F.O.R.E.C.A.S.T. is a trauma-informed intensive simulation. This training session introduces and builds important concepts and skills for helping children impacted by trauma, abuse, neglect, and loss. During the Foundational Introduction to FORECAST Class, the primary concepts and important tools were introduced, practiced, and applied. This course builds on the knowledge, skills and principles covered in the introductory class. By participating in this simulation process participants will: Discuss the basics of traumatically informed care. Discover strategies for practicing self-care. Review and apply key elements introduced in the Foundational Introduction to FORECAST. Learn to review professional documentation and extract information that would contribute to investigation planning. Practice critical thinking skills to generate hypotheses pertaining to available case information. Demonstrate the ability to interview family members, caregivers and others involved in child abuse and neglect in a role-play-based simulation. Identify anticipated child protection processes relevant to the case. Help staff identify, understand, and prepare for the potential impact of secondary traumatic stress.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual exposed to alcohol in the womb. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with lifelong implications. This training, through the Human Development Center at LSU Health New Orleans, will provide in-depth discussion of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) including the factors affecting accurate prevalence rates, effects of prenatal exposure on the brain, and signs and the signs and symptoms of FASD along with the primary and secondary disabilities caused by FASD. It will also provide information on prevention and awareness, destigmatization and family support, treatment and services, screening and diagnosis, and challenges with the legal system in regards to FASD. The objectives of this training is for participants to: ? Understand the brain differences in FASD and the impacts to learning and health. ? Explore practices in the field to support prevention, policy, awareness, and family support for FASD. ? Understand best practices and supports for the home, school, and community environment for those affected by FASD.

The Family Assessment Tracking System (FATS) serves the following purposes: As a summary of the family's protective capacities, concerns and problems as perceived by the family, the worker/department and other collaterals. As a tool to engage families and collaterals in order to gather information about the child and family as it pertains to the reason the department is currently involved with the family. As initial and ongoing documentation of pertinent information regarding the family's functioning, including the worker's observations. Any discrepancy in information should be clarified by the worker and explained in the documentation. As a source of the information gathered through the assessment process to identify strengths and needs of the family that will translate into the development of a case plan to address identified concerns/problems. As the documentation of the case plan development participants; case plan; and, the case plan review and progress. As the case record documentation for all case contacts and activities. As documentation of updates and periodic reviews of the assessment, case plan and case documentation as required in department program policy. These tutorials will provide instruction to DCFS staff on how to use FATS . The tutorials will instruct you on how to navigate the four parts of FATS: Part 1 - Family Builder Part 2 - Assessment of Family Functioning (AFF) Part 3 - Case Plan Part 4 - Case Documentation.

The training consists of how to complete the form, what can be referred, and what supporting documentation is needed to refer.

Engagement, critical thinking, self-reflecting, cultural awareness, and interviewing are essential skills necessary for child welfare professionals to complete comprehensive family assessments. This course provides information on these topics. Family assessments are critical to the job of a child welfare worker. Conducting accurate assessments can impact children's safety, permanency, and well-being in the child welfare system. Therefore, they are critical to child welfare practice. According to the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR) findings, the Children's Bureau identified a connection between comprehensive family assessments and good outcomes for children and families. In addition, positive ratings on comprehensive family assessments are associated with positive ratings on permanency and safety outcomes (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2014). Comprehensive Assessments are needed to help workers know what steps to take to keep children safe. Learning Objectives: - Define the purpose of various assessments and how and when to use various tools - Identify the strengths and needs or limitations of families - Identify what types of information child welfare workers must gather when conducting an assessment - Recognize and explain conditions or contributing factors that impact safety and increase risk

This workshop will provide opportunities for children and adolescents to bond with their foster families in diverse ways. This session will focus on foster families discovering more about what each individual person's interests are as well as finding commonalities. We will discuss different types of art, explore varieties of music, and express ourselves with storytelling. We will practice some fun sing-alongs and create artwork that shows a different side of ourselves. A supply list incorporating items you have at home can be found below. Upon completion of this course, participants will: - Include foster parents, foster children and other children in the home. Everyone will engage in virtual group activities together with other foster families. - Learn and experience the benefits of using different creative methods. - Have the opportunity to laugh together, to create together, and to get to know each other on a different level.