Virginia Department of Social Services

Virginia Summary

admin — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 19:59:43 +0000

Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is a state-supervised, locally-administered child welfare system. The system includes approximately 2,000 staff, spread out across 120 local departments of social services (LDSS). In 2016, VDSS had a turnover rate of 29% among their entry level Family Services Specialists. They were working to implement technology tools for the workforce when they applied to be a Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD) site.

Virginia Key Findings

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Background

Virginia Theory of Change

admin — Tue, 24 May 2022 14:17:30 +0000

During the needs assessment process, a theory of change was developed for the primary area of need identified in partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS). Through a series of steps and causal links, a theory of change provides a roadmap to address the root causes of an identified workforce problem and describes how and why changes are expected to lead to the desired outcomes.

Virginia Intervention Background

admin — Thu, 12 May 2022 16:34:17 +0000

What are technology supports and why were they selected?

Can Technology Reduce the Stress of the Child Welfare Practitioner?

admin — Mon, 09 May 2022 21:14:31 +0000

Can Technology Reduce the Stress of the Child Welfare Practitioner?
Posted on May 9, 2022

This post summarizes some of the research about the relationship between child welfare work and how technology can impact the stress of the job.

Virginia Implementation Overview

admin — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 21:41:26 +0000

The Implementation Team

Virginia Evaluation Overview

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The QIC-WD evaluation was conducted with the support of the Virginia Department of Social Services to determine if a Case-Supportive Technology intervention was effective in improving workforce and child welfare outcomes.

Research Questions

The site-level evaluation for Virginia was designed to understand implementation of and outcomes related to two technology innovations: (1) transcription and (2) a mobility application. See the Intervention Overview for more information.

Virginia Intervention Overview

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:06:18 +0000

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and the QIC-WD designed a multi-phase case-supportive technology intervention to help child welfare caseworkers complete their case notes and other administrative tasks required as part of their job. The decision by VDSS to implement technological supports for caseworkers was informed by two data collection efforts:

1. Listening sessions, held by VDSS staff in each region of the state, and

Virginia Site Overview

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 21:13:28 +0000

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is a state-supervised and locally- administered social services system. There are 120 local departments of social services (LDSS) composed of approximately 2,000 employees who are responsible for providing child welfare services.

Virginia Site Intervention Logic Model

admin — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 21:52:50 +0000

Each QIC-WD site developed a logic model to serve as a visual representation of their selected intervention. All logic models included four main components: inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes. Collectively, these demonstrate the resources and actions required to implement the program, as well as the associated result or changes anticipated through implementation of the program. The hypothesized relationships are represented by the pathways connecting the listed activities and anticipated outcomes. For more information see Site Overview.

Virginia Case-Supportive Technology

admin — Thu, 13 May 2021 16:02:38 +0000

Virginia Case-Supportive Technology

The Virginia Department of Social Services and select local child welfare agencies implemented a case-supportive technology intervention to strengthen their child welfare workforce. This video, recorded virtually, highlights the experience of workers and supervisors that used transcription services and a mobile application to improve their ability to work outside the office.

Watch the Video

The Importance of Communication When Implementing Workforce Changes

admin — Thu, 06 May 2021 18:53:20 +0000

The Importance of Communication When Implementing Workforce Changes

“Communication is the key to success…” Listen to QIC-WD site representatives from Washington, Louisiana, Virginia, and Milwaukee, WI talk about the strategies they used to introduce and support a workforce initiative in their child welfare agency.

Watch the Video

The Critical Role of Child Welfare Workers

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 15:11:39 +0000

The Critical Role of Child Welfare Workers
Posted on September 21, 2020

This short blog post and video highlight the critical role that child welfare workers play on the frontlines; managing threats to their own safety while working to keep children safe.

Virginia Progress Update - The Timely Implementation of a Technology Solution

admin — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 15:59:57 +0000

Virginia Progress Update - The Timely Implementation of a Technology Solution
Posted on July 27, 2020

Virginia created an app to help their child welfare workforce manage administrative and family engagement tasks out of the office. Learn more about their progress.

Supervising Child Welfare Professionals Virtually during a Pandemic

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 14:00:51 +0000

Supervising Child Welfare Professionals Virtually during a Pandemic
Posted on April 16, 2020

Strategies to help supervisors support their staff, encourage team cohesion, and ensure the work will continue throughout the COVID 19 crisis.