12th Annual Title IV-E Roundtable set for New Braunfels

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
May 23, 2008

The 12th annual Title IV-E Child Welfare Roundtable will be held May 29-30 at the T Bar M Ranch in New Braunfels.

More than 100 participants from every state in Federal Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) are expected to attend the two-day conference to foster Title IV-E funded Agency/Texas State University-San Marcos collaborations. Such collaborations prepare social work students for public child welfare practice in the federal region. Participants will explore topics including national, regional, and state perspectives on child welfare, collaborative training models and regional Title IV-E program evaluation results.

MaryLee Allen, director of the Child Welfare and Mental Health division of the Children’s Defense Fund will be the keynote speaker presenting Title IVE training innovations and trends across the county.  Madeline McClure, executive director of Tex Protects and Scott McCown, executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities will address policy views on recruitment, training, and retention of child welfare workers.  Chadwick Sapenter, president of Onyx Real Estate Group, will deliver an “inspirational” message to the child welfare professionals who face overwhelming challenges each day. 

Officials from the Administration for Children and Families, State Child Welfare agencies and universities will conduct focus groups and share pertinent information about child welfare issues.  June Lloyd, Administration for Children and Families, will present information on federal regulations.

The purpose of the Roundtable is to foster Title IV-E funded Agency/ University collaborations that prepare social work students for professional public child welfare practice.  These collaborations provide stipends for university students, funds for curriculum innovation, and salaries for staff and faculty.  The Texas State/Texas Department of Family and Protective Services collaboration has educated approximately 300 qualified and dedicated public child welfare practitioners over the last 12 years.