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The monthly newsletter from the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA)
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February 2024

Welcome to The Acorn! Each month we share the latest trainings and resources available to child welfare professionals throughout Minnesota.

Updates

February is Black History Month

As we recognize and celebrate Black History Month, it is important to acknowledge the effects of racism within child welfare, and seek ways to improve the system. One way is to learn how to approach Trauma-Informed Care with Anti-Racist Principles and Strategies. You can also learn more about the history of the child welfare system in order to better understand the issues we struggle with today. 


Dealing with Change in Training
With the launch of New Worker Orientation, we acknowledge that change can be difficult, but is necessary if we are to improve the child welfare system. As we continue to improve and enhance all courses involved in New Worker Training, we will do our best to communicate in advance, and provide support as we make our way through. Contact us anytime if you have questions or concerns.


Motivational Interviewing (MI) Page Updated
As more information about MI Training becomes available, we are doing our best to learn, organize, and share the details that agencies need. Recently we updated the MI page on our website to provide the most current and relevant information that learners need. We will continue to update as we learn more. 


Training Portal Pro-Tip Reminder

As learners contact us with questions about the Training Portal, we have noticed a few that share common concerns. Following are several Training Portal Pro-Tips that address those concerns:

Training

Specialty Training

Responsive Child Welfare Practice with LGBTQ Youth (CWTA X210)

February 13 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Virtual


Human Trafficking and Sexually Exploited Youth: Basic Training for Child Welfare (CWTA X205) | 2 Open Sections:

February 13 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual

March 19 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual


ICWA/MIFPA Ongoing Worker Training (CWTA X212)
February 20-21 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Each Day | Virtual


Permanency Regional Training (CWTA X402) | 2 Open Sections:

February 22 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Roseville

March 7 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Owatonna


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

March 6 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Virtual

Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training

Introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI) Skills for Child Welfare Professionals: Self-Paced
This 2-hour course must be completed before you can register for the instructor-led course. A complete list of prerequisites can be found here.


Motivational interviewing (MI) Skills for Child Welfare Professionals: Instructor-Led Workshops (Virtual) | 2 Open Sections:

Cohort 15 | February 15, 22, 29, and March 7 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Each Day

Cohort 16 | March 14, 21, 28, and April 4 | 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Each Day


Motivational interviewing (MI) Skills for Child Welfare Professionals: Coaching Circles | 8 Open Circles:

Coaching Circle 2 | February 21 | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 1 | February 27 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 3 | March 6 | 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 4 | March 13 | 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 1 | March 20 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 2 | March 27 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 3 | April 3 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Virtual

Coaching Circle 4 | April 10 | 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. | Virtual


NOTE: Some users have reported issues with registration or prerequisites and are not receiving responses from our technical support staff. If this affects you, please read this short article on how to ensure you receive our messages. 

New Worker Training

New Worker Training is only for new county and tribal workers who are involved in child protection, and is assigned by a supervisor or tribal leader through the Training Portal. Participants must be able to attend all dates/times. Remind your employees that they still need to enroll in a course even after you have assigned it to them. Learn more here. Supervisors can also use this New Worker Checklist.


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

This approximately 5-hour course must be completed before you can register for the instructor-led course.


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

February 15 | 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual

February 20 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Virtual (Hennepin County Only)

February 29 | 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual

March 5 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Virtual

March 14 | 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual

March 19 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Virtual

March 28 | 12:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Virtual

April 2 | 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Virtual


Child Welfare Foundations Training (CWTA X100)

Cohort 118 | February 13 - May 2 | Virtual

Cohort 119 | March 5 - May 23 | Detroit Lakes

Cohort 120 | March 19 - May 23 | Duluth
Cohort 121 | April 9 - June 13 | Roseville (coming soon)
Cohort 122 | April 16 - June 27 | Marshall (coming soon)
Cohort 123 | May 7 - July 18 | Roseville (coming soon)

Cohort 124 | June 4 - September 12 | Owatonna (coming soon)


New workers must complete New Worker Orientation (self-paced and instructor-led) before they can enroll. Learn more

The courses above are available for registration through the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) Training Portal. Go to our website, www.mnchildwelfaretraining.com, and then LOGIN (located in the top-right navigation). From there, select the Training Catalog, where you will find course descriptions and links to register.

Need a Training Portal Profile?
Ask your supervisor to invite you. If you are a tribal leader or supervisor, or you do not need a supervisor to assign your trainings, submit the New Profile Request Form. Be sure to use your most up-to-date email and to only use lowercase letters (for both profile requests and invitations). If you have technical issues, submit a ticket here.

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

Attendance
Learners who miss more than 30 minutes of training will not receive credit. Learners who miss more than 30 minutes of Foundations (new worker) training will need to repeat that specific classroom. If the training takes place over several days, you can only miss 30 minutes total; not 30 minutes per day. Please plan ahead to adjust court dates, on-call shifts, caseload responsibilities, etc.

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.

Staff Highlights

Peter Li

Evaluation and Certification Graduate Research Assistant


Peter is a Ph.D. student in the Quantitative Methods in Education program in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. This is his fifth year of study and is working on his dissertation.

Learn more.

Peter Li image

Other Trainings and Webinars

SSIS Coffee Talk Sessions

Registration is now open for the February DHS SSIS coffee talk event. All agency and state SSIS users are welcome to attend. Registration is required and will remain open until the presentation begins. 

  • SSIS Statewide Release v24.1: Tuesday, February 20 at 9:00 a.m.
    Register here. Join the SSIS Business Section at DHS as they share what’s ahead in SSIS Statewide Release v24.1. Visit the SSIS Resource page for Release specific information. 

Spring Child Welfare Conference: Save the Date

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare is hosting the 24th Annual Spring Child Welfare Conference on April 23. The focus this year is on COVID-19’s impact on families, the workforce, and the delivery of child welfare services. The conference will be in-person at the Delta Hotel in Minneapolis, with an opportunity for groups to stream live. Registration info coming soon.

Training Data | January 2024

232 hours of training and 253 learners

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

Curriculum Author Request

The Phoenix Learning Xchange (PLX) is writers to work with staff from the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) to develop curriculum on healthy sexual development of adolescents. Learn more.

Phoenix Learning Xchange logo

Employment Opportunities

Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA)

  • Graphic Designer (0.75 FTE) - Application will be available soon.

  • Community Trainers are needed throughout Minnesota to deliver courses on Foundations New Worker Training, Qualified Individual (QI), and Home Studies. Apply using Job ID 348582. Be sure to indicate in your cover letter which training position you are interested in.

Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW)

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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.


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