DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

DCL-06-08

ATTACHMENT:  Invitation for Workshop Session Proposals
Proposal Requirements
Workshop Proposal Application
Sample Proposal

DATE: February 21, 2006

TO:  ALL STATE AND TRIBAL IV-D DIRECTORS

RE:  Call for Proposals for Workshops for the 16th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference

Dear Colleague:

I am delighted to invite you to submit workshop proposals for the 16th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference. The conference is scheduled for September 11 - 13, 2006, in Arlington, Virginia at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel. 

While the National Child Support Enforcement Strategic Plan is always the focus of our program, we encourage a wide range of submissions. We are looking for creative and innovative ideas. Training sessions from our state/tribal and community partners offer participants an opportunity to learn from peers and professionals.

The Strategic Plan strategies include:

• Emphasize prevention and early intervention

• Provide proactive case management

• Simplify distribution of collections, and pay families promptly and first

• Ensure health care coverage for children

• Eliminate barriers associated with multi-state cases

• Use specific collaboration protocols with other agencies

• Use time-sensitive, specific customer service protocols for TANF clients

• Customize approach to customer service

• Develop effective locate, service of process, and establishment tools

• Expand and improve enforcement/collection tools

We will also feature workshops and plenary sessions related to the recently passed “Deficit Reduction Act of 2005”. Other topics include healthy marriage initiatives, fatherhood programs, collaboration among partners, training programs for enhanced management and workshops that improve supervisory skills. 

Be creative with your workshop titles and proposals. Titles and proposals should reflect the topic, but more descriptive and interesting titles may attract the Conference Program Committee's attention.

Proposals should be submitted no later than March 24, 2006. Please see the attachments for other details you will need to complete your proposal. The Strategic Plan may be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse .  A sample proposal is attached.

Please submit your proposal via e-mail to Bob Clifford at bclifford@acf.hhs.gov with a copy to our Conference Chair, Charlene Butler at cbutler@acf.hhs.gov . You will be notified of the committee's determination concerning your proposal before April 30, 2006.

Thank you for your interest in being a part of the 16th National Child Support Enforcement Training Conference. If you need additional information, contact Charlene Butler by telephone at 202-401-5091 or Bob Clifford by telephone at 856-589-9179, or by the above email addresses.

Sincerely,

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc:   ACF Regional Administrators
    CSE Program Managers
    CSE Regional Training Liaisons
    State Training Liaisons
    National CSE Training Work Group