Welcome to The Acorn! Each month we share the latest trainings, data, and resources available to child welfare professionals throughout Minnesota.
What's the Latest?
Returning to In-Person Training We are now offering both in-person and online training options. As you register for any of our courses, make sure you are aware of the training modality and plan accordingly. Learn more...
Several Regional Learning Centers Now Available! In March, we announced the approval of two additional regional learning centers! The Southwest Learning Center will be in Marshall, and the Northeast Learning Center will be in Duluth. Each site requires some remodeling, which should be completed later this year. The Twin Cities Metro location and the Northwest Learning Center are complete and offering in-person trainings. For all trainings, pay close attention to the location information.
Evaluating our Trainings The Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy regularly collects learner feedback for all trainings conducted by our staff and community trainers. Internally, we review that data to provide information to our trainers and curriculum developers in order to continuously improve our trainings. Learn more...
Training
The courses below are now available for registration through the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) Training Portal. Log-in through our website: www.mnchildwelfaretraining.com, in the top-right navigation, then select the Training Catalog, where you will find a course description and links to register.
NOTE: Currently registration is low for this course. If we do not have a minimum number of registrations by Friday, April 15, we will need to cancel. After that date, check the Training Catalog. As long as it shows OPEN in green next to the course title, you can still register up until the day of the class. Domestic Violence Co-Occurrence: Partnering and Engaging Parents (CWTA X209) May 9 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Northwest Regional Learning Center
NOTE:Currently registration is low for this course. If we do not have a minimum number of registrations by Friday, April 29, we will need to cancel. After that date, check the Training Catalog. As long as it shows OPEN in green next to the course title, you can still register up until the day of the class.
Melissa graduated from University of Wisconsin - Green Bay with a major in Communications and minor in Women's Studies. Prior to joining MNCWTA, she worked for the MN Department of Corrections for 17 years as a Training & Development Specialist. Her primary responsibility was coordinating the training for new correctional officers throughout the state. Learn more...
Other Training and Webinars
SSIS Mentor Coffee Talk: Bridging the Gap New mentor coffee talk webinars have been added to the SSIS events calendar for 2022. The next webinar, called Bridging the Gap, is for both worker and fiscal mentors, and will take place on Tuesday, April 19 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Registration is required for each session and will close one hour prior to the event. Webinars will be recorded and posted for future reference. A full schedule can be found here.
2022 CASCW Annual Spring Conference: Supporting Collaborative Birth and Foster Parent Relationships in Child Welfare
This year’s virtual CASCW conference features speakers and panelists as they explore how child welfare workers can best facilitate and support birth and foster parent relationships to improve outcomes for children and families. April 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and April 21 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Learn more and register here.
Phoenix Learning Xchange (PLX): Apply Now!
PLX is offering two fall 2022-2023 cohorts with locations in the Twin Cities and Rochester. Learners will develop a deeper understanding of adolescent development, issues and challenges facing youth in systems, and ways to increase positive engagement and supportive relationships between youth and the people who serve them. Participants will earn 55.5 CEU from the Board of Social Work. Capacity is limited to 25 enrollments per cohort so learn more and fill out your application today!
Child Welfare Workforce Wellness
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: