Evaluation of a Training Curriculum for Inter-Agency Collaboration Loring Jones, DSW Thomas Packard, DSW Kristen Nahrstedt, MSW ABSTRACT. This paper reports the activities and outcomes of one univer- sity based training project which provided a five-day training series on inter- agency collaboration for public child welfare workers and staff in the fields of substance abuse, mental health, and domestic violence, and summarizes les- sons learned in the project. The overarching goal of this program was the de- velopment of a cadre of child welfare practitioners and community professionals who have the ability to respond effectively to complex family problems of child abuse and neglect resulting from substance abuse, mental ill- ness, and domestic violence. A quasi-experimental design utilizing pre- and post measures was used to test the impact of interdisciplinary training. The evaluation shows gains in trainee knowledge, positive attitudes toward collab- oration, and the trainees reported more collaboration in their own practice be- tween the pre- and post tests that was sustained in a follow-up. The implications of these findings for administrative and community practice are discussed. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Ser- vice: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressinc.com> Website: <http://www.HaworthPress.com> © 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights re- served.] KEYWORDS. Collaboration, interdisciplinary, child welfare, cross-training, substance abuse, domestic violence Loring Jones is Professor of Social Work, School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4119 (E-mail: ljones@mail.sdsu.edu). Thomas Packard is Associate Professor of Social Work at San Diego State University. Kristen Nahrstedt is Research Associate at San Diego State University. Journal of Community Practice, Vol. 10(3) 2002 http://www.haworthpressinc.com/store/product.asp?sku=J125 Ó 2002 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved. 23