On-line Training and Technical Assistance Resources

Cathleen Otero Subia, MSW, MPA
Project Manager
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare

4940 Irvine Blvd, Suite 202
Irvine, CA 92620
714-505-3525
www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov

A Program of the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Services Administration
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
and the
Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Children’s Bureau
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

MISSION

To improve outcomes for families by promoting effective practice, and organizational and system changes at the local, state, and national levels
- Developing and implementing a comprehensive program of information gathering and dissemination
- Providing technical assistance

Providing Technical Assistance

Level 1 – information provision
Level 2 – consultation
Level 3 – on-site facilitation
Level 4 – In-Depth Technical Assistance

Program of In-Depth Technical Assistance

Fifteen months of in-depth work with a State Team to develop practice protocols and policies that improve outcomes for families
- Round 1 – 2003/2004
  Colorado Florida Michigan Virginia
- Round 2 – 2004/2006
  Arkansas Massachusetts Minnesota
  Squaxin Island Tribe
- Round 3 – 2006/2007
  New York Texas
  Less intensive level of support to Maine and Vermont

Recent Products

Understanding Substance Abuse and Facilitating Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Workers (A short monograph for front-line workers)
On-Line Training – Now Available
- Understanding Child Welfare and the Dependency Court: A Guide for Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals
- Understanding Substance Use Disorders, Treatment and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals

Visit
www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov

Topics

Cross Training vs. Joint Training
- Cross-training helps systems understand each other’s roles and responsibilities
Joint-training
- Joint training builds collaborative relationships, one-on-one relationships and provides a venue for informal education

Creating a Training Plan

Develop an inventory of current training efforts
- Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor training
- Child Welfare – new worker and on-going
- Court trainings
  - Court Improvement Projects
- Other available training venues

Creating a Training Plan

Develop an inventory of funding for current training efforts
- Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor training
- Child Welfare – new worker and on-going
- Court trainings
  - Court Improvement Projects
- Other available training venues

Creating a Training Plan

Audience
- Front-line staff vs. management
Purpose and Intended Use
- Staff development, increase knowledge
- What practice skills are being targeted
- How will the information be translated into practice
Content
- Fundamentals vs. advanced practice

Creating a Training Plan

Funding: Determine opportunities for using training resources for cross training or joint training approaches
- Child Welfare Title IV-E training reimbursement to train substance abuse and court people
- One system provides training and just invites others
- Specialty programs may get reimbursed for new worker training

Lessons Learned from the Sacramento County Training Initiative

Sacramento County, California

Comprehensive cross-system joint training: Three Levels of Training

Level One – AOD basics
- All CWS staff – 4 days required
  - overview of chemical dependency
  - beginning to intermediate AOD information
  - introduction to assessment and treatment

Sacramento County, California

Comprehensive cross-system joint training: Three Levels of Training

Level Two – Advanced AOD information
- All case carrying workers – 4 days required
  - AOD screening, brief intervention, motivational enhancement and AOD treatment
  - assessment and treatment skill building
  - SASSI Certification training

Sacramento County, California

Comprehensive cross-system joint training: Three Levels of Training

Level Three – Group intervention skills
- All ADS staff – 4 days required – and voluntary for any CPS division staff
  - group treatment service skills
  - special treatment topics

Additional Training Components

Strategies for Family Change
Resiliency Training
Motivational Interviewing
Adolescent Treatment Training

AOD Treatment Provider Training

CWS Topics
- Service System Overview
- Dependency System Overview
- Mandated Reporting Responsibilities
- Risk Assessment
- Decision-making
- Critical Time Frames

Lessons Learned from Training

Logistics and Content

Mixture of cross and joint training was the right choice
Scheduling and training location
Curriculum
- Realistic, practical, and applicable
- Interactive and multi-modal
- Current and culturally respectful

Lessons Learned from Training

Organizational Buy-In

All levels – clarify communication around training goals and practice expectations
Administrators must understand content and application of training materials
Management participation and support
Supervisor reinforcement of change in practice and quality assurance

Lessons Learned from Training

Professional Trainer

Content expertise plus training skill
Dynamic, energetic and spontaneous
Motivated and flexible
Centered and congruent

Lessons Learned from Training

Keep It Going!

On-going dedicated budget
Make training mandatory for all new staff
Make changes in training content and format to respond to needs of work environment

NCSACW On-line Training Resources

Understanding Child Welfare and the Dependency Court: A Guide for Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals

Course Overview

Module One—overview of child maltreatment, child welfare, and shared family issues
Module Two—basics of the child welfare and dependency court systems
Module Three—collaborating with child welfare
Module Four—the treatment provider's role in supporting the client
Module Five—the treatment provider's role in early identification and reporting of child abuse and neglect

Course Overview

Resources—contains child welfare Websites, online publications, references and bibliography, and extensive confidentiality information to enhance treatment providers' understanding of the course content
Knowledge Assessment—tests participants' understanding of course material
4 CEUs—approved by National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

Module One: Overview of Child Maltreatment, Child Welfare, Dependency Court, and Shared Family Issues

Objectives

Learn about Federal definitions of child maltreatment and how to find appropriate State definitions
Learn about the services of the child welfare and dependency court systems
Become aware of personal feelings about child maltreatment and child welfare and how they may affect client casework
Identify the key roles and responsibilities of treatment professionals that may arise when working with clients who have minor children

Content

What is child maltreatment?
What is child welfare?
What are dependency courts and when do they get involved?
What are parent, child, and family issues that arise when parents with minor children are in treatment?
What are the responsibilities of treatment professionals who are working with parents who have minor children?

Module Two: Basics of the Child Welfare and Dependency Court System

Objectives

Identify societal values that led to child welfare legislation
Identify Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) key requirements and the role of dependency courts in implementing the Federal law
Understand how the competing timetables of child welfare, treatment, child development, and other systems, such as welfare, affect the treatment client
Understand how the services offered by the child welfare system affect the treatment client
Identify key terminology used in the CWS

Content

The societal and legal context for child welfare services
Requirements established by Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA)
Competing requirements of the child welfare, treatment, and welfare systems in the context of a child's development
Detailed descriptions of the range of child welfare services
A review of key child welfare terminology and their definitions

Module Three: Collaborating With the Child Welfare and Dependency Court Systems

Objectives

Identify key differences among the child welfare, dependency court, and substance abuse treatment systems
Identify what these systems have in common
Suggest ways that treatment providers can collaborate with the child welfare and dependency court systems
Describe when it is helpful to share information across systems and types of information to share
Present strategies for sharing confidential information in acceptable ways

Content

What are the differences between child welfare and treatment approaches to clients, and what do they have in common?
How can the treatment, child welfare, and dependency court systems collaborate for the benefit of their mutual clients?
What are the special requirements for working with American Indian parents who are in treatment?
How can treatment providers begin to collaborate with child welfare and the dependency court?
What are the key issues of confidentiality that affect information sharing, and how can they appropriately be addressed?

Module Four:
Your Role - Supporting Your Client

Objectives

Understand the key concepts of family system theory and what it offers treatment professionals
Identify family system issues that affect the client's participation in treatment
Understand the family system issues that affect the client's participation in child welfare
Understand the family system issues that affect children of clients in treatment
Develop strategies for collaborating with the CWS to address these issues and prepare clients for their participation in the system

Content

What is a family system, and why is it helpful to look at your client through the family system lens?
What happens to children of substance-abusing parents?
What are the issues encountered by substance-abusing parents?
How can you help prevent clients from entering the CWS?
How can you help your clients negotiate the CWS?
How can you help parents prepare for participation in child welfare and dependency court meetings, reviews, and hearings?
How can you help clients prepare for and respond to post-treatment family outcomes?

Module Five:
Your Role - Early Identification and Mandated Reporting

Objectives

Understand and use key strategies to assess whether child abuse or neglect may be occurring
Identify situations where child abuse or neglect is occurring and should be reported
Carry out the appropriate mandated reporting responsibilities
Understand what happens to a client when a report is made

Content

How do you determine whether you should be concerned about possible child maltreatment?
How do you decide whether you have a case that should be reported?
How do you make a report?
What happens to your client when a report is made?

Understanding Substance Use Disorders, Treatment and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals

Course Overview

Module One—fundamental information regarding substance use, abuse, and addiction.
Module Two—motivating families to engage in treatment for substance use disorders.
Module Three—substance abuse treatment types, settings, approaches, and key elements of treatment for parents
Module Four—special considerations for children
Module Five—strategies to enhance coordination and collaboration between substance abuse treatment and child welfare professionals.

Course Overview

Resources—contains a wealth of information: (1) child welfare websites, (2) online publications, (3) references and bibliography, and (4) a glossary of terms appropriate to child welfare and substance abuse issues.
Knowledge Assessment—tests participants' understanding of course material
4 CEUs—approved by National Association of Drug Addiction Counselors (NADAC)

Module One:
Primer on Substance Use, Abuse, and Addiction for Child Welfare Professionals

Objectives

Understand why people use substances and how they become addicted
Describe the continuum of substance use disorders and progression of substance use, abuse, and addiction
Understand the brain chemistry changes involved in substance use
Understand how SUDs are diagnosed
Gain the critical context needed to understand parents with SUDs, and to effectively manage the challenges faced by the parents and their children

Content

Why do people use alcohol and other drugs?
What are the pathways from use to abuse and addiction?
How do substances affect brain chemistry?
Are there risk factors that affect the likelihood that someone will develop a SUD?
How do professionals determine that someone has a SUD?
In what ways can SUDs have a negative effect on people’s lives?
How do SUDs affect the ability to parent?

Module Two:
Engaging Families in Substance Abuse Treatment

Objectives

Recognize the important role of child welfare professionals in helping parents to enter and sustain treatment for SUDs
Identify the needs and experiences of parents that bring them into treatment
Understand the special provisions for Native American children under the Indian Child Welfare Act
Identify specific strategies for engaging parents at different stages in the treatment and recovery process

Content

What is the role of the child welfare professional in screening substance use disorders?
What do child welfare professionals need to know about parents' needs and experiences that bring them into treatment?
How can child welfare professionals motivate and assist parents to seek and engage in appropriate treatment?
How can child welfare professionals continue to motivate and engage parents during treatment and recovery?
What resources can child welfare professionals use to complete assessments of parents?
How can child welfare professionals interpret and use assessment information from treatment providers?

Module Three:
Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery

Objectives

Understand what parents in substance abuse treatment encounter during the treatment and recovery processes
Gain knowledge about treatment services, approaches, settings, and outcomes
Understand treatment services for American Indian communities
Use this information to manage cases and improve outcomes for children
Identify the gender-specific needs faced by women with SUDs, including child-related concerns
Understand the effects of co-occurring disorders, domestic violence, and trauma issues experienced by many women with SUDs
Discuss research on effective treatment for women

Content

What is treatment and how can child welfare professionals help parents obtain appropriate treatment?
What methods are used to assess SUDs?
What treatment services are available to American Indian communities?
What happens as people go through the treatment process?
What are the issues for child welfare workers related to treatment monitoring and drug testing?
Does treatment work, and what are the expected outcomes?
How do co-occurring disorders, trauma, and domestic violence relate to women's substance abuse?
What are research-based approaches to treatment for women?

Module Four:
Special Considerations for Children Whose Parents Have Substance Use Disorders

Objectives

Learn strategies that child welfare professionals can use to help children experiencing parental substance abuse
Gain additional knowledge of the responsibilities of the child welfare professional for children who are in the system and who have parents with substance use disorders
More fully understand children’s needs and experiences connected to having a parent with a substance use disorder
Learn ways child welfare professionals can enhance case planning, safety planning, and linkages to other services for children experiencing parental substance abuse

Content

What are the responsibilities of child welfare professionals for children in the CWS?
What are the common experiences of children?
What are the typical needs of children?
How can the needs of children be met by child welfare workers through a partnership with substance abuse counselors?
What are key elements that must be addressed in a child welfare case plan to ensure the children's needs are met?
What are the appropriate services that child welfare workers need to respond to the children's needs?
How can the worker conduct positive and safe visitation that promotes and supports the child-parent relationship?

Module Five:
Partnering Strategies in Service to Child Welfare Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders

Objectives

Identify key approaches for child welfare professionals to collaborate with treatment counselors and other service providers at different stages in the treatment and recovery processes
Identify the treatment confidentiality requirements that child welfare professionals may encounter
Understand how to close a child welfare case involving substance abuse and how to support recovery after cases are closed

Content

How do child welfare workers ensure adherence to treatment confidentiality requirements?
What are the characteristics of successful collaboration between professionals?
How can child welfare workers partner with treatment programs to prepare parents for their participation in treatment?
How can child welfare workers partner with treatment counselors to improve outcomes for parents with SUDs?
Within agency protocols, how do you decide when to close a child welfare case?
How can child welfare workers assist parents to prepare for and sustain life-long recovery after their child welfare cases are closed?

Substance Use Disorders, Mental Disorders and Co-occurring Disorders

Training Package for Child Welfare Trainers

Training Package Overview

A package of training materials for child welfare trainers
- PowerPoint presentations
- Trainer script?
- Case studies and other exercises
- Handouts
- Resources

Training Package Overview

Module One – Understanding the Multiple Needs of Families Involved with the Child Welfare System
Module Two – Understanding Alcohol and Drug Issues, Treatment and Recovery
Module Three – Understanding Mental Disorders, Treatment, and Recovery

Training Package Overview

Module Four – Engagement and Intervention with Parents Affected by Substance Use Disorders, Mental Disorders, and Co-Occurring Disorders
Module Five – Developing a Comprehensive Response for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders, Mental Disorders, and Co-Occurring Disorders
Module Six – Understanding the Needs of Children of Parents with Substance Abuse or Mental Disorders

Training Package Overview

Audience: pre-service and in-service child welfare professionals
Level of understanding: Basic information, with implications for emergency response, investigation and on-going case planning
Trainers: Should be knowledgeable about substance abuse, mental health and child welfare systems. They should at least be familiar with the policies and laws that impact agency decision-making to ensure the information is presented in the proper context.

NCSACW On-line Policy
Tools and Resources

NCSACW Products

Development of a Comprehensive Framework and Policy Tools

10 Element Framework
Collaborative Values Inventory
Collaborative Capacity Instrument
Matrix of Progress in Linking Services
Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention and Recovery -- SAFERR

Connecting AOD, CWS, Court Systems:
Elements of System Linkages^*

Underlying Values
Screening and Assessment
Client Engagement and Retention in Care
AOD Services to Children
Joint Accountability and Shared Outcomes

Information Sharing & Management
Training and Staff Development
Budgeting and Program Sustainability
Building Community Supports
Working with Related Agencies and Support Systems

From CSAT Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) 27: Navigating the Pathways *Revised March 2003

NCSACW Products

Collaborative Values Inventory
- On-line anonymous questionnaire to be completed by cross-disciplinary teams
- The intent is to assist in developing common principles for collaborative work
Collaborative Capacity Instrument
- A self-assessment by County (and/or State) alcohol and drug and child welfare service agencies
- Designed to elicit discussion among/within agencies about their readiness for collaboration

I. Underlying Values And Principles of Collaborative Relationships

Judges & attorneys are viewed as partners in developing approaches N/S=1	2.45
Agencies & courts have used values assessment process N/S=5	1.29
Systems have negotiated shared principles N/S=1	2.00
Region prioritized CWS parents for AOD treatment services	1.92
CWS & courts view alcohol as important as illicit drugs	2.50
Region responds to conflicting time frames N/S=2	1.80

Overall Mean 1.99

SUMMARY SCORES

	COMMUNITY/FAMILY	RELATED AGENCIES	BUDGETING	STAFF DEVELOP	INFO SHARING	OUTCOMES	CHILDREN	ENGAGE/RETAIN	SCREEN/ASSESS	VALUES
Post	2.11	1.99	2.18	1.93	2.05	2.1	1.93	1.98	2.26	2.56
Pre	1.88	1.83	2.17	1.47	1.47	1.85	1.5	1.71	1.88	1.98

NCSACW Products

Matrix of Progress in Linking Services
- Describes fundamentals for improved practice, good practice and best practice within each of the 10 elements
Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention and Recovery (SAFERR)
- Guidance for states and communities serving families with substance use disorders in child welfare services and dependency courts

NCSACW Products

Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention and Recovery (SAFERR)
- Current practice and key factors and processes for child welfare, alcohol and drug services and dependency court systems
- Guidance on developing collaborative efforts to improve outcomes for families.

NCSACW Products

In-Depth Technical Assistance: Compilation of State and Local Policy Tools
- Colorado, Florida, Michigan and Virginia final products available on the NCSACW website
- Arkansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota and the Squaxin Island Tribe final products will be available in June 2006