Clinical Services

The clinical services team ensures that children and families receive quality clinical services specific to their individual needs. 

• Foster care health nurses ensure that health care needs of children in foster care are met;
• Psychiatric social workers consult with field staff to develop plans for children and families with serious mental health needs; and
• Education specialists ensure educational planning for children in placement including assisting teens to transition to adulthood. 
• Clinical staff oversee the Domestic Violence Grant, the Substance Abuse Project operating in Hillsborough County, and the Greenbook Project.  (The Greenbook Project is a federal project designed to bring together the courts, child protection and domestic violence advocacy groups to improve services to families experiencing both domestic violence and child abuse and neglect crises.) 
• Clinical staff review specialized placements, new behavioral health providers, and respond to clinical issues with providers and placement resources.

Staff Development and Training Bureau

Training is provided through partnerships between DCYF and the Northeastern Family Institute (NFI ) and between DCYF and the College for Lifelong Learning (CLL).  The NFI  Partnership offers training to outside agency staff, service providers, residential care providers, foster and adoptive parents, and other interested persons.  The CLL Partnership provides foster parent training and caregiver on-going training. 

Trainings offered:

• Child Protective Service Training Academy - offered 4 times yearly 
• On-going and advanced training - offered throughout the year
• Foundations for Fostering (a pre-service training for individuals to become licensed foster parents) and Caregiver On-going Training (COT) - offered throughout the year at community locations across NH during day, evening and weekend hours
• Annual two day, 40+ workshop conference for professionals and families who provide services to children and families
• Books, journals, publications and videos are available to be loaned out in two weeks intervals

Bureau of Quality Improvement

This Bureau manages a process of "Continuous Quality Improvement".  Specific goals for DCYF are to:

• Improve the quality of services delivered by social workers and  community based service providers;
• Provide timely, comprehensive program information that guides decisions regarding strategic planning, resource allocation, program development, best case practices and staff development and training;
• Achieve and sustain agency performance that meets or exceeds nationally accepted standards;
• Increase consumer satisfaction; and
• Increase accountability and credibility with the public including consumers, citizens-at-large, legislators and stakeholders.