CHILDRENS SERVICES FOUNDATION DBA CATALYST CENTER

CATALYST CENTER TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:IN 2023, THE CATALYST CENTER, OUR TRAINING VEHICLE FOR THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES SECTOR, PARTNERED WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES (CDSS) AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES (DHCS), THE CENTER PROVIDES DIVERSE TRAININGS, RANGING FROM POLICY UPDATES TO INNOVATIVE PRACTICE TECHNIQUES.CALIFORNIA PROVIDER HELPLINE - 1-833-99YOUTH (999-6884):THROUGH OUR DHCS PARTNERSHIP, WE USED OUR EXPERTISE TO GUIDE SHORT TERM RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAM (STRTP) PROVIDERS AS THEY NAVIGATED NEW REGULATIONS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THEM BEING DESIGNATED AS INSTITUTIONS OF MENTAL DISEASE (IMD). THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CDSS, WE DELIVERED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH OUR CALIFORNIA PROVIDER HELPLINE, GUIDING FOSTER CARE AND YOUTH RESIDENTIAL CARE PROVIDERS WITH TOOLS, TIPS, AND RESOURCES IN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF CARE PROVIDED TO YOUTH WITHIN OUR CALIFORNIA SYSTEMS.HELPLINE YEAR BY THE NUMBERCASES CLOSED 612; TOTAL CASES 691; # OF DISTINCT CALLERS 161; AVG. DAYS CASES OPEN 0; AVG. MIN. PER CASE 33; AVG. MIN. PER CONTACT 33; THROUGH BOTH PARTNERSHIPS, OUR DEDICATED STAFF DELIVERED COMPASSIONATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ENSURE PROVIDERS HAD THE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO MAKE WELL-INFORMED DECISIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR STAFF AND THE YOUTH AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE. AS A RESULT OF THIS WORK AND OTHER TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS, OUR CDSS AND DHCS PARTNERSHIPS WILL NOT ONLY CONTINUE, BUT ALSO EXPAND IN SCOPE.PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS CATALYST TO WELLBEING IN COMMUNITY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM PARTNERSHIPTHE CATALYST CENTER THE CATALYST CENTER IS A LEADING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF CHILD AND FAMILY SERVING PROFESSIONALS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND. THECATALYST FOR WELLNESS IN COMMUNITY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN ALAMEDA COUNTY, APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. OF 88 APPLICANTS, 11 ARE ACTIVE IN THE PROGRAM, EACH WITH PERSONAL EXPERIENCES RELEVANT TO THE FIELD, IN PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, JUVENILE JUSTICE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. THEY ARE EMPLOYED BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE SENECA AND FRED FINCH, EARNING AT LEAST $20/HR, AND ARE CURRENTLY TAKING ENGLISH AND PSYCHOLOGY COURSES. THE PROGRAM PAIRS EACH APPRENTICE WITH A TRAINED MENTOR FOR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. AS WE GEAR UP FOR THE NEXT COHORT, OUR DIVERSE GROUP OF APPRENTICES IS MAKING SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN BOTH THEIR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. LEVERAGING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN RESEARCH, POLICY, AND PRACTICE WHILE PROMOTING THE HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SAFETY OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN CALIFORNIA.