The Professional Development Program is replicable for other CASA agencies large enough to have the staff to facilitate the workshops. The following recommendations are offered for anyone considering implementing the Professional Development Program:

Do thorough due diligence before trusting someone. More information was needed about the landscape of the prevention field in Tennessee to know which organization would be a best partner for the program.

Know your competition. Originally, the intention was to market the Professional Development Program through the bar associations. Conversations with the Nashville Bar Association director revealed that they would view the Professional Development Program as competition for the CLE courses they offer.

 

Work with multiple target markets simultaneously. The initial vision was to pilot this program with court appointed attorneys through the AOC. However, early interest was shown by TCB with what appeared to be more immediate opportunities. Simultaneously, meetings were secured with DCS that produced progress toward working with them. If efforts had been limited toward the AOC, opportunities could easily have been missed or at the least, delayed. It is hard to tell in the beginning what opportunities will develop and at what pace.

 

Be open to unanticipated opportunities. Offshoots of the work with TCB include the opportunity with STARS to provide a workshop for their employees and the TAADAS conference last July. Additional opportunities with TAADAS are on the horizon, as well. Originally, the case workers were the target with DCS. However, they were quick to mention the need for training for their resource parents. All of these opportunities were unanticipated.

 

Be willing for the structure to evolve. The workshop curriculum based on the CASA volunteer training curriculum has now been expanded to include the True Colours training. One of the Professional Development Program facilitators became a certified trainer of True Colours and that has now been added as a workshop option. The initial idea was to have three-hour workshops, however, the workshop format can now accommodate 1, 2, 3 or 4 hour sessions. It is important that the curriculum is flexible and can be adapted to various time frames, fee structures, and audience needs.

 

Ask for help. The free services of the Students Consulting for Non-Profit Organizations (SCNO) Association of Vanderbilt University have been engaged. This is a group of students who take on special projects for nonprofits to gain experience and to benefit the nonprofit. They will be developing a marketing plan and materials for the target markets of the Professional Development Program.