What is the Training Consortium?
The late 20th century was a time of scarce and limited resources (the resemblance of the early part of the 21st century to the 20th century is shocking) and the consortium was created to provide voluntary child welfare agencies a united voice in training matters, receive training that was applicable, relevant, and address and support the various learning styles of staff.

In 1990, COFCCA, in collaboration with the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) and the Institute for Human Services (I.H.S) with funding from the New York State Department of Social Services/ Bureau of Workforce Development (formerly known as the Office of Human Resource and Development (OHRD) created a Child Welfare CORE curriculum. This curriculum contained four courses that were designed to address the competencies needs of caseworker employed less than one year with their organization. In addition, two additional courses were developed to address supervisory and child care needs in child welfare. Specialty area, one day course are developed as needed.

The training consortium is comprised of child welfare agencies within and around the New York City area. The consortium evolved out of the child welfare agencies need to have training that addressed the specific competency levels of caseworkers, child care workers and their supervisors.

The foundation courses (Child Welfare CORE) are designed to be delivered over a four-month period in modules of three days. The course content areas represent all the training a new caseworker and child care worker might need in order to do their jobs and training content areas are not included unless essential to job performance. Such systematic relevance is assured by utilizing the "universe of competencies" as the guide to curriculum development. The foundation courses are standardized so that new workers throughout NYC voluntary agencies receive consistent foundation level training.

The Training Consortium's mission is to assist voluntary agencies by:

• Prioritize and target training needs;
• Promote high quality services to children and families through professional, well-trained staff;
• Train staff on the knowledge and skills directly related to job tasks;
• Maximize limited training resources through prioritizing and targeting training/technical assistance needs;
• Encouraging and facilitating the exchange of resources to expand learning opportunities for staff.

The Training Consortium's Vision is to:

• Anticipate local and national training trends;
• Integrate changes to improve and minimize costs and waste (financial and/or time)
• Be a leader in development and resource identification, and
• Obtain diversified funding sources

What is a Competency-Based Training System?
A competency-based training system trains to the knowledge and skills that an employee must have in order to carry out his/her job function. To develop such a system for the New York City Voluntary Agencies, the Training Consortium created a comprehensive listing of the knowledge and skills required for caseworkers and child care workers to do their jobs. This listing identifies what a staff person must know of and/or do to be considered competent.

The list of competencies "drives" the rest of the training system. The competencies are used to assess individual training needs. They are also used to guide the development of all training courses and curriculum content.

How Are a Worker's Training Needs Assessed?
The Consortium uses an Individual Training Needs Assessment Instrument (ITNA) to identify each worker's training needs. The ITNA should be completed annually by the worker and supervisor. The information on the ITNA is used to:

1. Determine the most appropriate training for the worker, and;
2. Guide the development of new training courses.

Member agencies are provided a complete list of training courses offered by the Consortium so that each worker may attend the most relevant course to meet his/her individual training needs. As a worker's training needs change, new programs are developed. The targeted development of new training programs that meet the highest priority needs is an example of the consortium's efficient use of resources.

What Are the Benefits of Membership in the Training Consortium?
The Consortium offers a broad range of resources, a system of shared information and collaboration, and training that reaches all levels of agency personnel. The competency-based approach provides a common language for training amongst agencies.

Consortium members receive:

• Assistance with identifying individual training needs whereby the right trainee gets the right training.
• A common language for training amongst agencies.
• Access to training that is delivered in a cost effective manner.
• Access to a growing library of training resources and materials (including videos, music, games, books & curricula).
• Agency input into training schedules and timely delivery.
• Ability to access and broker training resources in a systematic fashion.
• Customized Technical Assistance
• Research that supports "best practices".
• Training from consultants who are experts in the field of child welfare.
• Access to Quarterly training directors' & other targeted meetings to enhance the sharing of information
• Access to a Listing of statewide training directors
• Access to a Listing of national, state and local speakers/consultants
• Access to Training calendars & registration
• Meeting minutes
• Training tips and related information and…

Who Provides Training?
All Consortium trainers are carefully screened and trained. They must have the appropriate course content knowledge, the necessary adult training skills, and the ability to promote culturally competent practice. All trainers must have extensive experience in the field of child welfare. Each training program is monitored and carefully evaluated.

• Please see the Links and Resource Page for training related websites.
• For additional information on the Training Consortium, please contact:
  Jacques Cadet, Director of Training at 212-929-2626 or email at jcadet@cofcca.org.
• Click here to download the New York City Voluntary Agency Training Consortium registration form.