This learning program aims to improve learners’ critical understanding of — and ability to assess — the safety and risk of family circumstances within the CARES (Collaborative Assessment, Response, Engagement and Support)/FAR (Family Assessment Response) context.
Learners use the protective approach to maintain safety-focused practice and assessments while utilizing CARES/FAR principles that support strengths-based assessments, family-led engagement, and solution-focused inquiries. They also learn how to recognize implicit bias and its impact on families and other CARES/FAR frameworks that bridge how a learner collects information about the family.
Learners practice using the following tools: virtual assignment, case examples, safety assessment, FLAG (Family-Led Assessment Guide)-Assessing Risk, group consultation, safety factors, scaling questions, open-ended inquiries, The Three Houses, mapping, Genogram, Ecomap, and racial equity strategy. Before attending this virtual, instructor-led training, learners must complete all course prerequisites listed below and an online pre-test.
Who Should Attend?
Division of Child Protection (DCP) staff including Child Protective
Specialists, Child Protective Supervisors, managers, deputy directors and Application staff.
Course Benefits
Learners will:
- Adopt affirming practices in case assessment by better understanding the consequential impact of implicit bias in child protection.
- Better understand how methods of safety and risk in the CARES/FAR context are supported by the concept of racial equity.
- Understand how the functions of group consultation are utilized in the CARES/FAR
casework practice in the assessment of safety and risk. - Learn about FLAG in assessment and CONNECTIONS documentation.
Course Prerequisites
Prior to attending this course, learners are required to have completed the CARES/FAR Process and Practice learning program.
- Family Assessment Response CBT (Computer-
Based Training). - All components of the CARES/FAR: Process
and Practice learning program. - All components of the CARES/FAR: Solution
Focused learning program.
Course Components
Once enrolled in the course, learners will complete:
- An online pre-test.
- A virtual assignment.
- A full-day, virtual instructor-led training.
- An online post-test.
Completion of all components is necessary to receive a Certificate of Completion.
Continuing Education Units
There are no CEUs associated with this course.
Registration
Staff development coordinators will contact DCP staff during their assigned enrollment period to coordinate registration.