The twenty smallest counties in California have a population of under 200,000, and the Northern Academy is proud to serve eighteen of these counties. Smaller counties are uniquely structured and face just-as-unique challenges such as rural geography, service gaps and limitations, pervasive poverty, and a smaller pool from which to recruit and retain staff. Child welfare organizations in small counties are also uniquely capable of developing and implementing innovative practices, fostering community engagement and partnership, and have a high level of wisdom that peer counties can benefit from hearing.
Child welfare staff, including social workers, supervisors and leaders at all levels, are invited to join this quarterly series of learning collaboratives where we will discuss a new topic at each session and provide ample opportunities for networking and resource sharing across counties.
The second learning collaborative will be focused on Creative Resources and Community Partnerships and will include content and discussions regarding:
- Resource scarcity in rural communities
- Developing and maintaining community partnerships
- Innovative county examples of prevention-oriented and ongoing service programs
- Strategies for funding and sustainability of programs in small counties
These collaboratives will be hosted on an ongoing basis and learners will have ample opportunities to provide feedback about future topics they would like to discuss with the facilitators and their peer counties.