In this course, Judge Ernestine S. Gray of Orleans Parish Juvenile Court discusses the importance of presenting as a competent expert witness in courtroom briefs to ensure fair and effective verdicts for family cases. With her 20 plus years of courtroom experience, Judge Gray provides expert insight into how DCFS staff should prepare for courtroom testimony, tips for interacting with courtroom professionals, and the do's and dont's of courtroom decorum.

This training is an ACESS Step-by-Step Demonstration on how to correctly register and add clients to both a new investigation case and an existing open investigation case. This training also takes the users through the correct steps of searching for existing clients in the system to follow to avoid integration audit errors and produce a cleaner more accurate quality of data syncs between ACESS 2.0 and the TIPS System.

Human Trafficking 101: A Multidisciplinary Introduction to Human Trafficking is an introductory course designed to raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking as the first step to eradication. The course aims to provide the knowledge necessary to define human trafficking and its prevalence. Risk factors are given to help participants identify and assess victims of human trafficking as well as services available to victims. Participants will not be equipped to provide direct interventions with a victim after completing this course, and in fact, may harm a victim without being properly trained in trauma-informed intervention techniques. This course includes video clips from an interview with a survivor. Please be aware of the sensitive nature of the information shared in the videos and respect the confidentiality of what is shared. Upon course completion, you will be able to: - Define the crime of human trafficking and dispel common myths. - Differentiate between the types of human trafficking. - Identify risk factors that contribute to the vulnerability of potential victims. - Recognize the prevalence of human trafficking. - Outline the legislative response to human trafficking. - Identify victims of human trafficking. - Review the comprehensive service needs of victims.

The training will discuss the purpose of ICPC, barriers, causes, and the prevention and processing of ICPC referrals and home studies. The training will further discuss how to be proactive when sending or receiving ICPC referrals to prevent delays. Learning objectives The purpose of ICPC, establish ICPC orderly procedures, ensure protection and services are in place per the family case plan, are adhered to in the receiving state and the sending state maintains jurisdiction over the child/children while placed across state lines. Barriers that are causing delays in processing the ICPC referrals and completing ICPC home studies. Improve communications and collaborations between the ICPC Coordinators and Child Welfare Caseworkers.

Staff will identify trends, patterns, information and behaviors through the review of case history to develop an understanding of how history impacts the decision making through the use of engagement style questions. The purpose of this course is to build a foundation of critical thinking that will be applied during the entire case assessment and decision making for all levels of staff.

This course will provide an overview of the Implementation of Act 409 and its implications for CPS practice. Act 409 was enacted to strengthen child welfare oversight across schools and Early Learning Centers, close loopholes in investigations of child-on-child sexual abuse, mandate SCR Clearances for staff in all public and private school employees, provide clarity concerning dual reporting requirement to DCFS and Law Enforcement, modify CPS Investigative finding terms, require Ombudsman notifications on all fatality investigations; and provide for civil remedies for victims.