Alliance Course Catalog

Did you know more than half of children’s car seats are installed incorrectly? The car is a dangerous place for a child to be, but there are many resources that can help ensure you’re following all safety and legal guidelines. This brief eLearning for DCYF staff is the perfect spot to start, helping you select, fit and install the correct seat each time you need to transport a child. You will find an overview of basic requirements and Washington state laws as well as real-world installation examples and tips. The course is full of useful, surprising facts – the appropriate time to transition a child out of a booster seat might surprise you! You will also find links to many outside resources for more in-depth information.

La Capacitación Básica para Cuidadores (Caregiver Core Training, CCT) es la capacitación obligatoria para que los cuidadores del estado de Washington obtengan una licencia. La Capacitación Básica para Cuidadores se puede realizar de dos maneras: en línea o en el salón de clases.

Si prefiere el aprendizaje electrónico, en línea y a su propio ritmo, tenga en cuenta las pautas generales para las capacitaciones en línea que se enumeran a continuación. Luego desplácese hacia abajo hasta Instrucciones de registro y haga clic en el enlace para comenzar el curso en línea.

Si prefiere realizar el curso en un salón de clases (se lleva a cabo en varios lugares del estado), haga clic en este enlace para registrarse.

Tanto la formación en línea como en el salón de clases abordan el mismo contenido fundamental.

Cada participante debe registrarse por separado: si ambos miembros de una pareja planean completar la capacitación juntos, aún así cada uno debe registrarse y realizar el curso en línea, de forma individual.

This course is also available in English at https://allianceforchildwelfare.org/content/caregiver-core-training-elearning

Versión en línea de la CCT

La Capacitación Básica para Cuidadores de 24 horas se compone de ocho unidades (cada una de aproximadamente tres horas de duración) y una experiencia de campo, que se puede completar en cualquier momento durante la parte en línea. También hay una unidad de instrucción obligatoria después de completar la parte en línea.

Unidad 1: Introducción al sistema de bienestar infantil
Unidad 2: El trabajo como miembro de un equipo
Unidad 3: Trabajar con familias biológicas
Unidad 4: Conexiones culturales y promoción
Unidad 5: Crecer con trauma, dolor y pérdida
Unidad 6: Comprensión y manejo del comportamiento
Unidad 7: Comunicación y gestión de crisis
Unidad 8: Cómo prepararse y los efectos en la familia que brinda el cuidado

Experiencia de campo: Los participantes aprenden fuera del salón de clases, eligiendo una actividad que les ayudará a ser más conscientes de la experiencia de los niños dentro del sistema o del papel de un cuidador de niños en el sistema. La experiencia de campo se aprobará si ocurre dentro del plazo de un año antes de que el participante comience la CCT, ya sea en la versión de la Capacitación Básica para Cuidadores en el salón de clases o en la versión en línea.

Las unidades están diseñadas para ayudarlo a comprender cómo funciona el sistema, cuál es su función como miembro del equipo, cómo trabajar de manera efectiva con las familias biológicas para apoyar mejor al niño, cómo el rol de cuidador puede afectar a su propia familia, en qué consisten el desarrollo infantil y el impacto del trauma, qué debe saber sobre el apego, cómo incorporar y honrar la cultura de un niño dentro de su propia familia, y más. Las unidades incluyen las perspectivas de jóvenes que estuvieron en crianza temporal, de cuidadores actuales y de padres biológicos que han sido parte del sistema.

Cada unidad incluye recursos e información adicional. Estos son los materiales de estudio que también se proporcionarán en cada unidad.

Tiene un año para completar el curso, incluida la capacitación en línea, la experiencia de campo y la llamada de instrucción. Informaremos sobre su progreso a lo largo del curso a la Licensing Division del Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) y a los contratistas de reclutamiento y retención de hogares de crianza temporal de su zona, para que puedan ofrecerle apoyo adicional si fuera necesario. No rastreamos ni compartimos ninguna información acerca de cómo respondió a las actividades o preguntas del cuestionario dentro de la capacitación en línea. Simplemente queremos asegurarnos de que tenga el apoyo que necesita para completar la capacitación.

Pautas generales de la CCT en línea

La versión en línea funciona mejor para personas que cumplen con lo siguiente:

• Tienen acceso regular a una tableta, computadora portátil o computadora de escritorio.
• Se sienten cómodas con la tecnología.
• No les importa leer en una pantalla.
• Tienen acceso a Internet de alta velocidad para poder participar en el curso en línea y reproducir videos.

This 90 minute webinar training for caregivers covers what you should know about why Family Time matters for all those involved in a dependency case. The course will teach you a wide range of how you can support Family Time including preparing children for visits, supervising visits, providing transportation, sharing information with the birth family, and much more. You will learn why Family Time matters and the range of possibilities for what Family Time may look like including location options, frequency and length of visits, and level of supervision. As a caregiver you play a role in making Family Time successful and this training will teach you how.

Este curso de aprendizaje electrónico para cuidadores brinda la base para la crianza y el control del comportamiento de niños de crianza fuera del hogar que enfrentan problemas de comportamientos físicamente agresivos. Explorará los posibles efectos del trauma y el maltrato relacionado con el apego, el comportamiento y el desarrollo, así como también los factores de riesgo de los comportamientos violentos en niños. Analizará el Código Administrativo de Washington (Washington Administrative Code, WAC) en relación con la disciplina y comparará los principios de la disciplina y el castigo positivos. La formación de habilidades se centrará en crear un plan para prevenir una crisis, en las distintas formas que puede tomar la agresión y cómo identificar los signos de cuando un niño está agitado o alterado, en cómo intervenir durante una crisis, y en cómo controlar los comportamientos agresivos en curso o explosivos mediante la enseñanza de habilidades de afrontamiento y resolución colaborativa de problemas. También se proporcionan recursos y apoyos para los jóvenes y el cuidador.

This course is also available in English at https://allianceforchildwelfare.org/content/caregiving-children-physically-aggressive-behavior-concerns-elearning.

This 6-hour in-service course will prepare caregivers to work with children with sexual behaviors concerns and create an environment to keep the child and other household members safe. Participants will explore values and beliefs before reviewing typical child sexual development and the impacts of trauma, abuse and neglect on development and behaviors. Participants will explore how sexual abuse can impact development, self-image and the household supporting them. After reviewing typical sexual development, participants will learn how different experiences and circumstances may lead to sexual behavior concerns and how to intervene and respond safely. Caregivers will learn their role in promoting health sexual development, positive messaging, prevention education, the importance of establishing house rules and other ideas to maintain safety for the whole household.

Este curso también está disponible en inglés en https://allianceforchildwelfare.org/content/crianza-de-ni%C3%B1os-con-problemas-de-comportamiento-sexual

This is the first in an eight-part training series focusing on “Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma.” Over the entire course, you will work through what trauma is, how it affects children and those around them, and how you can support the child and yourself.

Part 1 is an introduction to the concept of trauma as an underlying factor in the challenging behaviors of some foster children. You will get a look at “real world” examples of situations in which a child’s trauma is manifesting in different ways. You also will be guided through the “Essential Elements of Trauma-Informed Parenting,” tools you may find helpful immediately. When you are done you will be able to describe trauma-informed parenting and its benefits, which will set you up for success as you move forward in this course.

Part 3 of the “Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma” series walks you through the profound impact trauma has on a child’s development and functioning.

At the start of the class, you will engage in an exercise that sheds light on how the brain receives information about danger. This puts you in a mindset to understand how the brain can be shaped by trauma. The training ties this to how a child’s development can be affected at different ages and what impact trauma can have on behavior.

There are many things you can do as a resource parent to help children overcome trauma and build new pathways in their brains. In this class you will learn about the “Invisible Suitcase,” and how trauma-informed parenting can help “repack” it in a positive way.

Part 5 of the “Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma” series dives into deeper discussions about the relationship between trauma and psychology.

In this session you will be introduced to the Cognitive Triangle, a tool that helps with recognition of the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviors. You will discuss how trauma affects these aspects and why a child who has experienced trauma may act out.

You also will spend a lot of time talking about your role as a resource parent and how you can help, through understanding the child’s needs. You have the opportunity to build new, positive experiences that can help reshape the brain and support the child’s development of emotional skills.

Part 7 of the “Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma” series broadens the discussion about trauma to look at your role within the team of people involved in the child’s life.

Trauma-informed advocacy involves many of the same aspects as trauma-informed parenting – once you understand the latter you can work toward sharing this perspective with other people who are supporting the child. During this training you will talk specifically about what this looks like, and engage in a role-play scenario that will support your skill building and interactions with the child’s team.

In this session you also will discuss the times when you may need to seek additional help for the child in your care. You will look at the behaviors that point to a need for therapy, and how you can support this by seeking trauma-informed treatment and evaluating that treatment in an ongoing way.

This 6 hour focused training for caregivers provides an in-depth exploration of secure attachment and challenges to attachment as well as building caregiver skills to enhance attachment with children in out of home care.  

This two-day in-service training delivered by webinar will prepare new CFWS caseworkers and experienced CFWS caseworkers who wish to improve their practice to engage parents and families from the point of transfer or case assignment. Participants will learn how to make the most of the first meeting and monthly visits with the parent in building a working relationship geared toward safe reunification and timely permanency. Participants will explore engaging children and caregivers during monthly visits, best interest considerations and permanency planning. Participants will be provided tools to improve the quality of court reports in addressing policy requirements and good practice.

A pre-requisite to the webinar training is the Permanency Considerations (eLearning). Participants must register and complete this eLearning prior to the webinar.

This eLearning primarily features a video of a popular Child Protection Medical Consultation (MedCon) presentation for Regional Core Training. The video showcases two respected and well-known child abuse pediatricians, Dr. Rebecca Wiester and Dr. Joyce Gilbert. Dr. Wiester and Dr. Gilbert discuss important aspects of Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, and Neglect within the context of their expertise as child protection medial consultants.

Viewers are walked through recognizing sentinel injuries; understanding Abusive Head Trauma and its connection to the Period of PURPLE Crying; identifying when to seek medical consultation, how to submit a referral, and what information to provide; and how to locate important county protocols and policy resources online. Viewers will also be provided with a helpful Notes Worksheet, which will guide them through capturing important information needed in practice, and to pass the quiz at the end. This eLearning also provides a Facilitator Guide and can be viewed either individually, or facilitated for a small group viewing.

Coaching sessions are utilized to enhance a learner’s specific skill attainment in an identified area of practice.  Coaching sessions are provided to Children’s Administration workforce to help workers attain specific skills pertinent to their daily work/practice in child welfare.  Identified goals are created and progress towards those goals is measured by both the learner and the coach after each session. 

Ad Hoc field based coaching topics include:

Tasks such as AFCARS, redaction, case closure, and entering ICWA/NAIR information into FamLink, filing of documentation into case files.

Coaching sessions are utilized to enhance a learner’s specific skill attainment in an identified area of practice.  Coaching sessions are provided to Department of Children, Youth, and Families workforce to help workers attain specific skills pertinent to their daily work/practice in child welfare.  Identified goals are created and progress towards those goals is measured by both the learner and the coach after each session. 

Assessments (Functionality and Content) field based coaching topics include:

Content and FamLink functionality in completing the Investigative Assessment (IA), Family Assessment Response Family Assessment (FARFA) and Comprehensive Family Evaluation (CFE); understanding the use of the gathering questions to assess for child safety; identifying and utilizing protective factors and protective capacities for safety and case planning; understanding timeframes for each assessment in the different program areas; service referrals and the use of EBP’s.

Coaching sessions are utilized to enhance a learner’s specific skill attainment in an identified area of practice.  Coaching sessions are provided to the Department of Children, Youth and Family's workforce to help workers attain specific skills pertinent to their daily work/practice in child welfare.  Identified goals are created and progress towards those goals is measured by both the learner and the coach after each session.

Assessing for Child Safety throughout the Life of the Case field based coaching topics include:

Assessing for present danger/impending danger; applying the Child Safety Framework; understanding the 17 safety threats and how to plan for present danger with protective action plans and safety plans in cases with identified impending danger; how to make appropriate collateral contacts; interviewing of children, parents/caregivers and all adults in the home; using medical consultation (Med-Cons); scheduling and preparing for appropriate case staffings; using Structured Decision Making (SDM) to help assess risk in cases and reassessing child safety throughout the life of the case.  

In this coaching session you will get individual support from a coach as you apply what you learned during the NCAST/PCI Feeding Scales Certification training. This application includes observing a feeding interaction and gathering pertinent information about the parent-child dyad; assessment of parent-child interactions; , scoring the Feeding Scale; and intervening with parents and young children. You will get direct feedback as you learn to apply the skills and knowledge to your everyday interactions with children and families inside and outside the scope of the Feeding Scales assessment.

Coaching sessions are utilized to enhance a learner’s specific skill attainment in an identified area of practice.  Coaching sessions are provided to Department of Children, Youth, and Families workforce to help workers attain specific skills pertinent to their daily work/practice in child welfare.  Identified goals are created and progress towards those goals is measured by both the learner and the coach after each session. 

Permanency (Timeline/Case Planning /Case Management) field based coaching topics include:

Permanency timelines; permanency from day one; engaging with families to co-create case plans; setting safety objectives; measuring progress versus compliance in cases; transition planning for children; knowing when to file for Termination of Parental Rights (TPR); understanding the court process and when to change permanency plans; understanding the adoption process; understanding parent/child visitation plans (supervised, monitored, etc.); understanding reasonable efforts versus active efforts for ICWA cases.

Coaching for Supervisors provides a one-on-one professional development opportunity and is an essential element in supporting the daily work supervisors do with their units and staff. Sessions can be scheduled in 30 minute intervals and can cover:

• Observation and feedback on monthly supervisory case reviews
• Use of Supervisor Review Tool in FamLink
• Documentation / Assessment review and approvals
• Observation and feedback on skills used to engage with staff
• Organization and Prioritization of work

This training is for licensed and unlicensed caregivers and relative / kinship providers to learn to support children and youth in their care who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity or who may identify as LGTBQ+. It is good for all caregivers to receive this training because it is important that all children and youth in care feel safe, accepted and supported.

Research shows that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and two spirit (LGBTQ+) youth are overrepresented in the foster care system. LGBTQ+ youth in out of home care face additional challenges such as discrimination, stigma and bullying. LGBTQ+ children/youth feel unsafe and face rejection from their families, schools and community. Many times, LGBTQ+ youth do not have access to appropriate health care and mental health resources.

This eLearning course was developed from Connecting, a prevention-focused program specifically for foster parents and relative caregivers, and teens in out of home care. Connecting was created using input and advice from social workers, caregivers, and LGBTQ+ foster youth.

This eLearning will provide caregivers an overview of the:

• Myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ+ children/youth and will provide facts and realities;
• Fundamental facts and terms about LGBTQ+ children/youth;
• Provide opportunities for activities for caregivers and children/youth;
• Address safety issues and develop plans for children/youth safety; and
• Learn how to promote the health, safety and well-being of the children/youth in care.

This eLearning will allow the caregiver to complete activities on their own as well as together with the children/youth in their care if they agree.

Participants will learn about the importance of contract monitoring, the Contract Monitoring Team, the purpose of a Compliance Agreement, and what to do if there are concerns about a contractor’s performance.

For years society has encouraged colorblind ideology without taking into consideration the impact this has on People of Color.  Through video, interactive activities and discussion of the research, participants are challenged to examine implicit bias, stereotype threat and its effect on cross cultural relationships and ethnic/racial identity development.  As a result, participants deepen their appreciation of challenges facing People of Color, grow in self-awareness and learn ways to mitigate the impact.

Objectives:
Participants Will…

1. Engage in courageous conversations;
2. Deepen their understanding of implicit bias and stereotype threat;
3. Learn strategies to mitigate the impact of implicit bias.

This training is presented by Cultures Connecting, LLC. Cultures Connecting, LLC was founded in 2008, providing culturally relevant professional development, keynote addresses, consulting and coaching services to organizations seeking to improve their staffs’ ability to effectively work with diverse cultures. 

Owners, Caprice D. Hollins, Psy.D., and Ilsa M. Govan, M.A., have over 30 years combined experience researching race related topics, designing curriculum, and facilitating culturally relevant professional development workshops.