ItF.I.T.S. with CYFS - F.I.T.S. IN ACTION!

Over the last few months, we have introduced staff to F.I.T.S. (Family Systems, Inclusivity, Trauma-Responsive, and Strength-Based). The idea here is we approach our work using these 4 pillars that are interconnected and what makes our service delivery so unique.

You may not have known, but there are multiple FITS committees within our agency. Each committee has a specific FITS related goal, and they are committed to making FITS influenced changes throughout the agency. Here’s our hardworking committees + some things they’ve been working on:

FITS Training Committee : The Training Committee has been working to schedule + prepare for the upcoming supervisor’s Family Systems Training. Our Chief Operations Officer, Tony Riordan, will be facilitating this training on May 4th, 2023! This is the start to our many, “FITS – Living the Mission” series trainings! We are so excited to get the ball rolling and have more + more FITS trainings for all our staff!

FITS Environment Committee: The Environment Committee has started a Kindness Campaign. This was influenced by FITS, especially the strength’s-based pillar! When you complete acts of kindness, you are being strength’s-based! You are also being strength’sbased when you’re calling out your peer’s acts of kindness! This committee is also working to make our office lobbies more warm, welcoming + comforting! Additionally, the committee is working to get more FITS information hung up in our lobbies so everyone who walks in + out of our building knows about our pillars of practice.

FITS Intake Assessment + Services Committee: The Intake Assessment + Services Committee has been reviewing intake forms from all the programs within CYFS. The committee has been making FITS influenced recommendations for said forms. The committee has been making sure that all forms that are reviewed with clients or used for client referrals are inclusive, trauma responsive, strength’s based + include questions about the client’s family system.

FITS Consumer + Community Committee: The Consumer + Community Committee has been working to get FITS related information out to both consumers + the community. They are doing so by putting together information to put in the donor newsletter + the foster parent and adoptive parent newsletter. Additionally, the committee is working on putting together a FITS insert for program brochures. This way, anytime someone gives or receives one of our brochures, they receive some education on our pillars of practice!

FITS Equity, Diversity + Inclusion Committee: The Equity, Diversity + Inclusion Committee is currently working on recruiting members! The mission of the EDI Council is to nurture an environment which attracts and retains the best talent, values the diversity of life experiences and perspectives, and encourages everyone to pursue the CYFS mission. If you share in the vision of an equitable world and a community which supports and encourages all people--staff and clients--to live fully and reach their unique potential, then please consider joining the EDI Council as we continue our work to realize this vision at CYFS.

FITS Workforce Development Committee: The Workforce Development Committee’s mission is to promote, implement, and sustain CYFS missiondriven initiatives that increase employee recruitment, retention, satisfaction, engagement, and professional development. Currently, this committee is focused on recruitment + retention. The committee is working hard to get individuals familiar with FITS from the moment they show interest in working at the agency!

You may have heard in News You Can Use that Rock Island had an appreciation board for National Social Work Awareness Month. Staff comments were collected from foster parents, supervisors, and peers. Read some of those comments below! They will be shared next week as well!

Kathie McAdams has been a blessing from God to our family. As she is also a foster parent and adoption parent we have been able to get her advice on several issues throughout the process of fostering, adopting, and just parenting our children. Thank you Kathy!

Aimee Brewer has been so helpful. Always willing to answer any questions to help us do things correctly.

Rebecca Schaechter is just an all around awesome person. She has such a positive attitude even though I know her job can be heartbreaking. Rebecca has been a huge help to our family.

Christina Wentz has a beautiful heart. Such a nice person. You can tell she really cares and goes the extra mile to help.