The Quality Group Gets Selection to Power New Online Curriculum for Foster Parents

Jan 18, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- The Quality Group (TQG) was selected by the Division of Digital Learning and Media Design at Governors State University (GSU) in University Park, Illinois, to power the new online version of its foster parent training product-the Pride Digital Curriculum.

According to a release, Pride is an acronym for Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education. This curriculum is currently used by child welfare agencies in 30 states, 6 Canadian Provinces, and 17 European countries. GSU has offered the PRIDE Digital Curriculum (PDC) in an interactive CD-ROM format since 2006, and the online version launches this month.

TQG said GSU is moving the PDC product online to better help child service agencies train, certify, and support foster parents - with a relevant, high quality, interactive curriculum that can be delivered whenever and wherever needed. It tapped TQG for its expertise in e-Learning solutions.

"TQG has this great OpusWorks product, which allowed us to complete our long-awaited transition from our CD-ROM product to a more powerful, highly integrated online learning system," said Victoria Lloyd, GSU's Marketing Administrator for Digital Learning and Media Design. "The Quality Group has fast-speed servers; and the database, tracking, testing, assessment, and reporting functions of OpusWorks are unmatched." According to Mrs. Lloyd, the foster care system has become backlogged. With PDC online, powered by TQG's OpusWorks platform, GSU has created a service that gives agencies the flexibility, deliverability, and administrative capabilities to keep moving forward with hopeful foster parents.

"We've been told by child welfare agencies that we're at a critical stage in foster care, where there just aren't enough licensed foster parents to support all the kids who need homes," said Mrs. Lloyd. "And that's because they don't have the resources to get these parents trained fast enough." TQG noted that its OpusWorks delivery platform allows case workers to track and review the training progress of potential foster parents. It also affects the ease, speed, and cost of updating content. By supporting messaging and discussion forums, foster parents and potential foster parents can interact, ask questions, and provide support. These types of messaging features can also be used to gather feedback to provide changes to the program. Additionally, the platform's flexibility allows case workers to customize online classes for foster parents based on specific needs.

"We are so proud to be partnering with GSU," said Rob Stewart, TQG's President and CEO. "Our long history in blended and e-Learning for process improvement allowed us to develop OpusWorks, a world-class learning delivery solution, which GSU is now putting to great use for such an important and worthy cause." The Quality Group produces e-Learning solutions.

More information: www.thequalitygroup.net ((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

[ Back To Technology News's Homepage ]