RIJELLE KRAFT

Family Support Managing Coordinator

Each day, Rijelle arrives for excellence-seeking to improve on what’s good to make it better. She is a collaborative planner engaging co-workers in the development of projects and delivery of services. Feedback from our constituents and co-workers make it clear that Rijelle is the go-to person for innovative thinking that produces great results. She has a passion for ensuring that all families should have access to strengths-based services that support their unique circumstances and help them stand strong.

One way this is demonstrated is 97.9% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that, “The instructor engaged participants in interactive by using multiple strategies.”

“The training was great. The presenting was prompt, and articulate. She shared useful information and allowed for participant engagement. Overall I feel it was very useful.”

Much as she encourages organizations to deliver services that meet families where they are and provide an environment that supports growth and development within the family that results in healthy safe environment for children, she provides a parallel set of supports with the program staff to guide them to meet model requirements and implement programs successfully.

One program struggled with meeting model fidelity on a number of elements. But as Rijelle examined the situation with staff she learned that the biggest obstacle in meeting requirements was the reporting system that was used and a lack of understanding by staff of how the forms they used to record work actually contributed to model fidelity. She created a course to demonstrate the utility of the forms, and described how when used properly demonstrated the positive impact of their work with families. Many staff reported “aha” moments when given the guidance and support to document their work.

With evidence of growing leadership her position was elevated from Coordinator to Managing Coordinator. In the last year, she guided the family support coordinator team to establish a regular communication cycle with Parents as Teachers (PAT) affiliates and Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) grantees, to systemically record work, and led the redesign of site visit grantees and affiliates with whom the team works. She models for co-workers proactive and intentional conversations with program staff that assist them as they implement the programs.

This is evident in the way she builds positive relationships, provides coaching and consultation, and asks strategic questions that often lead to the program staff to uncovering their own solutions. She is a continuous learner, using active research skills to understand child maltreatment, prevention services, Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework and the evidence-based programs including Parent as Teachers by participating in professional development activities and reflecting on activities and experiences with an eye towards improving the consultation services she provides.

She demonstrates an understanding and appreciation for the CSIU/CSC mission through effectively representing the Center for Schools and Communities in multiple stakeholder groups, cultivating and building positive, collaborative relationships with regional, state and national leaders. Conversations with other leaders in a national forum about the value of parents understanding the Protective Factors le

CSC/CSIU is fortunate to count Rijelle among those CSC/CSIU employees who are passionate about their work, demonstrate care for co-workers and customers, make a positive difference in both her work life and her community, and are committed to excellence.

– Karen Shanoski