About the CfE

New York State is committed to improving child welfare outcomes and strengthening families by enhancing service delivery. The New York Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) has partnered with Youth Research Incorporated (YRI) to launch the Center for Excellence (CfE) for Evidence-Based Practice Implementation. YRI is a nonprofit affiliate to the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) that provides training and professional development opportunities for employees of OCFS and its partner organizations, including Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) and community-based social services providers.

YRI also supports OCFS and its partners by providing rapid response to new and emerging human services priorities in New York State by promoting new and more effective methods for service delivery and access, administering pilot programs, conducting research, and developing evidence-based policy recommendations to support OCFS’s areas of service.

Our Team 

Monica Schroeder, Senior Project Manager
Erica Thompson, Director of Research and Policy
Rachel Gale, Regional Implementation Coordinator
Olivia Wade, Regional Implementation Coordinator

Contact us at cfe@yriny.org

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About the CfE by Youth Research Inc.

The CfE supports the implementation and sustainability of evidence-based programs (EBPs) and promotes the success of New York State’s Family First Prevention Services Act Prevention Plan. FFPSA is a comprehensive legislative initiative aimed at transforming the child welfare system by permitting states to use title IV-E funds for evidence-based prevention services for families at risk of entering the child welfare system.

The CfE is dedicated to advancing the implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) to improve outcomes across various fields. Through research, training, and collaboration, the CfE aims to foster the widespread adoption of EBPs and enhance their effectiveness in real-world settings, including in diverse populations. By promoting evidence-based decision-making and providing resources, the CfE strives to create a culture that values and prioritizes the use of EBPs for the benefit of individuals, organizations, and communities.

  • Target Population: Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) child welfare staff including caseworkers, supervisors and administrators.

    Purpose: This activity will provide LDSS child welfare staff with MI fidelity checks and coaching opportunities. 

    Type: Distance Learning: Virtual Classroom, Other Activities

    Description: LDSS staff will participate in facilitator led one hour fidelity checks and coaching sessions per the OCFS approved fidelity monitoring structure.  This will be accomplished using the Lyssn platform or another OCFS approved platform. 

    YRI will schedule individual sessions with staff, conduct the fidelity check, and provide coaching on the fidelity check session.

    Coaching will include feedback on use of MI skills, review of fidelity data and proficiency score.  Each participant will be provided with recommendations and resources to improve proficiency of use of MI skills. Additional coaching for continuing skill development may also be provided to participants. 

  • Target Population: Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) child welfare staff including caseworkers, supervisors and administrators. 

    Purpose: To develop best practice fidelity monitoring, coaching guidelines and a Supervisor support/coaching model

    Type: Other Activities

    Description: Using research and data on skill development previously collected via the former CfE as well as current data, YRI will develop and provide recommendations on fidelity proficiency best practice standards, including recommendations on the appropriate number and frequency of fidelity checks to support best practice, that meet the needs of OCFS.  This will include the development of any fidelity adherence coding tools to be used to determine proficiency. 

    In addition, YRI will develop coaching guidelines and a supervisor support/coaching model that will meet the needs of OCFS and the field. 

  • Purpose: To provide a space for caseworkers and supervisors to share successes and challenges, support each other in their implementation of Motivational Interviewing as well as be provided with skill refreshers, best practice tips and strategies. 

    Type: Other Activities, Distance Learning, Virtual Classroom

    Description: YRI will develop, administer and host a live virtual community of practice with open access to all NYS child welfare caseworkers, supervisors and administrators.  The vendor will support the Community of Practice through these sessions by providing MI tips, strategies and skill refreshers.   

    YRI will develop, administer and host a MI Community of Practice (CoP). The CoP will be open to all NYS child welfare caseworkers, supervisors and administrators.  The CoP will be hosted on a platform that meets OCFS and stakeholder needs.    

    Once the CoP framework is developed and approved, YRI will host at least one live virtual CoP event. YRI will develop content outlines/agendas for each live session.

  • Purpose: Data collection and analysis to allow OCFS to make data informed programmatic decisions. 

     Type: Other Activities 

     Description: YRI will collect data on the activities in this body of work, including but not limited to: individual caseworker participation in fidelity checks and coaching; individual fidelity to MI practice; county level fidelity to MI practice.    

    YRI will: 

    • Conduct data collection and analysis that illustrates the level of MI implementation success throughout NYS and serves as a guide for continuous quality improvement and fidelity adherence 

    • Track fidelity check enrollment and completion rates 

    • Administer surveys for fidelity check feedback 

    • Analyze fidelity check experience survey results and modify approach 

    • Summarize engagement and trends in fidelity data 

    • Create cohort reports of aggregate data and county level reports after quarterly fidelity checks 

    • Conduct correlation analysis between fidelity measures and worker/training information 

    • Evaluate effectiveness of coaching and other MI supports 

    • Report quarterly and as requested on implementation progress and practice outcomes 

    • Present results of analytics in multiple formats, including dashboards, visualizations, fact sheets and written reports for various stakeholder audiences as requested by OCFS 

    • Suggest and implement ways of evaluating existing data to inform decision making around training 

    • Develop reports with said analysis and suggestions for change, as indicated by the data and best practices 

     In addition, YRI will provide raw data sets, analysis of data and any and all reports as requested by OCFS in a format to be determined by OCFS. 

  • Purpose: To enhance training capabilities and capacities, facilitate knowledge retention and to bridge competency gaps with the aide and guidance of these training materials. 

    Type: Materials 

    Description: At the request of and in collaboration with OCFS, YRI will develop new materials or revise current materials such as role play scenarios, desk aids, tip sheets, supervisor toolkits and resources, caseworker resources, monthly newsletters, brochures, and posters in support of Motivational Interviewing practice. 

    YRI will design, develop, and produce materials for use by local social service districts, and/or OCFS for training in administration of New York State’s public child welfare programs. These materials will be reproduced and distributed depending upon the specific needs of OCFS. 

Frequently Asked Questions