In-Service Training : Professional Development Classes
Assessing Safety/Risk and Building Upon Strengths
TCCW Course ID#: 4020
The goal of this training is to enhance the existing case worker's skills concentrating on assessing signs of safety in the home, risks to the child and building upon the strengths in the family to stabilize the risks present.
This training is recommend for employees in the Case Manager Series and their supervisors.
Lengths of Workshop: 3 hours
Competencies:
- Participants can assess for signs of safety within each family they work with.
- Participants can recognize risks to the child and assess the level of risk involved.
- Participants can build upon strengths found in each family to empower them to makes changes to ensure child safety in the family whenever possible.
Blood Borne Pathogens Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4002
This course will provide participants with information about exposure to blood borne pathogens and infectious diseases, how to protect oneself from exposure and how to clean bodily fluids. Blood borne pathogens include microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, primary workplace pathogens, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV). Even if a job does not normally expose one to bodily fluids, this session is helpful to raise awareness of blood borne pathogens, to recognize that all should try not to come in contact with them, and to understand that it is important to report a spill of blood or bodily fluids so that they can be cleaned up safely.
Length of Workshop: 30 minutes
Child and Youth Development Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4021
Description: The goal of this training is to better equip Child Welfare Professionals who work with abused and neglected children understand how this trauma may have affected the child’s development. This computer based training will address typical growth and development patterns in children. Audience: Child Welfare Professionals desiring information regarding child and youth development. Length of Workshop: 3 hours
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Core Course
TCCW Course ID#: 1014
Description: This course is designed to provide all DCS staff with the Continuous Quality Improvement process, team model, as well as the roles each member may play during a meeting. The course will explain the concepts for CQI, how data will be discussed and used to make changes as well as the team approach to the CQI strategy.
Length of Workshop: 30 minutes
Competencies: 550.2 550.3 550.4
Court Preparation Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4005
Description: The goal of this training is to provide Child Welfare Professionals with information regarding appropriate attire, demeanor, and preparation for Court. The course consists of reading material and a knowledge based assessment.
Length of Workshop: 1 hour
Competencies: 100-2, 100-3, 100-4
CPS Condensed Specialty Week for Experienced Staff Specialized
TCCW Course ID#: 3004
Description: This course is designed to equip DCS staff needing to begin professional development in the specialty of Child Protective Services. It will provide an introduction to CPS Assessment and Investigative case work. Participants will learn abuse/neglect signs, activities, how cases are assigned, worked, and closed. Participants will also understand and learn how to use CPS Forms and language.
Length of Workshop: 3 full business days
Direct Service Provision Specialized Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4012
Description: Participants will leave this course on Direct Service Provision with knowledge on how to deal with children and families involved in the DCS system. Participants will leave with the ability to work with these children and their families to assist them identifying their strengths and needs and to provide them with the tools necessary to successfully provide for the safety of their child in their home.
Length of Workshop: 3.5 hours
Domestic Violence Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4006
Description: This course will serve as an introduction for Child Welfare Professionals on the dynamics of domestic violence in the family and its connection to child welfare. This course will give Child Welfare Professionals knowledge around domestic violence and the sensitivity needed when working with the realities families endure when living with an abuser. The batterer’s behaviors impact the victim’s decision making and may compromise their ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment for the child. As Child Welfare Workers come into contact with a family who has experienced domestic violence, it is imperative that they be able to identify and connect domestic violence to the increased risk of child maltreatment.
Length of Workshop: 7 hours
Drug and Alcohol Issues Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4015
Description: This course will serve as an introduction for the Child Welfare Professional on the topic of drug and alcohol issues and its connection to child welfare. This training covers fundamental concepts related to child welfare including signs of substance use, the impact of substance use on children, cross-systems collaboration, and case planning when substance abuse is involved.
Length of Workshop: 7.5 hours
Competencies: 309.1 309.3 309.4 309.7 309.10 309.13
Fostering Positive Behavior Specialized Course
TCCW Course ID#: 3003
Description: Fostering Positive Behavior is an interactive DVD series which demonstrates best practice in behavioral problem-solving methods and highlights prohibited behavioral practices. This learning experience is designed to challenge the participant to think about the strategies used in helping families resolve child behavioral problems. The participant is provided with opportunities to make connections between the scenarios and TDCS policies and prohibitions. In addition, the participant is presented with examples of how to base interventions on the three guiding principles of social work practice.
Length of Workshop: 7.5 hours
High Quality Case Work Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4024
Description: This course recognizes extraordinary case work with children and families DCS serves. It serves to inform other case managers of High Quality Casework techniques from winners of this award. The course will include testimonies on what stood out to them about that caseworker’s work with children. The award winner who is nominated is selected from nominations statewide. Caseworkers and supervisors should be aware and strive for this opportunity for themselves and their staff.
Length of Workshop: 1 hour
HIPAA Core Course
TCCW Course ID#: 1012
Description: This course will educate DCS employees on Protected Health Information (PHI), gaining permission to obtain PHI, and sharing information with others as permission is granted.
Length of Workshop: 30 minutes
Competencies: 101.34 311.4 950.6
Introduction to Child Sexual Abuse Specialized Course
TCCW Course ID#: 3001
Description: This training will give the participant the requisite knowledge of the Tennessee Code Annotated legal definition of Child Sexual Abuse. Participants will be able to recognize indicators of child sexual abuse at each developmental stage of a child, abnormal sexual interest and when to be concerned, as well as the broken trust that occurs within a family when a child is sexually abused. Participants will be provided knowledge of the formal TDCS protocols/policies and reporting procedures for child sexual abuse. This training will be graphic and may at times be difficult to participate in; however, participants are encouraged to identify their feelings and discuss them with the group as they feel necessary.
Length of Workshop: 7.5 hours
Meth Basics – D2L Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4001
Description: This course will cover issues related to meth use and manufacture and its impact on children. Meth has been present in Tennessee for some time. The incidence of use and manufacture has increased significantly since 2000. Approximately 75% of meth lab seizures occur in the Southeastern United States. In addition, information on worker safety and investigative protocol will be covered.
Length of Workshop: 2.5 hours
Non-Violent Conflict Management Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4025
Description: This is a 6.5 hour course providing employees in the Case Management series with tools and strategies for conflict resolution, dealing with anger, as well as negotiation and mediation. Audience: Direct service personnel
Length of Workshop: 6.5 hours
Competencies: 101-5, 101-7, 102-2,301-1, 301-2, 301-3, 404-3, 449
Parenting Our Children Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4007
Description: Parenting Our Children is an interactive series which demonstrates positive parenting techniques while being family-centered, strengths based, and culturally responsive. The modules address specific aspects of parent-child interaction and development of parenting skills. The focus of this training is to provide the participant with an understanding of specific parenting strategies and how to transfer this knowledge to families.
Length of Workshop: 2 hours per module for a total of 12 hours or 6 modules
Professional Skills Assessment Training Specialized Course
TCCW Course ID#: 3002
Description: This assessment is based on the QSR model and the skills to be assessed are categorized under the six core functions (spokes) of the Practice Wheel. This course will be completed from a strengths-based approach for the uplifting of each individual worker and the agency as a whole. This training will equip supervisors with the knowledge to complete the assessment process for themselves and for their staff. Participants will have an opportunity to practice scoring a variety of scenarios using the Professional Skills Assessment Form. These assessments will then be utilized in the creation of the Professional Development Plan with each employee.
Length of Workshop: 7 hours
Serious Incident Reporting Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4003
Description: This session will instruct DCS personnel and private providers how to complete a Serious Incident Report. All Serious Incident Reports will now be reported using a web-based interface and all data will be linked to TNKids Client IDs. Better incident definitions will enhance quantitative and qualitative data capture and reporting. Notifications and screen displays of SIRs will be generated to targeted entities enabling applicable DCS personnel to act as quickly as SIRs are received.
Length of Workshop: 45 minutes
Subsidized Permanent Guardianship Specialized Course
TCCW Course ID#: 3000
Description: Often caretakers care about the child in their home and want to provide a permanent home for them. Sometimes there are financial barriers that prevent these children from exiting custody and remaining with these caregivers. The federally-funded subsidized permanent guardianship project will enable some qualified families to receive a subsidy comparable to the foster care rate, if they will agree to become the permanent guardians of the child in their care. This training will equip caseworkers to accurately describe this new permanency option to qualified families and help them take advantage of this new path to permanency.
Length of Workshop: 7.5 hours
Time Management Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4014
Description: This course will discuss Time Management methods to better equip participants for their work. Audience: All Tennessee Department of Children’s Service employees.
Length of Workshop: 3 hours
Competencies:
1. Knows time management and workload management strategies that will enable worker to perform work activities in an effective and efficient manner.
2. Knows the common origins of work-related stress in child welfare work.
3. Can plan, organize and manage multiple priorities, and perform work activities in a manner that best uses existing resources and time.
Title VI Core Course
TCCW Course ID#: 1013
Description: This course is designed to fulfill the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and serves as an overview of the portions of the act that concern DCS enforcement and compliance. All beneficiaries of DCS services are protected by Title VI and have equal access to all programs, activities and services regardless of race, color and national origin. This class will define Title VI, application of the law to state policy, agency responsibilities and provide strategies for recognizing and preventing disparate treatment.
Length of Workshop: 30 minutes
Writing Skills for Case Documentation Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 4013
Description: This course is designed to equip DCS staff with documentation skills to effectively communicate. This course will not only assist with case recordings but also with assessments and plans. In casework, it is a belief that “if an activity has not been documented, then it didn’t happen.” What about documentation that did not convey clearly the task that was completed? Participants will learn appropriate documentation guidelines as well as tips to assist with documenting case recordings, assessments, and case plans.
Length of Workshop: 3 hours
Working with Birth Parents for Case Managers Related Course
TCCW Course ID#: 2024
Description: The goal of this training is to teach effective means of working with birth parents and utilizing a strengths-based approach to child welfare. Workers will understand that a child has an attachment to his or her family and understand that the safety of the child is paramount.
Length of Workshop: 1 hour
Competencies: 104-38, 39, 44, 50 201-15
