs of each focus group that will determine the specific needs to be addressed by each group and to coordinate efforts; (3) hear the voice of Title IV-E recipients (invite former recipients to the meeting and pay their expenses/provide stipend); (4) establish a formalized system for information sharing (perhaps email or list-serv) and include all interested states; (5) add a focus group on curriculum or put curriculum issues on the agenda of an existing group; (6) invite someone from Children's Bureau and CSWE to participate in meetings; and (7) change the title of the meeting to better reflect the group's goals and activities (suggestion--Southwest Region Title IV-E Consortium).

Nancy Feyl Chavkin.
Southwest Texas State University.
June 26, 2000