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Human Services and community colleges partnership
offers career opportunities to DYFS staff

TRENTON— As part of New Jersey’s ongoing efforts to improve its child welfare system, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development (NJCCCWED) announced a new partnership today to provide education and career opportunities for Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) staff.

Beginning in the fall, the new Career Ladders program will be offered to over 800 clerical and support staff within DYFS who wish to pursue an education and career in child welfare. While the program is geared toward DYFS staff, personnel from DHS central office and other divisions will also be eligible. To encourage participation, courses will be offered on site at local DYFS offices by trained faculty from local community colleges.

“This is a unique opportunity for staff to move up the ranks during this exciting time in our child welfare system,” said DHS Commissioner Jim Davy. “None of this would be possible without the support of New Jersey’s community colleges.”

Under the Career Ladders program, staff members are required to complete a five course program. Courses include: Communication; Cultural Competence; Assessment and Documentation; Child Development and Identifying Abuse and Neglect; and Family Centered Child Protective Services.

Upon successful completion of the program, staff members will be awarded a Certificate of Competency in Child Protective Services. Staff members will then be eligible to receive 12 credits towards a social services certificate and degree program. Staff members can complete the required courses at their local community college.

“The New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development is pleased to partner with the Department of Human Services to offer this important training for its Division of Youth and Family Services employees,” said Dr. G. Jeremiah Ryan, president, Raritan Valley Community College and chairman, board of directors, NJCCCWED. “The impact of this training program, focusing on the well-being of the state’s children, will be felt statewide by DYFS employees and all New Jerseyans.”

A team of human services and community college staff developed the certificate program. National research was conducted with curriculum from the national Institute for Human Resources (IHS) modified to meet New Jersey’s needs. Cited by the New Jersey Child Welfare Panel on numerous occasions, IHS has developed the curriculum for social workers in over 20 states.

DHS is funding the Career Ladders Program at an annul cost of $500,000 and offering it free of charge to eligible staff. It is anticipated that 350 staff will participate in the first year. For those desiring to continue their education after completing the certificate program, tuition reimbursement is offered to eligible staff pursuing an associate, bachelor or master’s degree.

This year, DHS’ Office of Children’s Services (OCS) is spending $3.6 million to provide training and educational opportunities for staff. Initiatives include the new family team meeting model and structured decision making (SDM) assessment tool. New training programs are also being developed for resource/foster families as well as resource family support workers.

The New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, a central one-stop contact, develops and delivers education and training programs to New Jersey businesses, agencies and organizations. New Jersey’s community colleges formed the Consortium in spring 2004 in response to Governor James E. McGreevey’s designation of community colleges as the primary provider of workforce training in the Garden State.

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