By Jonathan Rockoff
For the past two years, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has partnered with Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina (FFA-NC), and the UNC School of Social Work’s Family and Children’s Resource Program to create, administer, and analyze a resource parent needs assessment in North Carolina.
Over 800 respondents have replied each year providing valuable insight into what resource parents (foster, adoptive, and kinship) need, value, and hope to see improved in North Carolina’s child welfare system. Crucial information has been collected from resource parents like you about training needs, gaps in support, court involvement, and much more. This feedback helps shape and form what is being done in North Carolina to improve placement stability, outcomes for children and youth, and retain and recruit more caring and effective resource parents.
The third annual Resource Parent Needs Assessment is currently being developed. We are working with skilled evaluators to fine-tune the questions and ensure the assessment provides key information that can lead to change.
We anticipate the next Resource Parent Needs Assessment to be sent out in early spring 2025. The purpose is to hear from individuals who have served as resource parents within the previous twelve months. If you have participated in the past two years, we truly thank you for your time and valued feedback. We hope you are willing to participate again this year!
If you have not participated in the past and at the time of the assessment being sent out you will have been a resource parent within the last twelve months, we truly hope you consider taking the assessment. Your voice and input can directly lead to important changes being made in North Carolina’s child welfare system. We hope to hear from as many resource parents as possible. Be on the lookout from your licensing agency within the next few months for more information!
Jonathan Rockoff is an Educational Consultant with the UNC School of Social Work’s Family and Children’s Resource Program
