Workforce Training Schedule_November 2024
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. Nov. 12
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Advanced Practice in Motivational Interviewing will further support you in achieving competence in the use of Motivational interviewing with families. During the Advanced offering you will have multiple opportunities for practice and skill development as well as the opportunity to begin the process of being coded to fidelity through the use of the Motivational Interviewing Competency Assessment (MICA) tool. Coding staff to fidelity of MI is an opportunity for caseworkers to become professionals in MI. Motivational Interviewing is eligible for federal reimbursement when used by case-carrying professionals who are coded to fidelity.
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.
6-8 p.m. Nov. 18
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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.
6-8 p.m. Nov. 19
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In this course, you will practice distinguishing between medical child abuse, medical neglect, starvation and failure to thrive. You will learn the indicators and dynamics of child torture and how these differ from what is typically seen in neglect or chronic maltreatment cases.
6-8 p.m. Nov. 25
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Afterhours Core 2.3 Physical Abuse: Serious Physical Abuse
In this session, you will learn about indicators and dynamics of serious physical abuse which produces injuries that require medical care and can cause long-term consequences or death. You will have a chance to apply this information to scenarios and discuss the best ways to move forward in situations when serious physical abuse is suspected.
6-8 p.m. Nov. 26
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Assessing Safety Beyond Removal: Family Time and Conditions for Return Home
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.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 20
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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.
Region 1/2 Training Hub, Spokane: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5, 6 and 7
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Through video, interactive activities and discussion of the research, you will be challenged to examine implicit bias, stereotype threat and its effect on cross cultural relationships and ethnic/racial identity development.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 19
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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.
Tri-Cities DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22
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Family Voluntary Services In-Service
You will learn how to make the most of the first meeting and monthly visits with the parent in building a working relationship geared to reducing or mitigating safety threats and risk. You will be provided opportunity to improve the quality of case plans by linking services to behavior changes.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19
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Foundations of Motivational Interviewing in Child Welfare
Foundations of Motivational Interviewing for Child Welfare Staff will introduce you to the Spirit of MI; provide the opportunity to begin developing core skills, including using OARS (Open Ended Questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries) responding to the way people talk about change; and understand how to work with resistance. You will get practice opportunities to increase your skill at strategically responding to sustain talk and change talk and helping families make Brief Action Plans.
Ellensburg DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5, 6 and 7
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Nov. 12, 13, 14 and 15
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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. Nov. 15
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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 5/6 Training Hub, Tumwater: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 15
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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. Nov. 14
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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.
8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Nov. 12
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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.
8:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 6 and 7
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Leadership Training for Supervisors, Program Managers, and Quality Practice Specialists
New supervisors need to achieve competency in understanding the child welfare practice as well as in supervision. This course provides you with an introduction of baseline competencies for supervisors in public child welfare, and opportunities to develop and practice new skills regarding these competencies. Managing self, managing others, managing systems and managing outward are the four main themes integrated throughout this course.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20; Dec. 17 and 18; and Jan. 28 and 29
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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.
1-4 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6
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Racial Microaggressions
Participants will leave this training with a common language and understanding of what is meant by cultural competence and the work they need to do to grow their ability to effectively engage across cultures, an understanding of Racial Microaggressions and why they are problematic, and an increased ability to have courageous conversation about difference and to effectively engage racial tension.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 21
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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.
Walla Walla DCYF: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19
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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.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Nov. 14
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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. Nov. 12
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Supporting Children’s Mental Health in Child Welfare
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. Nov. 13 and 14
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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.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Nov. 13
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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.
1-4 p.m. Nov. 5 and 7
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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.
1-3:30 p.m. Nov. 19
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