Advanced Guidelines for Difficult Conversations
This course will begin by taking you through a self-assessment of your own comfort level with difficult conversations, and help you understand your own emotions and how to maintain objectivity. You will then engage in discussions around how to develop a goal or mutual purpose for these conversations, considering what all parties want to achieve. You also will talk about how to develop a safe space for having these conversations, a vital element in creating open dialogue.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 17
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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.
6-8 p.m. Nov. 4
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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. 5
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Afterhours Core 2.2 Physical Abuse: Sentinel Injuries
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. 18
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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. 19
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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. Nov. 24 and 25
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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. 
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 3, 4 and 5
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Comprehensive Qualified Expert Witness (QEW) Training
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. Nov. 6 and 7
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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.
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 6, 7, 13 and 14
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Guiding Engagement Through Conflict
This course will help supervisors learn new skills in conflict management and resolution while using culturally responsive approaches to communication. Through deepening their understanding of communication styles and interpersonal dynamics, supervisors will be able to identify the components contributing to workplace dynamics.
1-4 p.m. Nov. 3
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Identifying and Supporting Commercially Sexually Exploited Children for Workforce
This course will help you build skills to more accurately identify youth who are or may be commercially sexually exploited. The training will provide a framework for understanding this issue, as well as for understanding the basic social work practices that support helping these youth reach positive outcomes. You will leave understanding Department of Children, Youth, and Families’ policy and legal requirements related to screening and supporting these youth, will practice and consider approaches to supporting these youth, and will be provided with a list of statewide community resources.
1-4:30 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.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 10
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Infant Safety: Period of PURPLE Crying
This class will provide you 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. Nov. 4
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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 Plan of Safe Care focuses on access to a network of community-based providers and support services and addresses the needs of both the infant and the family/caregiver.
1-4:30 p.m. Nov. 17
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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. Nov. 24
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Meaningful Cultural Connections: Working with Indigenous Communities
This course will offer ways to learn about Tribal resources, and to support Indigenous families with meaningful cultural connections. Cultural continuity is a protective factor, and when cultural relationships have been interrupted, facilitating reconnection can be healing of the issues that brought the family to the attention of child welfare. We will explore Tribes’ traditional supports, cultural activities, community knowledge keepers and Tribes’ structured service programs. Each Tribe has a unique culture and their particular approaches to supporting their families.
1-4 p.m. Nov. 18
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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.
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Nov. 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. Nov. 12
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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. TBRI uses effective techniques that help you help children gain a sense of belonging through connection, empowering and correction. TBRI tools are designed to create and heal connection and empower and encourage children to realize their own capability.
1-4 p.m. Nov. 20
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Worker Safety
Worker Safety is a one-day mandatory training for social service specialists, covering such topics as types of workplace violence related to social work practice, predictors of violent behavior, recognizing escalating behavior, safety in the field and more.
Bellingham DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 3
Tacoma DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 12
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