Training

As one of the building blocks of the Transformation, training is a key factor to ensure better outcomes for Virginia’s children and families. Comprehensive, competency-based training, shaped by both local and state partners, is the mechanism for sustaining quality practice. With the goal of improving initial and on-going training for both child welfare staff and supervisors, learn more about what is happening around the reengineering of Virginia’s child welfare training system!

Interested in training opportunities for child welfare supervisors and managers? Learn more about what’s happening around the development of child welfare competencies!

Based on the findings from the 2009 federal Child and Family Services Review, Virginia was not in substantial conformity with the systemic factor related to staff and provider training. A major concern identified specifically relates to Virginia’s lack of training requirements and ongoing training opportunities for child welfare supervisors. Efforts are well underway to reestablish a competency-based child welfare training system in Virginia, and a foundational step in the reengineering process is to establish a comprehensive list of competencies for child welfare staff, supervisors and managers.

As a result, volunteer LDSS staff from all over Virginia came together during a series of meetings to develop a listing of fundamental and essential competencies necessary for all child welfare supervisors and managers. This work will help set the practice standards for child welfare supervisors and will ultimately lead to the development of a set of curricula that will be essential for all incoming child welfare supervisors to attend. If you are interested in viewing the draft list of competencies, please click here.

News Flash – Child welfare supervisor training pilot underway!

Are you wondering what will influence the development of new child welfare supervisor training courses in Virginia? In addition to the development of core competencies for child welfare supervisors and managers, Virginia is piloting a six module training series that covers fundamental and essential knowledge and skills necessary for child welfare supervisors and managers to do their jobs! Training experts from Ohio’s Institute for Human Services are providing the curriculum and trainers for six modules that will influence what child welfare training will look like in Virginia. Topics include the following:

- Casework Supervision
- Leadership in the Child Welfare System
- Improving Staff Performance
- Leading the Team
- Improving Unit Performance
- Professional Development of Staff

Feedback from this pilot, along with the work being done to establish core competencies for supervisors, will ultimately inform VCU-VISSTA’s development of courses that will become part of mandated training for all child welfare supervisors. This is an opportunity for local practitioners in the field to help mold training that will establish practice standards for child welfare practice in Virginia!

What’s new in child welfare training? Check out the new courses on Family Partnership Meetings!

CWS4010 – Transformation: Promoting Change by Valuing and Engaging Families

This self-paced, interactive, online course is designed to explore the goals and purpose of Virginia's Children’s Services System Transformation as well as why it’s important to cultivate a multi-disciplinary approach to services in Virginia. The course also examines Virginia’s Practice Model and why the state of Virginia is embracing this new approach. Additionally, the course introduces family engagement, one of the key components of the Transformation.

CWS4020 – Introduction to Virginia’s Family Partnership Meetings

This classroom-based course will give all levels of local agency staff in all program areas, as well as community stakeholders, an introduction to the Virginia Family Engagement Model and Family Partnership Meetings. Course participants will learn the key elements and the underlying values of the process of engaging families at key decision points during their involvement with social services. Participants will learn how Family Partnership Meetings can strengthen and support families. Topics include: key elements and values of the family engagement model; reasons for calling Family Partnership Meetings and the timelines surrounding those meetings; the roles and responsibilities of all participants in a Family Partnership Meeting. This class is one day. It is recommended that you complete the online course CWS4010 before attending CWS4020.

CWS 4030 – Virginia Family Partnership Meeting Facilitator Training

This classroom-based course is designed to prepare experienced child welfare professionals to facilitate Family Partnership Meetings using the principles of the Virginia Family Engagement Model. The training provides a detailed overview of each phase of the meeting and prepares facilitators to build teams, direct the meeting process, resolve differences, and build consensus. CWS 4030 is a four day, two part classroom training. Participants will complete three consecutive days of interactive training and then return to their agencies to practice facilitation and/or develop local meeting implementation plans. On the final day of training, one month later, participants will review their progress, receive feedback, and explore ways to address common challenges. It is strongly recommended that you complete the online course CWS4010 and CWS 4020 before attending CWS 4030.

For course registration information, please visit the Knowledge Center. Feel free to contact your Area Training Center with any questions you might have.