Welcome to The Acorn! Each month we share the latest trainings, data, and resources available to child welfare professionals
throughout Minnesota. This February we are looking at the worker competencies involved withCommunication, which involves effectively sending and receiving verbal, electronic and written communication within the appropriate cultural context. Learn more about these competencies, discover resources, and explore how to develop your skills.
Every month we look at specific competencies within the Framework for Competent Child Welfare Practice to explore what competency development really means to our work. In March we will explore the worker competencies related to Evaluation, and the supervisor competencies connected to Professionalism. If you have stories to share about your experiences in child welfare, or feedback about developing competencies in your work, let us know!
Upcoming Trainings
Registration To register for any of the following courses, visit TrainLink and select Class Schedule. For full courses please add your name to the waiting list; this will help us determine if additional sections need to be scheduled.
Attendance If you need to cancel, even if it seems last minute, please contact Myrna Kleginat mklegin@umn.edu. Our class sizes tend to be small and we often have a waiting list. Trainees who miss more than 30 minutes of any given training will not receive CEUs; for required training you will need to repeat the entire course.
Signs of Safety (CSP8301B) February 17-19 | 9:00AM-1:00PM Each Day | Online March 15-17 | 9:00AM-1:00PM Each Day | Online April 20-22 | 9:00AM-1:00PM Each Day | Online May 10-12 | 9:00AM-1:00PM Each Day | Online This three-day workshop will cover the basic principles, skill, and tools of Sign of Safety
(SofS). This will include, but not be limited to: A Signs of Safety overview and brief history; Appreciative Inquiry; The Questioning Approach; Harm and Danger Statements and Safety Goals; Three Houses, Safety House; Mapping; Safety Planning and Safety Networks.
Sexually Exploited Youth Overview (CSP239A) | Waitlist February 22-23 | 9:00AM-4:00PM | Online This course will provide an overview of human trafficking and sexually exploitation of children in Minnesota, including identifying risk factors, red flags and best practices for working with Sexually Exploited Youth. Participants will learn the Department of Human Services’ guidance on responding to Sexually Exploited Youth within Minnesota’s Child Welfare System in the context of legislative efforts including Public Law 114-22, Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and Minnesota’s Safe Harbor Law and No Wrong Door Model.
Sexually Exploited Youth Human Trafficking Child Welfare Response (CSP239B) | Waitlist February 25 | 9:00AM-4:00PM | Online Participants will learn the Department of Human Services’ guidance
on responding to Sexually Exploited Youth within Minnesota’s Child Welfare System in the context of legislative efforts including Public Law 114-22, Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, and Minnesota’s Safe Harbor Law and No Wrong Door Model.
Legal Practice Skills (CSP8205A) | Waitlist April 20-21 | 9:00AM-12:30PM Each Day | Online May 10-11 | 9:00AM-12:30PM Each Day | Online June 14-15 | 9:00AM-12:30PM Each Day | Online This is a "must take" class for anyone who may find themselves involved in child protection legal proceedings. Federal and Minnesota law requires county agencies to engage in reasonable efforts to support families involved in the child welfare system. This class discusses how case workers can do so by learning about their roles and responsibilities, collaborating with
other courtroom professionals, and focusing on families’ cultures and strengths. Additionally, this class will cover in-depth the role of the case worker in court proceedings, including proper documentation, preparing for various court hearings, and tips for testifying at trials.
Accommodation Requests If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in a training, contact us as soon as possible at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com.
DHS Permanency Trainings
These trainings will cover the adoption and kinship processes for children in foster care, as well as children’s social and medical histories. Register using the links below:
The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) would like to introduce Renee Armstrong, our Program Policy Liaison. Renee started at DHS in 2016 as the curriculum development lead, within the Child Welfare Training System. Her current role serves as a liaison between the Child Safety, and Permanency division within the Department of Human Services, and the Training Academy to coordinate and support policy to training implementation. Learn more...
Updates
ICWA Coffee Talk Series The DHS ICWA Unit and SSIS Training Unit have partnered again to relaunch the ICWA Coffee Talk Series. These informational webinars cover topics related to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), and the Social Service Information System (SSIS). Sessions occur every two weeks. The next session will be Tuesday, February 23 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. The topic is Active Efforts. Questions are welcome. Register now!
Regional Training Locations RFP Process A Request for Proposal (RFP) process is now underway to establish four additional Training Academy locations to offer better access for statewide training throughout Greater Minnesota. Any questions or inquiries about the RFP need to be directed to the University of Minnesota MBid system. The RFP
process will continue through March 1, 2021.
Reflect. Educate. Act. Discuss. (MNCWTA READ) Book Club The Training Academy is now offering a book club is an opportunity to further our commitment and work in child welfare through reading, discussing, and reflecting on books and articles so that we are able to take actionable steps to create change. We have selected A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota as our first book. Meetings start February 11. CEU's are available. Register here.
Coffee with Liz and Tracy In order to better connect with workers and supervisors in all Minnesota counties, our co-directors will be hosting informal monthly gatherings simply to chat, ask questions, get feedback, etc. The conversation can be whatever is on your mind. If you are interested, email us at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com and we'll find an upcoming meeting day and time that works for you.
Employment Opportunities
The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) is now accepting applicants for the following positions:
The best way to thrive during these trying times is to find ways to take care of yourself. Following are several options that may be helpful:
Visit the Children's Bureau website to find resources and learn the various efforts the Bureau supports to build cross-system collaboration to improve child and family well-being.
Check out these 10 Tips to Build Resilience. Find ways that are likely to help you on your own personal strategy for fostering resilience.
The Balancing Act aims to provide you with a framework for assessing where you are on your own personal “balance” scale and give you some ideas on how to achieve greater balance that leads to greater personal life satisfaction.
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Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA), 1711 County Road B West, Suite 200N, Roseville, MN 55113, United States
