B-CU Delivers Results Based Accountability Training to Human Service Providers in Orange County

B-CU faculty members Dr. Nichole Jones, Dr. Randy Nelson, and Dr. Kideste Yusef, developed and delivered Results Based Accountability (RBA) training for the Orange County Community and Family Services Department. Resulting from an independent Youth Needs Assessment study, Orange County allocated $20 million to address the service gaps and needs of youth and families. 

B-CU currently serves as the lead institution on a grant funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) that is designed to increase the number of students of color in the field of program evaluation. AECF has provided nearly $500,000 in funding for this initiative across Florida's four Historically Black Colleges and Universities: B-CU, Edward Waters College, Florida A & M University, and Florida Memorial University. A vital component of the grant involved the training of students, faculty, and human service professionals. As of January 2019, more than 800 B-CU students, faculty members, and local human service professionals have received RBA training. 

Florida's HBCUs are uniquely positioned to develop and train current and future human service professionals, leaders, and experts in Florida, as well as nationally. Dr. Nelson noted that many Florida students and faculty share similar backgrounds with youth and families served by Florida’s delinquency and dependency systems. More importantly, Florida's HBCU graduates comprise a large segment of the human services workforce in Florida; and their graduates have a statewide presence in every region (North, Central, and South) of the state, resulting in a statewide network of human service professionals who are positioned to advocate for an effective and results-oriented human services delivery system throughout the state.