Supervisory Training to Enhance Permanency Solutions (STEPS)

Supervisory Training to Enhance Permanency Solutions (STEPS) is a professional development program comprised of six training modules. The modules were designed to enhance Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS) supervisory practices with respect to specific strategies to engage and support social workers in the management of adolescent care, including promoting permanency and preparing adolescents for young adulthood.

Module Information

Module One - Positive Youth Development
This module is designed to enhance supervisors' knowledge of developmental and cultural needs of adolescents. Strength-based case management and social worker supervision will be explored.

Module Two - Community Ties and Life Long Connections 
This module offers strategies to foster relationships with social work staff, and how these skills can translate to working with youth to build sustainable relationships and community connections

Module Three - Education and Workforce 
This module introduces strategies to lead and support social workers' efforts to foster and advocate for youths' educational and vocational skills attainment.

Module Four - Physical and Mental Health Needs 
Module four builds a greater understanding of the importance of physical and mental health for youths' successful transition to adulthood and the unique needs of adolescents in care.

Module Five - Public Safety and Juvenile Justice 
In this module, supervisors learned strategies to support social workers use of strength-based management approaches with youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

Module Six - Supervisory Impact on Practice 
This session reflects upon the information and skills acquired in modules one through five, and creates the opportunity to share thoughts and practical strategies with colleagues about practice implementation.