About STEPS...
Background, Rationale and Goals
The Department of Social Services (DSS) and its partner, the Center for Adoption Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, was awarded a discretionary grant by the Administration for Children and Families to provide a series of trainings for DSS supervisors to support and promote adolescent permanency. This training series has been developed to enhance supervisory practice in supporting and guiding the efforts of social workers as they strive to achieve permanency and life long connections for youth in care. In a previous round of grants, the Administration for Children and Families supported projects that were developed to train social workers in positive youth development. Evaluations of these projects identified that a key ingredient in fostering positive youth development and adolescent permanency practice is the supporting message and direction to the staff that comes from the supervisory and management level. The goal of this project is to enhance supervisory support in this critical area of service.
Purpose and Philosophy
In Massachusetts this award is particularly timely, as providing youth-focused services based on a sound understanding of positive youth development is an integral element in numerous initiatives that the Department is currently undertaking. The goal of this series is to build strength-based practices that are inclusive of departmental core values. This program offers supervisors a strength-based approach to work with both their staff and with youth and families to respond to critical needs in service planning. It builds on knowledge and skills that participants already possess, and strives to deepen their understanding of the impact of informed strength-based management approach.
Format and Elements
The training series consists of six modules -- each focused on a specific area of need for youth in care. Each module includes a topical presentation, activities to use with staff members, and facilitated discussions. In addition, each module offers an opportunity designed to help understand the impact of bias in work with youth and families while building strategies and techniques to help manage staff members -- acknowledging that such bias may influence practice.