Experienced Family Case Managers

Course: DCS04125
Credit: 9 hours

In this 1.5-day training, participants will learn about one of the key elements of child welfare – adoption. They will be prepared on how to engage, team, assess, plan, and intervene in adoption cases. They will also learn about the Adoption Triad, core issues of adoption, how to best prepare Child and Family Team Members for the adoption process, how to identify service providers, what pre- and post- adoptive tools and services are available, and what are the recent changes and trends in the field of adoption.

Required Materials: Laptop

Course: DCS04142
Credit: 6 hours

In this 1-day course, participants review the definition of developmental disabilities and the characteristics of common developmental disabilities that were learned in the previous training, Introduction to Developmental Disabilities (DCS04124). Participants will learn to distinguish between normal safety efforts and child abuse/neglect in the context of a child’s developmental disability. They will also learn about the array of evaluations, waivers, and services to persons with developmental disabilities and how to access them. Participants will also learn about the IEP process and key issues during various transitional points.

Required Materials: Laptop

Prerequisites: Participants should have previously attended the Introduction to Developmental Disabilities (DCS04124) or have previous education and experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities.

Course: DCS04122
Credit: 3 hours

This 1/2-day course is an overview of the concurrent planning policy. Participants will learn the purpose and basic roles of concurrent planning, review indicators and timelines for developing a concurrent plan, discuss full disclosure, and review documentation requirements for a concurrent plan.

Course: DCS04131
Credit: 6 hours

1-day training that looks at the dynamics of caregiver mental illness and the impact it has on the safety and well-being of children. Participants will learn about common mental health diagnoses in adults along with common treatments, side effects, and the possible impact of the illness on children. They will explore the DCS service array for mental health services as well as discuss safety planning, and as a part of this training, participants will learn common terminology used in mental health evaluation reports and how to interpret service provider report results for service planning for the best possible outcomes for families and children.

Required Materials: Laptop

Course: DCS04119
Credit: 3 hours

A 1/2-day training focusing on the role a Family Case Manager’s testimony plays in the hearing of a CHINS/Termination of Parental Rights Case. Participants will learn how to prepare for court, give direct testimony, respond to cross examination questions, and communicate with their families regarding court proceedings.

Prerequisites: Recommended for experienced case managers a minimum of six months post-graduation.

Course: DCS
Credit: 3 hours

A 1/2-day training focusing on the concepts of cultural humility, cultural competence, and bias in relation to the families they serve. Participants will engage in reflection activities, discussion, and will begin to develop strategies to enhance cultural humility and Inclusion in their practice.

Required Materials: Laptop

Course: DCS04140
Credit: 3 hours

A 1/2-day course that intends to enhance customer service management skills. Participants will discuss the interconnectedness between customer service management and the core conditions of the Indiana department of Child Services. In addition, participants will review techniques for providing excellent customer service in person, over the phone, and via email. Finally, participants will evaluate steps for engaging challenging customers and managing challenging workplace situations.

Course: DCS04139
Credit: 6 hours

In this 1-day training, participants will look at the dynamics of domestic violence, the impact it has on children, and the role of protective factors, resiliencies, and safety planning. Participants will use critical thinking skills to make decisions about whether to substantiate or unsubstantiated child abuse or neglect around the issue of domestic violence. Appropriate services for a family to address domestic violence from the DCS service array will also be explored.

Course: DCS04123
Credit: 6 hours

Domestic Violence is a complex issue. In this 1-day training, participants will look at the dynamics of domestic violence and the impact it has on the Child and Family Team Meeting, and they will learn how to determine when to hold a CFTM with both the alleged DV offender and non-offending parent, how to effectively prepare all members of a CFT, facilitate a CFTM, and follow-up afterwards to ensure the safety of the children and DV survivor.

Prerequisites: Recommended for trained facilitators of the Child and Family Team Meeting with a minimum of 3 months of facilitation experience

Course: DCS04127
Credit: 6 hours

Working with clients can be challenging, especially when they begin to disengage. After completing this training, participants will be able to better recognize and repair the relationship through self-presentation, role clarification, an understanding of the change process and how to confront and reengage involuntary clients through the context of Indiana’s Practice Model.

Course: DCS04118
Credit: 6 hours

Fathers are incredibly important to the family unit and when missing, can cause the unit to become unstable. In this 1-day training, participants will examine the role fathers play in the care of children, and participants will be provided the tools and resources to engage and involve nonresident fathers in an effort to strengthen and preserve families by restoring fathers to family life.

Course: DCS04108
Credit: 6 hours

Designed to increase leadership and mentoring skills. Participants will cover effective communication, providing feedback, learning styles, and time management. Field Mentors will also learn how to use the Transfer of Learning curriculum to help their mentee complete required Transfer of Learning activities prior to graduation.

Course: DCS04104
Credit: 18 hours

Interviewing a child for the courts requires specific tactics and knowledge. Over 3 days, participants will be introduced to a semi-structured model for conducting interviews with children in a strength-based, family centered practice. Prominent research findings will be reviewed, and participants will learn common language, interviewer characteristics and kinds of questions associated with forensic interviewing along with how child memory and suggestibility influence case outcomes. Participants will also learn how to document a forensic interview, how to ensure cultural competency during an interview, and how to practice and explore strategies that promote best practice in the legal field as it pertains to forensic interviewing.

Course: DCS04124
Credit: 6 hours

Provides a 1-day overview of individuals with developmental disabilities. Participants will learn definitions of developmental disabilities and dual diagnosis, discuss characteristics of specific disability groupings, and learn how disabilities can impact an individual across their lifespan. Participants will also learn to incorporate practice model skills into their work with individuals who have a disability.

Course: DCS04138
Credit: 6 hours

In this 1-day overview, participants will learn about the attachment continuum and concepts in how to meet the challenge of caring for a child with attachment challenges. They will also learn how the development of the brain may be affected by trauma, disrupting the healthy attachment process. Participants will find that by meeting the needs of the child, the brain and attachment process may be healed.

Course: DCS04141
Credit: 6 hours

A 1-day training that provides an overview of substance abuse as it applies to child welfare work. Participants will begin to understand the addiction process and the latest substance abuse research. Participants will also examine the effects of substance abuse on individuals and family. This course provides information regarding individual with a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and other mental health disorders. Finally, participants will receive information relating to substance abuse topics such as current drug trends, treatment planning, case management and working with service providers.

Course: DCS04126
Credit: 6 hours

1-day course focused on the role of a Family Case Manager in youth engagement and facilitation of a Child and Family Team Meeting for a youth aging out of the system. Key issues include developing relationships, communication and effective listening, application of knowledge of cultural and developmental needs, and working with groups including youth with mental health issues and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender-questioning youth.

Course: DCS04149
Credit: 6 hours

Secondary Trauma is a one day training that addresses the effects of secondary trauma on job related stress. Participants will learn to recognize risk factors for child welfare workers in experiencing secondary trauma, and develop strategies to build resilience. Participants will develop a plan for building balance between personal and professional demands into the work week.

Course: DCS04132
Credit: 6 hours

Participants will review the benefits of teaming within the first 30 days to develop a family-centered practice model in this 1/2 day training. They will also analyze how teaming early in the child welfare process can positively impact a family’s case. Participants will use initial Child and Family Team Meetings to critically analyze child safety, placement, and visitation, as well as prepare and facilitate a CFTM at several critical junctures common to the first 30 days.

Course: DCS04152
Credit: 6 hours

A 1-day course that looks at the dynamics of trauma and the impact it has on the safety and well-being of children. Participants will learn about categories of trauma and the effect trauma may have on child and youth development. They will also review data from the ACES study, exploring the consequences of early or frequent trauma. This training will also present an array of evidence-based treatment options and information about using service provider reports to plan the best possible outcomes for families and children. As a part of this training, participants will have an opportunity to improve personal practice skills critical to understanding the potential impact of traumatic stress on children served by the child welfare system.

Course: DCS04146
Credit: 6 hours

A 1-day training that reviews the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to work in today’s diverse society. Participants will reflect on how one’s personal cultural lens impacts child welfare outcomes, and they will identify best practice guidelines for culturally-responsive communication skills and interactions in child welfare.

Required Materials: Laptop

Course: DCS04147
Credit: 3 hours

A 1/2-day training that provides experienced Family Case Managers a refresher on risk management and safety awareness. This course reminds workers to recognize unsafe situations and develop practical and useful methods for safety intervention, including verbal de-escalation. Participants will also recall universal precautions to be used in the field.

Course: DCS04153
Credit: 3 hours

Protective Factors is a ½ day of training that examines the characteristics of parent and child protective factors and how these characteristics relate to the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Participants will need their DCS issued cell phone. Participants will learn how to evaluate a family’s protective factors, help families identify and build their protective factors, and use protective factors as a common framework for collaboration with service providers. Additionally, participants will focus on the importance of incorporating protective factors into case work documents.

Course: DCS04155
Credit: 3 hours

Non-field Culture and Diversity – Creating Opportunities is a three hour training that looks at the impact diversity has on employees and agency’s promotion of the safety and well-being of children. Participants will learn how diversity can raise cultural awareness and increase inclusiveness in the work place. Participants will explore their personal cultural identity and discuss strategies to combat stereotypes in order to promote the best possible outcomes for workers, families and children. This workshop study will also look at how diversity issues affect the mission, values, and vision of the Department of Child Services.