Strategies 2.0
Between 2016 and 2020, the Social Policy Institute (SPI) was one of three partners in the implementation of the state-wide Strategies 2.0 Training and Capacity Building Initiative, funded by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) within the California Department of Social Services. The SPI team led the development of a rigorous Continued Quality Improvement (CQI) system and was the lead designer and developer of all curriculum and resources, such as Toolkits and Knowledge to Action briefs.
Strategies 2.0 services to the family strengthening field included: training, consultation, peer learning, and other professional development opportunities both in-person and online. Strategies 2.0 services were designed to help grow the knowledge and networks for professionals working with families to mitigate the risk factors of child abuse and neglect in California.
The final report for Strategies 2.0 report can be accessed here.
California Child Abuse Prevention Councils (CAPC) Best Practice Guidelines
In alignment with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention’s vision, and in partnership with Strategies 2.0 and CAPCs throughout the state, the Social Policy Institute has developed Best Practice Guidelines for California CAPCs.
Child Abuse Prevention Councils (CAPCs) are the catalyst, convener and coordinator of the countywide approach to prevention of child maltreatment. The role and best practice guidance supports CAPCs in their leadership role, and partnering within counties and communities to prevent child abuse and neglect while promoting child and family health and well-being.
Please access the CAPC Best Practice Guidelines here.
PASS Impact in Ventura County
Key Finding: Priority timelines are achievable! Priority Access to Services and Supports (PASS) was Beta-tested in Ventura County. PASS accomplished an expedited screening and referral to parents who have had children removed from their care.
Specific results include the following:
– Nearly 83% of the parents referred were screened, with 85% of those screenings occurring within the 5 working day benchmark.
– Of the parents referred, 87% had an appointment set within the 5 working days of the referral.
Of those who were assessed, 85% were linked with services within 5 working days of their assessment dates.
Read the full PASS report here: PASS Report
United Parents
SPI analyses their own impact and helps others to understand and make sense of theirs. One example is United Parents, a grassroots organization that was awarded funding from the Mental Health Services and Accountability Commission (MHSA OAC) funding to lift the voice of parents and caregivers who have a child with a behavioral health challenge.
United Parents’ most recent report, a three year retrospective developed by SPI, can be found here.
Stories of Success
What Our Partners Say
“The Social Policy Institute’s Director, Steve Hornberger, has been an integral part of Breaking Barriers development and implementation. The Social Policy Institute team has brought excellence and innovation to support Breaking Barriers’ work across systems to increase and enhance the well-being of California’s children and youth.”
“San Diego State University’s Social Policy Institute has been a highly valued partner for the State of California and an array of organizations seeking to effectively translate evidence-supported science into well-designed public policies for broad social benefits. One example is through our National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives and SDSU collaborations. As well, SPI’s work with county-level Prevention teams and their articulation of best practices with and for Child Abuse Prevention Councils across the state of California has been impressive.”
“The entire team at the Social Policy Institute brought subject matter expertise and cultural humility to the revision and redesign of our Faith-based and Behavioral Health Training Academy! Our trainers appreciated the validation for what they already know and can do; coaching to raise their game to a higher level of performance; and the high-quality, evidence-based materials.”
