Welcome to The Acorn! Each month we share the latest trainings and resources available to child welfare professionals throughout Minnesota.
Updates
You are invited to our Southwest Regional Learning Center Open House in Marshall! The event is on April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at our Southwest Regional Learning Center. Come meet our staff, participate in a listening session, learn more about our programs and partners, and share feedback on what is most important to you! Learn more and RSVP here.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month By increasing awareness about child and family well-being and working together to implement effective strategies, our communities and systems can help support families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Though we have made great progress in the prevention of child abuse, thousands of Minnesota children still experience abuse and maltreatment each year. Learn more. March was Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month This is an important month for the field of child welfare, as research and evidence show there are high numbers of people with disabilities involved in the child welfare system. Thus, it is critical that child welfare professionals are able to work effectively with families that include people with disabilities to promote positive outcomes for all aspects of their lives. Learn more.
Training
The courses below are now available for registration through the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA) Training Portal. Go to our website, www.mnchildwelfaretraining.com, and then LOGIN to the Training Portal using 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. If you have questions or technical issues, let us know.
Current Workers and Supervisors
Domestic Violence Co-Occurrence: Partnering and Engaging Parents (CWTA X209) April 11 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Twin Cities Metro Learning Center
Signs of Safety + Signs of Safety: Three Month Review (CWTA X215)
May 4-5 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each Day | Northeast Regional Learning Center (hosted by TTCP)
September 12 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Online
Responsive Child Welfare Practice with LGBTQ Youth (CWTA X210)
May 8 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Online
Family Group Decision Making: Overview and Facilitation (CWTA X202)
May 15-16 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Each Day | Online Legal Practice Skills (CWTA X201) May 19 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Northwest Regional Learning Center
Coming Soon(registration typically opens approximately two months prior to start date)
Human Trafficking and Sexually Exploited Youth: Basic Training for Child Welfare (CWTA X205) June 15 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Online
Self-Paced Online Training
Mandated Reporter Training (CWTA X101)
This 45-minute training is designed for child welfare professionals identified by law who must make a report if they have reason to believe that maltreatment of a child has occurred. The course you select will depend on your job title and responsibilities. A module for Youth Programs is also now available. Learn more.
National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) CW Supervisors (CWTA X401)
NTI for Child Welfare Supervisors is a 25-hour, web-based training that focuses on case work practices and professional skills for staff across the child welfare continuum to promote child well-being, permanency, and family stability for children living with foster, adoptive, or guardianship families.
New Worker Training
Child Welfare Foundations Training (CWTA X100)
Foundations 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. A checklist of all new worker requirements can be found here.
NTI Modules:The NTI self-paced online training, which previously was built into each Foundations cohort, is now a separate course. Supervisors can assign this to new workers, or have new staff register on their own, as it is still a requirement for completing Foundations. Look for the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) CW Professionals (CWTA X401) course in the Training Catalog. New workers need to complete NTI before the end of Classroom 4.
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
Alison Bey
Curriculum Developer
Alison has been working in the field of Adult Basic Education for the past 10 years and is a former University of Minnesota graduate student. She lives in Northeast Minneapolis with her husband and young daughter and is a Saint Paul native. Learn more.
Other Trainings and Webinars
SSIS Coffee Talk SSIS users are invited to join the SSIS Business Operations Section at DHS as they host an open discussion Tuesday, April 11 at 9:00 a.m. as part of the regularly scheduled coffee talks. This session does not have a specific SSIS topic but will provide the opportunity for agency staff to ask questions, provide feedback, and share agency processes with each other. Registration is required and will close one hour prior to the event. Send questions in advance to Heide Moris heide.moris@state.mn.us.
ICWA/MIFPA Ongoing Worker Training (CWTA X212)
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. Course registration is located in the MNCWTA Course Catalog.
April 11-12 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each Day | Online
May 2-3 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each Day | TBD
May 8-9 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each Day | Online
May 22-23 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Each Day | Online
Permanency Regional Training The DHS Permanency Support Unit staff will hold permanency trainings at the Regional Learning Centers across Minnesota. Each training will be in person; space will be limited to the room size at each location. These offerings are designed for county and tribal child welfare and/or child protection workers. Below are the dates:
CASCW Spring Conference |Registration Now Open! May 4 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Delta Hotel by Marriott (Minneapolis)
The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW) is hosting their 23rd Annual Spring Child Welfare Conference to discuss interdisciplinary collaboration in child welfare. The conference will be in-person, with an opportunity for groups to stream live. No cost to attend. Coffee, lunch, and snacks provided. 5.5 CEUs available (MN BOSW-approved).
2023 Child Abuse Summit: Tips from the Team
This event on July 24-26 in the Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis is an opportunity to learn about the identification and treatment of child abuse and neglect from both regional and national experts. The Summit is designed to provide professionals from all disciplines with the knowledge, tools, and skills to identify and treat all types of child maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Learn more and register here.
2023-24 PACC Cohorts are now open with Metro-Hybrid and Fully-Virtual format options*
PACC is a cohort-based training that enhances permanency and adoption competence for professionals working across child welfare and mental health settings. Learn more and apply today for upcoming cohorts starting October 2023!
2023-24 PLX Cohorts opening soon for locations in both the Twin Cities and Duluth starting in September* (spaces are limited)
PLX is designed for those who support and make vital decisions regarding youth involved in systems such as child welfare, juvenile justice, or special education. The collaboration aims to improve high quality service provision while increasing positive relationships between youth involved in the State’s social service systems and the professionals and providers who support them. Learn more and apply today to join a cohort starting September 2023!
*Funding for both PACC and PLX Certificate Programs includes limited FREE enrollment for employees of Minnesota Tribes or Indigenous organizations. Minnesota County child welfare workers (foster care, adoption/permanency, and child protection) may also be eligible for a full scholarship (less $40 registration fee) provided by the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA). Visit program websites above for eligibility information and how to apply.
Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA)
Community Trainers
The Training Academy is seeking experienced child welfare professionals to lead Child Welfare Foundations Training for new workers at our learning centers in Roseville, Detroit Lakes, and Marshall. The Community Trainer position is very flexible, and allows for trainers to choose the frequency and timing of the training they want to lead. Our staff will train the community trainers and provide support in developing their facilitation skills. Apply through the U of M Employment website using Job ID 348582.