Workforce Training Schedule_April 2025
Training Locations
Regions 1/2 Training Hub: 316 W. Boone, Suite 180, Spokane
Regions 3/4 Training Hub: 4045 Delridge Way SW, Seattle
Regions 5/6 Training Hub: 6860 Capitol Blvd., Tumwater
In this training, you’ll consider how to best explain the safety threat that’s keeping a child in out-of-home care and think about how this threat impacts child safety during family time. You’ll practice applying the threshold questions to decisions about family time and articulating to the court why you are recommending a specific level of supervision, even when the child needs to remain out of the home.
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 7
Register Here
The Autism Basics: Behavior and Coping Strategies for Workforce
This comprehensive training aims to provide participants with valuable insights and practical strategies to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) throughout their developmental journey. Throughout the training, we will explore essential topics such as ASD diagnosis and characteristics from birth to adulthood.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 7
Register Here
Child and Family Welfare Services In-Service
This two-day in-service training will prepare new CFWS caseworkers and experienced CFWS caseworkers who wish to improve their practice to engage parents and families from the point of transfer or case assignment. Participants will learn how to make the most of the first meeting and monthly visits with the parent in building a working relationship geared toward safe reunification and timely permanency.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 29 and 30
Register Here
Child Protective Services In-Service
This three day in-service will describe the two different CPS pathways, Family Assessment Response (FAR) and Investigations. Participants will be asked to review several examples of CPS intakes and the information in the course will be presented through using these case examples.
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. April 8, 9 and 10
Register Here
This training is intended to give you the information you need to provide Qualified Expert Witness (QEW) testimony in Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Indian Child Welfare cases. This training provides an overview of background information on the history and impacts of colonization on Native American and Alaska Native children and families that led to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, an introductory level overview of the Indian Child Welfare Act and Washington Indian Child Welfare Act, an overview of DCYF Dependency Cases, and a detailed look at QEW purpose, qualifications, and procedures.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 15 and 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 16
Register Here
Identifying and Supporting Commercially Sexually Exploited Children for Workforce
This course will help workers who do ongoing work with adolescents in the child welfare system identify youth who are at risk for or are being commercially sexually exploited. The training will provide a framework for understanding this issue that greatly impacts adolescents in the child welfare system, as well as for understanding the basic social work practices that support helping these youth reach positive outcomes.
1-4:30 p.m. April 8, 9 and 10
5:15-8:45 p.m. April 14, 15 and 16
Register Here
Indian Child Welfare Policy Training
This course provides key information incorporating changes necessary to comply with Washington State Supreme Court decisions, In re Dependency of Z.J.G. and M.E.J.G. and In re Dependency of G.J.A. The policy training introduces content that sets the stage for applying the revisions to the Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Policies and Procedures throughout practice in Washington State.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 16
Register Here
Infant Safety: Assessing the Infant’s Environment
Assessment of every environment in which an infant lives and sleeps, as well as all individuals providing care, is critical to ensuring the safety of this vulnerable population. Emphasis will be placed on developmental needs, attachment, and the infant’s relationships.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. April 21 and 22
Register Here
Infant Safety: Period of PURPLE Crying
The Period of PURPLE Crying will provide social workers with an understanding of the importance of assessing for both prolonged crying in infancy and the caregiver’s ability to manage long periods of crying. Emphasis will be placed on safety in terms of the connection between prolonged crying and child abuse/neglect, as well as completion of the Period of PURPLE Crying Training Certification through dontshake.org (if not previously completed).
12:30-4:30 p.m. April 24
Register Here
Infant Safety: Plan of Safe Care
The Plan of Safe Care is an element of case planning for families with infants born with and affected by substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure, or a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or born to a dependent youth. The focus of this course is to provide opportunities for demonstration, practice, and feedback pertaining to meeting the practice and policy requirements for this component of the Infant Safety Education and Intervention Policy.
1-4:30 p.m. April 28
Register Here
During this training, you will enhance your decision-making in child welfare by employing objective evidence, identifying behavior patterns, considering family perspectives and utilizing collateral information. This course will explore techniques for integrating new information effectively and recognizing biases, such as confirmation bias, to enhance decision-making abilities.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. April 9
Register Here
LGBTQIA+ Youth: Guiding the Work for Licensing Staff
In this course, licensing staff will learn to center the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth in conversations with licensed providers, both in childcare and out-of-home care systems. You will have the opportunity to look at your own assumptions, biases, and reactions related to LGBTQIA+ youth, as an opportunity to build your confidence in guiding providers through similar processes to prepare them to better serve these youth.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. April 24 and 25
Register Here
Next Steps For Intake Staff In Their First Year
As DCYF intake workers who have finished the introductory eLearning trainings and worked at least six months on the job, you’re ready to take a deeper dive into the intake world by advancing your skills when working with Special Circumstance Intakes. In this course you’ll learn more about how to effectively document intakes that involve Substance Exposed Newborns, Domestic Violence (DV), Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) and Indian Child Welfare (ICW). You’ll also discuss intakes related to providers, critical incidents, and consider legal issues related to intakes.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 10 and 11
Register Here
Permanency for Every Child
The focus of this course is on the role of the CFWS caseworker in achieving permanency for children taking into consideration how safety threats, risk factor and protective factors apply to achieving timely permanency.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 3 and 4
Register Here
Strategies for Effectively Engaging in Cross Cultural Conflict
In this workshop you will develop your skills for engaging when tension exists across cultures. Strategies include how to engage when you offend, how to engage when you are offended, and how to engage when you witness an offense. You will learn how best to approach these tense and challenging situations through vignettes, role play, and small and large group discussion.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. April 29
Register Here
Strategies for Interrupting Oppression
This course reminds you how to critically examine race and racism, how implicit bias can negatively impact an organizations culture and efficacy, and how to effectively employ strategies to interrupt them. It also helps you learn how to employ Courageous Conversations to better address and mitigate racial bias.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. April 22
Register Here
This course applies lessons from trauma studies to child welfare practice for children, youth, and adults. Participants will discuss practice guidelines crucial to trauma-informed practice in any setting. Participants will learn to distinguish trauma from other adversities and suffering; describe the characteristics, dynamics and effects of trauma; and emphasize the ways in which chronic trauma and complex trauma compromise normal functioning.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 16
Register Here
Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered Fundamentals Training
This course provides examples of on-the-ground applications of trauma-informed and healing-centered principles and concepts. Each of the commonly recognized Six Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) are discussed during the training, as are foundational concepts behind the Healing-Centered Approach.
9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 29
Register Here
Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) for DCYF
TBRI for DCYF Staff is a foundational level training for DCYF workforce. This introductory training will help you learn the basic approaches of the three TBRI Principles (Connecting, Empowering and Correcting) by engaging participants in group activities and discussions based on real-life scenarios.
1-3:30 p.m. April 23
Register Here
Understanding Bias and Impacts on Engagement
Through a series of interventions and strategies, you will learn how to interrupt unconscious bias and address subtle acts of exclusion. You will develop behaviors that reflect Cultural Competence; engage in discussions about the negative effects of stereotypes, microaggressions, and bias on effective case work; and practice courageous conversations to develop appropriate responses to these issues.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 15
Register Here
Understanding Chronic and Complex Neglect
This course takes a deeper dive into the dynamics of chronic and complex child neglect. You will consider effective ways to engage and assess families where neglect is present and how to evaluate each child’s unique characteristics, including how each child’s needs are impacted by neglectful behaviors and conditions in the home. We will look at how the impacts of substance misuse, unaddressed mental health concerns, domestic violence and cognitive challenges may interrupt the parent/child relationship resulting in unmet child needs.
1-4 p.m. April 22
Register Here
This mandatory training for social service specialists covers topics including workplace violence related to social work practice; predictors of violent behavior; recognizing escalating behavior; safety in the field; safety precautions in methamphetamine sites; resources and support for worker safety; and working with law enforcement.
Tri-Cities DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. April 2
Register Here