The New Jersey Child Support Institute (NJCSI) plays a crucial role educating and supporting professionals involved in the New Jersey Child Support program. NJCSI develops comprehensive learning experiences and materials that keep professionals informed about statutes, regulations, and policies guiding the child support system as well as family-centered practices that foster productive relationships with caregivers. Learning experiences are delivered by subject-matter experts via engaging, scenario-based learning offered through in-person and virtual synchronous and asynchronous trainings.
Contact:
Danielle Francesconi
Director of Human Service Initiatives
Institute for Families, School of Social Work
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
njcsi@ssw.rutgers.edu
NJCSI hosts learners at two training facilities across the state, located in Cherry Hill and Princeton. Our lab-styled classrooms allow hands-on and experiential learning directly connected to prototypes of case management systems.
NJCSI partners with child support subject-matter experts to offer targeted educational sessions led by a panel of experienced professionals. Technical assistance allows participants to exchange ideas, collaborate with peers, and ask case- or topic-specific questions to the experts.
NJCSI educates the state's network of community-based programs, including those celebrating fatherhood, to inform families about child support. We serve families through qualified, engaging learning events that link families to critical resources that will result in financial and medical security for children and their caregivers.
Self-paced learning allows employees to choose from a variety of multimodal content to support their preferences and needs. On-demand learning, through a range of coursework, video content, interactive simulations, downloadable guides, or targeted educational resources, empowers individuals to acquire knowledge at their convenience with full accessibility.
NJCSI manages the State of New Jersey’s child support LMS that serves as a central platform for course enrollment, session reporting, evaluations, and learner access to online educational resources. Learning paths for agency-specific system roles ensure that child support professionals are prepared for their specific role, functions, and professional development goals through logical and sequential coursework.
New Jersey child support professionals engage thousands of family members to serve their unique needs. Caring is an intrinsic part of their jobs; they devote their time and effort to help families thrive and succeed. The month of August is dedicated to giving professionals an opportunity for self-care and professional development. Topics targeted in these areas allow child support professionals to maintain their passion for helping families while investing in their own growth and wellness.
The child support workforce engages family members and stakeholders representing a wide range of backgrounds and identities. Our commitment as a training institute is to promote inclusivity, support equity, and ensure that child support education and practice is accessible to the full community. We are committed to employing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging practices in our daily work, and within our communities.
A series of domestic violence sessions were created to educate child support professionals to recognize signs and advocate for victims of domestic violence. Sessions raised awareness of domestic violence and deepened their knowledge of related dynamics. Child support professionals, through education, awareness, and actions, make a difference in the lives of families.
NJCSI collaborates with and supports the NJ Child Support Council for their annual NJ Child Support Training Event for over 800 attendees across the state. Each year, NJCSI develops a wide range of workshop sessions in partnership with state subject-matter experts and provides collaborative support leading up to the event by preparing marketing materials, coordinating enrollment, and supporting onsite facilitation of this annual conference.
NJCSI collaborates with the National Child Support Training Partnership to advance the current and future state of child support training and coaching through networking, communication, and collaboration. The Partnership is working toward expanding resources, strengthening strategies, sharing knowledge, and promoting networking opportunities from national child support partners. NJCSI lead Danielle Francesconi contributes as a Partnership board member.
NJCSI prepares Administrative Office of the Courts professionals to effectively deliver parent education workshops to support family members engaged with the courts as their families transition through separation and divorce and adapt to new living arrangements.
For more information on the New Jersey Child Support Institute, contact us at njcsi@ssw.rutgers.edu.