This course will provide an introductory foundation to the terms and concepts of the Department of Children and Family Services' Child Welfare Assessment and Decision Making Model (CWADM). This course is the pre-requisite for the CWADM course provided in Level 2 of the Foundations of Child Welfare Practices.

This training will provide an overview of the Child Welfare Assessment and Decision Making (CWADM) Model, a roadmap of how cases in Child Protective Services, Family Services and Foster Care will be assessed and key decisions that are made throughout the life of a case. This overview prepares staff for a series of system/policy changes, occurring over the next six to nine month period, which will align practice with the CWADM Model.

Our nation's Child Welfare systems have evolved greatly since the 1800's. Several conditions, people, events, and evidence-based research have contributed to our modern-day system. At the conclusion of this course, the participant will be able to identify, describe, and evaluate the history and evolution of Child Welfare in America. This includes the understanding of major contemporary Child Welfare laws which guide our work.

In Module 1, course content will focus on Emotional Intelligence, the "Four Tendencies", Parallel Process, and Principles of Practice #1. As a result of attending Module 1, attendees should observe a strengthening of their emotional intelligence level which assists with building relationships, maintaining a positive environment and displaying behaviors conducive for fellow employees and families. Attendees will have a better understanding of how their interactions with staff influence the interactions with staff and their clients; providing greater clarity of the significance of supervisors modeling behaviors, promoting a cohesive culture. Upon completion of Module 1, supervisors should have a plan for having their staff complete the "Four Tendencies" quiz (which assesses patterns of behavior/workplace functioning), as well as adjusting their supervision approach based on the test results for their unit members. Target Participants: All new DCFS Child Welfare Supervisors

In Module 2, course content will focus on creating a stable and productive team and the DCFS CW Principle of Practice #2. Attendees will gain knowledge in the current hiring process for CW frontline staff. As a result of completing Module 2, attendees will be able to explain why people stay and leave DCFS as well as ways the supervisor can increase staff retention within their unit and the department. Attendees will have a better appreciation of the importance of worker orientation to the job and how they can create a sense of belonging within their unit. Attendees will be able to describe their role in staff training as well as be able to implement interventions to improve the staff's transfer of learning. Attendees will assess the cohesiveness of their team and will leave training with information on team building as well as ways to overcome problems within their units. Target Participants: All new DCFS Child Welfare Supervisors

In Module 3, course content is focused on supervising and supporting your team through the use of clinical, individual and group supervision as well as addressing the needs of supervisors and supervisees related to Secondary Traumatic Stress. In this course, supervisors should demonstrate an understanding of different supervision required with staff which includes providing guidance and supervision beyond just case consultation. Additionally, in this course supervisor's will learn that they should be thinking about how they can utilize group supervision in their units and develop a plan for their first group supervision meeting. This course also includes information on how supervisors should have an understanding of trauma and how it affects the families they serve and their staff. Lastly, in this course, supervisors will learn how to monitor staff for signs of secondary traumatic stress and begin to provide support to help combat negative consequences. Target Participants: New DCFS-Child Welfare Supervisors