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New Worker Foundations: We are at Cruising Altitude!

Since the start of the updated New Worker Foundations Training this past September, three cohorts have taken off with a total of fifty new child protection workers from around the state. Upcoming cohorts are starting the boarding process, and additional cohorts will open for registration soon. If you still have any questions about the new training, prerequisites, or anything else, contact us anytime. 

Mandated Reporter Training Updates Coming Soon

Based on feedback from community partners and subject matter experts, the Training Academy will soon release an updated Mandated Reporter Training. The update to this training will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at 10:00 a.m. Learn more.

Active Efforts/MAAFPACWDA Training

As part of the Minnesota African American Family Preservation and Child Welfare Disproportionality Act (MAAFPCWDA), a new training has been developed for child welfare professionals to better understand this new legislation, how it will be implemented into their work, and what will be expected of Minnesota county agencies. Currently trainings are being offered to Hennepin County and Ramsey County staff. More training will be developed as we approach full-staff implementation in 2027.

Assessing Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents: New Course Available

This past September, we launched the first offering of Assessing Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents (CWTA X220). This course, formerly known as Home Studies, is designed to help licensors gain an understanding of the Home Study Assessment process. It is an introduction to engaging and conducting interviews with applicants and exploring how to equitably and collaboratively assess an applicant's strengths and needs. Learn more.

Lost and Found Items

If you have visited our Metro Learning Center in Roseville and left anything behind, please let us know! Our Lost and Found Box is full of coats, chargers, water bottles, electronics, and more. 

Visit here to view the complete training report for October. Indian Child Welfare (ICWA) training is developed and delivered by the Tribal Training and Certification Partnership (TTCP).

Open seats are available in our trainings. Visit our Training Catalog to see them all. Upcoming trainings include:

New Worker Training

All new child protection workers should plan to take the following courses. Supervisors should assign these courses AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to ensure workers complete prerequisites and can enroll in their preferred cohort. Use this New Worker Checklist to help assign and monitor employee progress. 

New Worker Orientation: Self-Paced Modules (CWTA X110)

Ask new workers to finish this course in the first few days on the job, and remind them that they cannot register for the instructor-led course until this is complete. Please note that the final completion grade for this course will take 6-8 business days to post (this includes time for the DEI team to grade all IDI requirements at the end of the course). You will not be able to register for the Instructor-Led Enhancement course until your final completion grade shows up on your training record. Please have your workers plan accordingly.

New Worker Orientation: Instructor-Led Enhancement
(CWTA X111)

This four-hour virtual training is designed to enhance what was learned in the Orientation modules, rather than repeat the information. The goal is to provide experiential learning that shows how the content covered in Orientation intersects with worker practice through a case study. Trainers will guide learners through a series of activities, reflections, and discussions. This course is required to complete before you can register for New Worker Foundations (CWTA X113).

• November 21 | 12:30-4:30 p.m. | Virtual

• December 3 | 8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. | Virtual

• December 12 | 12:30-4:30 p.m. | Virtual

ICWA/MIFPA Foundations for New Workers (CWTA X219)

This training is brought to you by the University of Minnesota Duluth Tribal Training and Certification Partnership (TTCP). This is an introductory course to the basics of the history of ICWA and application of ICWA and MIFPA. This course is required to complete before you can register for New Worker Foundations (CWTA X113).

• Please Note: ICWA/MIFPA Ongoing Worker Training (CWTA X212) satisfies the same requirement as CWTA X219, so assign that course  to new workers until more sections of CWTA X212 can be scheduled.

New Worker Foundations (CWTA X113)

This revised training is made up of self-paced, instructor-led (both in-person and virtual), and simulation.

• Cohort 204 | November 20 - March 7 | Virtual
  Note: Was previously scheduled for Detroit Lakes

• Cohort 205 | December 3 - March 20 |  Roseville

Specialty Training

Assessing Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents (CWTA X220)

December 3-4 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each Day | Roseville

ICWA/MIFPA Ongoing Worker Training (CWTA X212)

December 5-6 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Each Day | Virtual

Domestic Violence Co-Occurrence: Partnering and Engaging Parents (CWTA X209)

December 10 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Virtual

Human Trafficking and Sexually Exploited Youth: Basic Training for Child Welfare (CWTA X205)

December 16 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual

Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training

All MI Courses and Pathways are Now Available
All Motivational Interviewing (MI) courses and Pathways are now available for Minnesota county and tribal child protection workers and their supervisors. If you have questions about MI Training, contact our Training Implementation Specialist at mitraining@mnchildwelfaretraining.com.

Several upcoming Instructor-Led Workshops and Coaching Circles have availability! Explore the options in the Training Portal.

Accommodation Requests
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in a training, contact us as soon as possible at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com.

Questions about Attendance, Cancelation, or Registration?

Visit our Training Policies page. 

Need to Cancel Your Registration?
Our class sizes tend to be small, and we often have a waiting list. Follow the instructions here if you need to drop a course.

Additional Training

Training Portal Basics

Staff from the Training Academy demonstrate a few basics steps for using the Training Portal, and then take questions to help participants better understand how to use this learning management system. The next session is December 2 from 1-2 p.m. Register here. These sessions have been offered monthly over the past year. If you would like to see more trainings like this offered in 2025, please let us know. 

QI Training Available

Many seats are available in this upcoming Qualified Individual (QI) virtual training. The next offering will be December 4-5. To express your interest in participating, email ffpsa.qualifiedindividual.dhs@state.mn.us.

Foster Parent Training Available

Licensors with resource parents that need training should learn more about Foster Parent College and the instructor-led Pre-Service Training offered by the Training Academy. The next cohort training begins on Thursday, December 19.

Resources

Working With Undocumented & Asylum-Seeking Families

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) offers this new three-part podcast series offers helpful considerations for Minnesota child welfare and county workers who may encounter families navigating the asylum process who are currently undocumented or have mixed documentation status within their family. Learn more.

SSI and Foster Care Members-Only Open Mic

The Social Security Administration and the Administration for Children and Families have released a Request for Information “seeking public input to inform how Federal agencies can support broader State and local efforts to improve the outcomes of children in the child welfare system who are eligible for Federal benefits.” This open mic is scheduled for November 18, 1:00 p.m. CT, and is limited to staff from public child welfare agencies that are CWLA members. Contact MemberServices@cwla.org to receive the meeting link.

Employment Opportunities

Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA)

• Community Trainers: Qualified Individual (QI)

• Community Trainers: Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)

• Community Trainers: Child Welfare and the Law

Visit our website to learn more about the opportunities.

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Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA), 1711 County Road B West Suite 200N, Roseville, MN 55113, United States

The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) is a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Safety and Permanency Division and the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.