The Institute for Innovation and Implementation’s Administrative Team has a number of developments underway.
The Institute for Innovation and Implementation’s Administrative Team (IAT) has a number of developments underway, including updates on the search for a new executive director, a planned move, and several upcoming events.
Members of the IAT committee working on many of these issues include: Haksoon Ahn, Aaron Betsinger, Anita Bryant, Jill Carter, Neijma Celestine-Donnor, Brook Kearley, Jennifer Kelman, Jennifer Lowther, Kaya Swann, Jessie Watrous, and India Williams. Please feel free to reach out to any member of this committee with questions, needs, or suggestions.
Executive Director Search Update
The Institute Executive Director Search Committee received more than 20 applications, completed initial screenings with 12 candidates, and held full committee interviews with four candidates. The Search Committee used the interview questions that were prioritized by Institute staff based on the survey sent out in December 2023. Members on the search committee are encouraged by the quality of the candidates interviewed.
The Search Committee convened Jan. 26 to determine which candidates will be brought to campus for in-person interviews in February. We want you to participate in this process! Please be on the lookout for notices about these discussions with executive director candidates. Please reach out to Aaron Betsinger or Seante Hatcher, co-leads of the search committee, if you have any questions.
Building and Facilities Update
The Institute is moving! All Institute faculty and staff will be moving from 306 W. Redwood St. to 550 W. Baltimore St. A final timeline is still being developed with the Space Planning and Real Estate office. More information will be provided at the Institute all-staff meeting.
Highlights of Recent Work
Kudos to the EBP team for their excellent recent work supporting 24 local departments of social services and the Social Services Administration in a recent regional planning process. The series of regional meetings and ongoing technical assistance will result in the development of two state plans that will be touchstones for child welfare efforts in the years ahead: the Child and Family Services Plan and the Family First Prevention Services Plan.
The PIEC team continues to lead Maryland’s Pyramid Model State Leadership Team (SLT). Maryland’s Pyramid Model SLT is a collaborative gathering of leaders and practitioners working to support Pyramid Model implementation, representing a range of the early childhood workforce throughout the state. SLT meets regularly to promote practices that support young children’s social and emotional development and prevent challenging behaviors. In January 2024, the PIEC team convened the Annual Maryland Pyramid Model SLT Benchmarks of Quality (BOQ) Retreat. The engaging retreat theme was telling our story. Participants were guided through a descriptive framework and reflected on who we are, why we are here, and where we are going.
Haksoon Ahn, Kimberly Williams, Jinyung Kim, and Elsa Moeller, presented an oral paper presentation at the Society for Social Work and Research 28th Annual Conference in Washington D.C. The paper was in a group of presentations titled “Reunification and Permanency,” and the presentation was titled “Factors Associated with Permanency for Children in Out-of-Home Placement,” which discussed several factors that were found to be associated with the achievement of permanency for children and youth in foster care, including the use of Family Team Decision Meetings (FTDM).