As part of our ongoing evaluation of the certificate program developed by Rutgers University’s Center for Research on Ending Violence in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF), we are excited to share recent progress.
Over the past several weeks, our research team has conducted a series of in-depth interviews with child welfare professionals who have participated in the certificate program. These conversations have provided rich insights into how the training is being applied in practice and where additional support may be needed. We are grateful to all participants for their time and thoughtful reflections.
More interviews are scheduled in the coming weeks, and the data collected so far is already informing the next phase of our evaluation. Specifically, we have begun using preliminary findings to shape the design of a survey tool that will be distributed to the incoming cohort of certificate program participants. This survey will help us better understand the program’s impact on knowledge acquisition, confidence in responding to family violence, and perceived gaps in training.
This iterative approach ensures that our evaluation remains responsive to the needs of child welfare professionals and reflective of their lived experiences. It also strengthens our ability to identify actionable recommendations for enhancing the program. We look forward to sharing more updates as our research continues.