September 1, 2007

In-Depth Technical Assistance. Round 3, Final Report

This report summarizes the interventions, outcomes, and lessons learned in the third round of the federally funded National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare In-Depth Technical Assistance (IDTA) program. The IDTA program is a unique approach to developing and promoting system change. It is designed to facilitate cross-system collaboration among the professionals who work with families affected by substance use disorders that are involved in the child welfare system and may also be involved in the dependency court system. The IDTA program provides strategic, intensive technical assistance to jurisdictions around the country that have demonstrated a commitment to cross-systems collaboration and are struggling to achieve improved outcomes for these families at the intersection of these three systems. Following an introduction, the report discusses the framework, tools, and strategies used by the IDTA program, the implementation process, and IDTA activities and progress in New York, Texas, and Maine. Evaluation findings from round 3 are then shared, including findings from the Collaborative Capacity Inventory (CCI). A total of 52 participants completed the CCI at the beginning of the Round 3 IDTA program and 57 participants completed the post-IDTA CCI's. For the three sites combined, there was a significant increase in the mean score in all 10 elements of collaboration across time. The three areas with the greatest percent change increases were "Joint Accountability and Shared Outcomes" (22.3%), "Training and Staff Development" (20.6%), and "Underlying Values and Principles of Collaborative Relationships" (20.2%). Additional findings from the 2007 cross-site meeting evaluation are discussed, as well as project costs, lessons learned, and next steps.