Welcome to the National Child Traumatic Stress

Network(NCTSN)

Top 10 Strategies forEnsuring a Successful Start

November 3, 2008

Webinar Presenters

• Virginia Sprang, Child and Adolescent Trauma Treatment Institute, University of Kentucky

• Kimberly Shipman, Denver-Kempe Trauma Collaboration

• Nancy Widdoes, Delaware Child Traumatic Stress Center

• Judy Holland, National Center for Child Traumatic Stress

Top 10 Strategies forGetting Started in the NCTSN

1. Orient—Participate in Network Orientation Activities

2. Jump Start—Hire Project Staff Early3. Connect and Collaborate4. Establish Key Partnerships Early5. Become Data Ready6. Involve Families7. Get to Know Your NCTSN Liaison8. Get to Know Your SAMHSA Project Officer9. Communicate Your Plans10. Start Sustainability Planning Now

1. Orient

• Take advantage of all opportunities to learn about the Network

• Participate in Webinars• Watch mediasite presentations• Attend the New Grantee Orientation• Check out the NCTSN public Web site• Explore the NCTSN Intranet (membership side

of the Web site)• Become familiar with what other Network

members are doing—you may find some good partners

2. Jump Start

• Hire a well-qualified Project Director as soon as possible, at least 50 percent time on the grant

• Hire administrative support staff• Plan your recruitment strategy and prepare

job advertisements• Feel free to consult with your Network

Liaison and other Network centers on appropriate qualities and skill sets to seek

3. Connect and Collaborate

• At the New Grantee Orientation, establish an informal collaborative relationship with at least one other grantee as a learning partner

• Consider a more formal mentoring relationship with a current grantee (talk with your Network Liaison)

• Ask questions. The Network is complex• Consider joining a Learning Collaborative if one is

a good fit for your grant project• Talk with your Liaison about Network centers and

activities that would complement your assets or address the needs of your project

4. Establish Key Partnerships Early

• Identify key stakeholder organizations and government and community leaders in your State/region

• Inform stakeholders of your grant and invite them to a grant celebration or kickoff event

• Include your stakeholders in the public events, orient them to your project and the NCTSN, and share NCTSN materials and products

• Look for other related projects in your community and State to build your constituency and your visibility

5. Become Data Ready

• If you have never collected clinical data before, consider consulting with the Data and Evaluation Program to help identify staffing needs and design your work flow for data collection and submission

• Get the training you will need to submit required data. Participate in the training opportunities offered by each of the data collection initiatives

• Identify and learn about the process for data collection per your Institutional Review Board. Line this up as soon as possible! Delay here will result in project implementation and client service delays

• Compile a master list of all required reports and data collection activities. It is helpful to organize this information on a calendar

• Make a data collection timeline and post it where all project personnel can see it including clinicians and project assistants

6. Involve Families

• Families (parents and caregivers) and youth will be your biggest advocates in your community and State

• Involve caregivers and youth in your project from the beginning

• Families can help engage other families and help with treatment development and implementation

• Examples of strategies for involving families include inviting their participation on a community advisory board and focus groups

• The Partnering with Youth and Families Collaborative Group has excellent resources for engaging families

7. Get To Know Your NCTSN Liaison

• Your Network Liaison’s job is to help you get your project up and running

• Your Liaison and all the staff at the National Center are resources for you. The National Center is a fellow grantee (Category I)

• Your Liaison will answer questions, make a site visit, suggest collaborative groups, and help you make connections in the Network

• Ask any and all questions

8. Get To Know Your SAMHSA Project Officer

• Take time to inform yourself about the grant management process, including timelines for reports

• Schedule a call with your SAMHSA Government Project Officer so that you can begin a strong, positive working relationship

9. Communicate Your Plans

• Keep your key constituencies and stakeholders informed of your progress, project activities, new staff, and successes

• Consider a newsletter or other regular form of communication

• An internal workgroup or your project advisory board can help you frame your messages, audience, and timing

• Work with families, youth, and consumers to make sure that relevant information is shared with them in the most accessible manner

10. Start Sustainability Planning Now

• Think about sustainability from the very beginning of your grant

• Develop a plan for carrying on the critical elements of your work after SAMHSA funding ends

• Be strategic as you select community partners and advisory board members and plan the involvement of leaders in your own organization

• Involving key community leaders like State legislators, county officials, and philanthropists from the beginning will help you as your project develops

Next Steps

• Participate in the Webinar on Data and Evaluation November 10, 2008, 2–3:30 p.m. ET

• Plan to attend the New Grantee OrientationNovember 19–20, 2008

• Plan to attend the All-Network ConferenceMarch 16–19, 2009

• Ask your Liaison about Network Collaborative Groups

• Visit http://www.nctsn.org to stay up to date• Visit the Network Intranet at

http://intranet.nctsnet.org

Welcome to the NCTSN!