The Academy recently completed a pilot evaluation of the New Worker Orientation (NWO) course (December 2023-May 2024). The evaluation’s purpose was to collect and review feedback from learners during the external pilot of the Self-Paced Modules and the Instructor-Led Enhancement, which make up NWO. New child welfare workers started their Foundations training by taking NWO and then went on to complete the existing Foundations training. Each pilot cohort was administered a survey after the Self-Paced Modules and again after the Instructor-Led Enhancement portion of NWO.

Some of the strengths identified through the evaluation include the following.

  • The majority of learners rated the Self-Paced Modules and Instructor-Led Enhancement highly.
    • The...Self-Paced Modules were amazing.They were rich in information and valuable content.I really enjoyed them. Would like to review them again another time.
    • The videos we watched were right on point with the families we serve. The content was very realistic.
  • Learners indicated a strong positive connection with the trainers, and they were appreciated for their engaging methods and respectful interactions.
    • I thought that the course trainer was very knowledgeable and respectful of the students in the course. The activities were engaging and thought provoking and helped take a deeper look into real-life scenarios.
  • Learners enjoyed the breakout rooms / group discussions, case studies, and interactions built into the course and valued these activities for enhancing their understanding and engagement.
    • I really enjoyed the breakout sessions to hear ideas and thoughts from others in the group.
    • Breakout rooms, big group discussion. I always like learning from others and hearing other’s perspectives.
  • The course content was found to be directly relevant and beneficial, with specific praise for integrating the Intercultural Development Inventory, which helped learners understand cultural responsiveness in child welfare practice.
    • The entire course was useful and enabled me to approach my work holistically.

Results of the pilot evaluation were compiled and presented to Academy Leadership, which included challenges the learners experienced and recommendations for consideration in preparation for a fall statewide launch. Copies of the full report can be found here.