[ Back to TANF/CalWORKS Home ]

"Beyond Implementation: Building Collaborative Systems"

The CalWORKs Project recently completed a second round of five regional forums held across the state to assist counties in providing mental health, alcohol and other drugs, domestic violence and employment services to families involved with the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs). Forums were entitled "Beyond CalWORKs Implementation: Building Collaborative Systems. Forums in this second round were held in Oakland [Nov 2000], Riverside [Feb 2001], Redding [Jul 2001], Los Angeles [Sept 2001] and Fresno [Oct 2001].

The forums were sponsored by the California Department of Social Services with support from California counties through the CalWORKs project. Children and Family Futures conducted five regional forums across California in the two years prior to this second round. Those forums, funded through a contract with the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (DADP), provided technical assistance to counties and providers on supportive service issues related to CalWORKs This second round of forums addressed more up-to-date issues related to CalWORKs mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence and employment services. They were intended to help refine county efforts in CalWORKs implementation, share models of successful programs, and further efforts across the state to adequately, appropriately and collaboratively maximize funds and provide effective supportive services. The forums were by invitation only and counties developed their own invitation lists.

The day before each forum, domestic violence providers and employment/ workforce development staff each had a special one-day Institute. The Institute for domestic violence providers assisted and supported collaborative efforts between DV providers and county CalWORKs welfare to work services. The Institute for employment/workforce development staff helped to inform staff of the barriers to employment caused by substance abuse, mental health issues and domestic violence, and to encourage collaboration between employment service and supportive services providers. These one-day institutes preceding each forum were by invitation only and were coordinated by the Family Violence Prevention Fund and the California Workforce Association.

A statewide planning committee developed a basic structure for the second round of forums. Planning committee participants included representatives from Children and Family Futures, California Institute for Mental Health, Family Violence Prevention Fund, California Department of Social Services, California Workforce Association, The Domestic Violence Working Group, Sacramento County Alcohol and Drug Bureau, Kern County Mental Health, and Stanislaus Community Services Agency.

The forums took place as follows:

• Bay Area Counties - November 2 and 3, 2000
• Southern Counties - February 14 and 15, 2001
• Northern Counties - July 11 and 12, 2001
• Los Angeles County - September 19 and 20, 2001
• Central Valley Counties - October 15 and 16, 2001