Acknowledgements

The RAFT blended learning experience was developed by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department- Protective Services-Foster and Adoption Bureau. Many individuals have contributed their expertise, vision, creative abilities, and support to the development of the Relative, Adoptive and Foster Parent Training curriculum over the years. All contributors have enriched the RAFT process. For information about the website and new RAFT process please contact Isela Burciaga rosaisela.burciaga@state.nm.us.

Raft Blended Learning Development Team

Isela Burciaga (content specialist) is a licensed Masters Social Worker and currently serves as the Foster Care and Adoption Bureau Chief for the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families, Protective Services. Since beginning her career in child welfare, a few of her roles include, Statewide Recruitment Manager, liaison for the Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center and Protective Services, Statewide In-Home Services Coordinator, In Home Services and Permanency Planning Supervisor, Clinical Consultant and direct field practice. Isela is also a graduate of STEP: The Data Leaders and Quality Improvement Course. Ms. Burciaga has been working in the field of child welfare and child protection for over 22 years and holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University.

Dominic Cappello (developer and designer) is the strategist at Safety+Success — a socially engaged design and strategic planning firm. He is currently leading the development of the STEP Data Leaders and Quality Improvement Initiatives in New Mexico and Connecticut, funded by Casey Family Programs. He worked for the NM Department of Health’s Epidemiology and Response Division and the NM Protective Services-Research, Assessment and Data Bureau. He has a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Language and Communication from Regis University. Dominic is the co-author of the Ten Talks book series on family safety that gained a national audience, and a place on the New York Times bestseller list, when he appeared on Oprah discussing the art of communicating about tough topics.

Camille Hancock (content specialist) is a licensed Masters Social Worker and the Director of the Family and Child Welfare Training Project with New Mexico State University. The project oversees 3 major conferences (Foster Parent, Adoptive Families and Independent Living Youth); RAFT; Foster Parent Mandated Training; Co-facilitates Foundation of Practice and Foundations of Leadership; and the Scholar Program with the School of Social Work. Prior to NMSU, Camille worked with CYFD for 18 years. 13 of those as a Supervisor in various capacities; Investigations, Placement and Adoptions, In-Home Services and Permanency Planning. Her passion has been in the area of training and ensuring that participants walk away with the necessary skills to achieve greater outcomes for children and families.

Sarah Meadows (Evaluation and Survey Design) has a MSW from NMSU and a BA in Psychology from the College of Santa Fe. Sarah works as a Data Evaluation Specialist for the Protective Services Research Assessment and Data Bureau, serving as a STEP Data Leaders instructor, and is supporting development of STEP materials and resources. She previously worked as a Senior Investigator and brings to STEP a perspective from the field. Her interest is in how data can inform policy and empower individuals at every level to facilitate positive change.