• History
• Vision
• Overview of Roles & Responsibilities
• Continuing Responsibilities of Prevent Child Abuse America & Healthy Families America
• National Regional Centers (Directors and areas of responsibility)
• Utilization and Satisfaction with the Regional Centers
• Frequently Asked Questions About the HFA Regional Centers
• Questions About the Regional Centers?

History

In February 2002, Prevent Child Abuse America's Board of Directors unanimously approved a recommendation to develop regional centers for the management and administration of certain Healthy Families America (HFA) program functions including: training, technical assistance and preparation of sites for accreditation. The premise of this strategic direction was linked to the long-time vision of both PCA America and HFA that building the strength, capacity and resources at the local and state levels was the best assurance for long-term sustainability of HFA programs.

The overall goal was to create three Regional Centers that would be fully operational by 2007 to provide training and quality assurance support for a majority of all HFA program sites in the United States. The result should be greater implementation of quality assurance measures at HFA program sites, increased uniformity of definitions of services, and more consistent training. It is believed that by enhancing the capacity of local delivery systems through a regional model, the sustainability of the HFA program across the country can more readily be ensured.

As of 2011, all three sites are operational -- the Northeastern Regional Center, the Central Regional Center, and the Western/Southeastern Regional Center. The Central and Western Regional Centers became operational effective January 20, 2003, and the Northeastern Regional Center and Southeastern Regional Center, March 14, 2011..

Vision

To expand capacity, improve the quality of training & technical assistance & increase the number of sites providing quality services for families.

Overview of Roles & Responsibilities

The following outlines the roles and responsibilities for each Regional Center:

• To communicate regularly - through proactive outreach -- with the state systems and sites within their defined region and with other Regional Centers to coordinate technical assistance and support for the purpose of growing and sustaining HFA Sites and State Systems.
• To provide and/or coordinate core and advanced trainings for HFA staff within the Regional Center's defined region.
• To provide support for the Train the Trainer (T3) Institutes via outreach to states, helping to identify potential participants and serving as guest faculty.
• To host and coordinate advanced training for trainers with the HFA national office (both HFA specific and via other available training sources).
• To provide or coordinate technical assistance for program quality, adherence to the HFA Critical Elements and the accreditation process.
• To participate in the evaluation of the Regional Center, including provision of quarterly reports and support for a common technical assistance tracking tool and data collection processes.
• To work toward establishing functioning systems, as defined in the Framework for HFA State Systems Development, in the areas of quality assurance, technical assistance, training, fundraising, data management systems and evaluation on an annual basis. The Regional Center will work with states within their region to assess strengths, challenges and gaps in services and maximize opportunities to broker services based on collaborative agreements.
• To pursue strategies for building partnerships, linkages and outreach with other state systems and PCA America state chapters where appropriate or work to enhance current relationships and partnerships.
• To demonstrate a commitment to ongoing collaboration for support and the exchange of expertise, information and resources amongst the Regional Center's and/or other state systems.

Continuing Responsibilities of Prevent Child Abuse America & Healthy Families America

PCA America will continue to:

• Certify HFA Trainers.
• Update and license HFA national training materials.
• Plan and coordinate the Train the Trainers Institute (T3).
• Support the Accreditation Panel.
• Train Peer Reviewers & provide Refresher Training for Peers.
• Maintain responsibility for standards development.
• Establish relationships and reciprocity agreements with other accrediting agencies.
• Provide technical assistance to Regional Centers.
• Support Regional Center's around capacity building & growth including: collaboration, funding, advocacy and strategic planning.
• Build new state systems and coach existing state systems to become stronger.
• Focus on issues such as partnerships and convening the HFA network.
• Facilitate communication to the field advocacy alerts, TA calls and our relationship with the National Advisory Committee (NAC).
• Lead in the areas of fund development, advocacy, materials development, brand identity, media efforts and evaluation/research to Regional Centers, state systems and the field.

National Regional Centers

Here is a one-page reference for the Regional Centers that includes which states are covered by each Center.  For quick reference, the three Regional Centers are listed here with their contact information.

To request technical assistance and/or information about what's going on in your state, please contact the following national staff:

Tracie Lansing, Director of the Central & Southeast Regions at Cell: (312) 590-4537 or tlansing@preventchildabuse.org if you are located in the following states:  Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Lynn Kosanovich, Director of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic Regions at (703) 888-3135 or lkosanovich@preventchildabuse.org if you are located in: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.

Satya Kline, Director of the Northwest, Plains, & Southern Regions at (541) 521-7225 or skline@preventchildabuse.org if you are located in: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Oklahoma, Oregon, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Kate Whitaker, National Director of Model Implementation at (520) 297-9158 or kwhitaker@preventchildabuse.org if you are located in: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Canada, American Samoa, Guam, and Mariannas.

Utilization and Satisfaction with the Regional Centers

In early 2005 a survey was disseminated to a comprehensive list of customers and potential customers of the Regional Centers to assess their level of utilization and satisfaction with the centers. This report describes the highlights from this survey.

Frequently Asked Questions About the HFA Regional Centers

If my State or Site is Part of a Regional Center does this mean that I can no longer call PCA America?
The Regional Centers are intended to provide a central point of contact for the HFA state systems and sites located within that region. The Regional Center staff is responsible for maintaining up-to-date information on trainings, resources and other opportunities available within the region. While states and/or sites are not precluded from contacting the national office, more detailed information about local and regional resources may be available via the Regional Center. The majority of training and quality assurance related questions will be directly referred to the Regional Centers..

If my State or Site is Part of A Regional Center does this mean that I no longer work directly with my Primary Contact and/or other State Leaders in my state?
The Regional Center's are in no way intended to replace the current infrastructures, communication systems and training and technical assistance systems in place within states. They are intended to provide a mechanism for more easily accessing resources within the region, providing a more targeted point of contact at the regional level and serving as a catalyst for bringing states together to maximize existing strengths, resources and needs.

Will the Regional Centers be assuming responsibility for all aspects of the Accreditation Process?
The role of the Regional Centers with the Accreditation Process is to provide support and technical assistance with preparing for the Accreditation Process. PCA America will continue to maintain responsibility for coordinating site visits, training and working with the Peer Reviewers and coordinating the Accreditation Panel's responsibilities for accrediting sites.

If my State or Site is Part of a Regional Center does this mean that we can no longer contract services with a trainer from another part of the country?
There is a wealth and breadth of resources within the HFA Network to draw upon. The Regional Centers are not intended to limit access to these resources or to stifle the value of working with individuals and/or groups that can provide services and supports that are needed by any state or site. The goal is to provide a more organized mechanism for accessing these resources and ensuring that more states and sites are aware of existing resources and supports.

Will there be any fees associated with services provided by the Regional Centers?
There will be fees associated with the services provided by the Regional Centers. These are reflective of fees currently charged for services such as attending core training, contracting with a trainer to provide a core training or seeking technical assistance from another state, state leader, etc. Each state or site will work directly with their Regional Center to determine an appropriate fee structure and process for working with one another.

Will the Regional Centers be responsible for the Train the Trainers Institute (T3), Certification of Trainers and Advanced Training?
These training functions will be the responsibility of the HFA National Director of Training, Lisa Sutter.

Questions About the Regional Centers?

If you have any questions about the Regional Centers or would like additional information please contact Phyllis Medrano, pmedrano@preventchildabuse.org.