Shared Learning Collaboratives

About

For more than 40 years, the New England Association of Child Welfare Commissioners and Directors (NEACWCD) has provided a trusted forum where the leaders of New England's six public child welfare agencies work together to strengthen practice, improve policy, and achieve better outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Grounded in the belief that no agency should have to solve complex challenges alone, NEACWCD fosters a culture of collaboration, shared leadership, and continuous learning. Commissioners, Directors, and peer groups of staff meet regularly across disciplines to exchange ideas, examine emerging issues, share innovations, and learn from one another's experiences. These collaborative networks create opportunities to identify common challenges, develop regional solutions, and accelerate the adoption of promising practices.

Peer groups address a wide range of topics, including workforce recruitment, development, and retention; systems transformation; child safety and risk assessment; kinship and permanency; continuous quality improvement; legal and judicial partnerships; program planning; leadership development; data and evaluation; and authentic engagement of children, youth, families, and community partners.

NEACWCD's work extends beyond convening meetings. Lasting systems change requires both knowledge and the organizational capacity to put that knowledge into practice. Through partnerships with national experts, consultants, philanthropic organizations, federal partners, and member agencies, NEACWCD supports collaborative problem-solving, leadership development, technical assistance, and implementation strategies that help agencies translate ideas into sustainable improvements across the region.

Peer Groups

We host the following peer groups on a consistent basis:

• Commissioners and Directors
• Workforce Development Directors
• Continuous Quality Improvement Directors
• General Counsel and Assistant Attorneys General
• Policy Directors
• Adolescent Services Directors
• Racial Equity Workgroup
• Foster and Adoptive Parent Associations
• Family First Prevention Services Coordinators

Peer Groups for Urgent Needs

• Family First Prevention Services Act planning and implementation
• Promoting a kinship culture
• Addressing the needs of children with complex medical conditions
• Engaging youth in permanency planning
• Covid-19 response
• Cross border placement agreements

History

The NEACWCD has facilitated a variety of projects, convenings and transformative initiatives throughout the years, including: