Workforce Training Schedule_October 2023
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
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 training will give you the tools to feel prepared to manage these exchanges effectively and with respect. By definition difficult conversations bring together opposing opinions and high stakes, with the potential for conflict and negative emotional reactions.
Tumwater DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6
Region 1 Training Hub Spokane: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 13
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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. Oct. 23
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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. Oct. 24
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Afterhours Core 2.2 Physical Abuse: Sentinel Injuries
Identifying injuries which tend to be seen prior to, or along with, serious physical abuse can help us identify children who are unsafe, and sometimes prevent disastrous consequences. You will learn about these injuries, called “Sentinel Injuries,” as well as injuries that are more common in childhood and don’t typically raise concern for abuse. You will practice differentiating between the two using many different scenarios. Lastly, you will learn more about how to collaborate with key partners, particularly medical professionals, in response to your concerns related to an observed mark or injury.
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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. This includes strangulation, abdominal injuries, abusive head trauma, burns, and fractures. You will learn about identifying injuries or patterns that are related to each. 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.
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Child Protective Services In-Service
This course will describe the two different CPS pathways, Family Assessment Response (FAR) and Investigations. This training includes learning modules on: Interviewing members of a household to assess safety, including children, parents and Subjects; Collateral information gathering; Protocols when working with Law Enforcement (LE); Working with Child Protection Medical Consultant Network (MEDCON) and local medical providers; Utilizing the Child Safety Framework; completing the Investigative Assessment (IA) & the Family Assessment Response Family Assessment (FARFA); Following Indian Child Welfare Act policies (ICWA); and other policy & legal requirements.
Tumwater DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 11, 12, 13
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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. Participants will leave understanding DCYF’s 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 some community resources.
Region 1 Training Hub Spokane: 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Oct. 23 and 24
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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. Additionally, ideas and tools for drafting effective case plans and objectives to achieve child safety with parental mental illness is a factor will also be discussed. Finally, participants will receive resources for services and interventions that promote the reduction of risk associated with parental mental illness and enhance protective factors for family well-being.
Region 4 Training Hub Delridge: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 4
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Indian Child Welfare (ICW) 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.
The ICW Policy eLearning is a pre-requisite to register for the in-person session.
Spokane Central DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 2
Region 6 Training Hub Tumwater: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 2
Spokane Central DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 3
Region 6 Training Hub Tumwater: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 3
Port Angeles DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 3
Spokane Central DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 4
Region 1 Training Hub Spokane: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 5
Region 6 Training Hub Tumwater: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 5
Wenatchee DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6
Moses Lake DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6
Region 6 Training Hub Tumwater: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6
Region 1 Training Hub Spokane: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 9
Aberdeen DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 9
Colville DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 10
Region 1 Training Hub Spokane: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 10
Centralia DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 10
Clarkston DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 11
Kelso DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 11
Spokane Central DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 12
Vancouver Cascade DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 12
Spokane Central DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 13
Vancouver Cascade DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 13
Smokey Point DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 16
Tri-Cities DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 16
Bellingham DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17
Tri-Cities DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 17
Mount Vernon DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 18
Tri-Cities DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 18
Lynnwood DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 23
Yakima DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 23
Everett DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24
Yakima DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24
Everett DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 25
Ellensburg DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 25
Sky Valley DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26
Yakima DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 26
Bremerton DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 30
Puyallup DCYF: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 31
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. The focus of this course is to provide instruction around assessment of the infant’s interactions with both caregivers and the environment, identifying parent/caregiver training or support needs, and opportunities for demonstration, practice, and feedback pertaining to meeting the practice and policy requirements for this component of the Infant Safety Education and Intervention.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 10
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 25
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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). The focus of this course is to provide instruction around assessment, and 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.
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 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. 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.
9 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 27
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Racial Microaggressions: Developing Cross Cultural Communication Skills
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.
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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.
Spokane Valley DCYF: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 17 and 18
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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 1 Training Hub Spokane: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Oct. 27
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Tools for CFWS/Adoption Supervisors
This course will provide opportunities for participants to utilize the various supervisory case review tools as well as reflective supervision to promote permanency, critical thinking and reflection when supervising staff. Ideally this session will be delivered to a combined group of CFWS and Adoption Supervisors to strengthen the connectedness between units and eliminate potential barriers to permanency. It is intended that this session and the materials presented will promote active participation and discussion in the context of real cases.
Registration link coming soon
Trauma Informed Engagement
Trauma Informed Engagement is a course applying 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. Participants will learn to recognize and respond to situations involving the loss of control of body, mind, and emotions associated with trauma. Participants will practice and commit to trauma-informed engagement strategies, utilizing themes of empowerment, advocacy, and building resilience in children, youth, and adults.
Region 4 Training Hub Delridge: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 31
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