Workforce Training Schedule_January 2024

Advanced Guidelines for Difficult Conversations
For social workers, difficult conversations are part of a broad landscape of interactions necessary to achieve the best outcomes for children, youth and families. This new training, “Advanced Guidelines for Difficult Conversations,” will give you the tools to feel prepared to manage these exchanges effectively and with respect. 
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 18
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Afterhours Core 1.2 Child Safety: Identifying Present Danger
In this course, you will learn about present danger. You will apply your understanding of this concept to many scenarios, building a robust understanding of what is and is not present danger. A framework for assessing for and responding to present danger across cultural difference is provided, and you will apply this framework to practice scenarios, helping prepare you to serve families more equitably.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 22
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Afterhours Core 1.3 Child Safety: Protective Actions
In this course, you will learn how protective actions help ensure the safety of children in present danger. You will learn what components protective actions must include for you to feel confident in their being effective.  Of particular importance, you will consider how you decide whether a specific adult can be relied upon to participate and provide safety to the child.  Finally, you will put everything you have learned about child safety into practice as you consider a scenario and determine whether present danger exists and, if so, what protective actions might be effective.
5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 23
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Appropriate Interventions for Chronic Neglect
The most frequent allegation of child maltreatment is neglect. Some families are referred to the department numerous times with little change in family functioning. In this course, participants will learn how to assess for chronic neglect, its effects on children and appropriate interventions.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 15
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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. Jan. 31 and Feb. 1
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Domestic Violence in Child Welfare
In this course, you’ll learn more about the policy and legal guidance for child welfare work with families experiencing domestic violence. More importantly, you’ll learn the best practices for this work and get to practice applying these best practices.
12:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29, and Feb. 5 and 12
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Harm Reduction and Safety Planning With Substance Using Families
This course will provide you with an understanding of substance use and when it affects the safety of children in the family, how to safety plan with families who have children of all ages (0-18), how to support clients in their treatment programs, and how to measure progress sufficient to have mitigated the safety threats to the children.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 12
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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. Jan. 29, 30 and 31
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Impacts of Parental Mental Health on Child Safety
Participants will be engaged to consider their own thoughts, beliefs, and biases about mental illness; understand basic definitions associated with parental mental illness and child safety; and identify family assessment strategies that can focus on the intersection between parental mental illness and child safety.
region 3/4 Training Hub, Delridge: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jan. 16 and 17
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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.-3 p.m. Jan. 19
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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).
11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 17
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Right Response: Level 3
The RIGHT RESPONSE Level 3 Workshop is primarily prevention training.  This 11-hour certification provides basic skills including prevention, de-escalation, postvention, and physical safety skills. Attendees learn about self-awareness, reflective thinking skills, positive behavior support, basic and advanced de-escalation skills, self-protection, and proactive alternatives which can prevent dangerous incidents and increase safety.
Vancouver/Columbia DCYF: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 24 and 25
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Secondary Trauma: Impact and Solutions
This course will help those who do ongoing work in the child welfare system with identification of and responses to secondary trauma. The training will increase knowledge and understanding of the levels of secondary trauma, its impact, and how to manage the impact in our environment.
Tumwater DCYF: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Jan. 23
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Suicide Prevention LEARN® Training by Forefront for Workforce
LEARN is a suicide awareness training that helps participants identify and act on signs of suicide. LEARN® is designed to empower individuals to help others move in the direction of hope, recovery, and survival.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Jan. 16
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Supporting LGBTQ+ Children, Youth and Families
This course will focus on providing information and engaging in conversation about LGBTQ+ children, youth and families. You will learn about identifying and addressing systemic institutional and personal biases when serving LGBTQ+ children, youth and families. Activities and self-reflection exercises will prepare you to return to your work and create a welcoming, safe and affirming space. Included in this training is updated terminology, resources, and current data/statistics.
Region 5/6 Training Hub, Tumwater: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Jan. 10
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Trauma Informed Engagement
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. Jan 10
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Worker Safety
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.
Region 4 Training Hub, Delridge: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 3
Tacoma DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 10
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