Workforce Training Schedule_July 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
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. July 8
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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. July 9 and 10
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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.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 15, 16 and 17
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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.
1-4:30 p.m. July 7, 14, 21 and 28
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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.
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. July 1, 2 and 3
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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. July 30
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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. July 28
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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).
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. July 29
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Informed Decisions Through Critical Thinking
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. July 9
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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.-4 p.m. July 11
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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.
Tacoma (Puyallup Tribe Office): 1-5 p.m. July 29, 30 and 31
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Supporting a Kinship-First Culture in a Workforce Environment
This course will use kin-first culture principles to help DCYF workers engaging with kinship and relative caregivers to prepare them for successful placements of youth.
9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 25
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In this course, you’ll learn about childhood mental health, including common symptoms and screenings, assessment, effective interventions, and ways to engage children, caregiving adults, and professionals.
9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 22 and 23
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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. July 21
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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.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 31
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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.
1-4 p.m. July 1
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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. July 2
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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.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. July 11
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