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DSS Extends Nominations for Fellowship Program Until February 17

Fellowship designed to develop leadership, foster innovation in social service delivery

Department of Children & Family Services (DSS) Secretary Kristy Nichols today announced an extension until February 17 for nominations to be submitted for the second class of the agency's Innovation in Louisiana Government Fellowship, designed to develop leadership and foster innovation in social service delivery.

"With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we are excited to provide training and leadership skills for a second fellowship class in 2010," said Nichols. "The progress made to date by our initial class is promising, and we will continue the process with a new group of individuals, from both state government and community organizations, with innovative ideas and solutions to improve social service deliver and outcomes for Louisiana."


Up to15 fellows will be selected based on nominations. Nominees will receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion of the Innovation and Leadership Academy consisting of a formal curriculum, expert speakers, technical assistance, peer information sharing, collaborative social networking tools, and the opportunity to fully develop their ideas into a complete implementation plan. The Academy, operated by DSS and Success Labs, will culminate in the opportunity to return together as a group to finalize and share their work and plan for implementation and dissemination.

Potential nominees include individuals within state government or community-based organizations who are committed to improving the social service delivery system. Nominees should have ideas for social service projects that can be developed over the course of the four-month fellowship into ready-to-implement initiatives.

The deadline for nominations for nominations is February 17, 2010, by 5 p.m. Visit www.dss.state.la.us/leadership for information, nomination instructions and an online nomination form. Self-nominations are encouraged.

Fellows will be selected by DSS leadership and an external Social Services Advisory Board consisting of leaders in government and the community that advises DSS on policy and program issues on a regular basis.

Once selected, fellows will collaborate to develop implementation plans for fellowship projects that have the potential to foster change in business processes that achieve cost savings and increase efficiencies, intervention strategies that achieve improved client outcomes or systems level integration strategies that lead to improved service delivery.

In May of 2009, DSS announced the first Innovation in Louisiana Government fellowship. Twelve nominees were chosen to participate in the Innovation and Leadership Academy and will present finalized group projects at a graduation ceremony in February 2010.

For additional information or questions about the Innovation in Louisiana Government Fellowship or the nomination process, contact Brandon Reeves at Brandon.Reeves@la.gov or (225) 342-2436 or Daryl Blacher at Daryl.Blacher@la.gov or (225) 342-9972.



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