The State provides for ongoing training for staff that addresses the skills and knowledge base needed to carry out their duties with regard to the service included in the CFSP.
Policy
Caseworker Training
Caseworkers are required to complete 36 hours of annual in-service training (OAC 5101:2-33-55).
Supervisor Training
Supervisors are required to complete 30 hours of annual in-service training (OAC 5101:2-33-56).
Practice
Caseworker Training
At a minimum of once every two years the caseworker and supervisor is responsible for working with the caseworker to determine the caseworker’s training needs. This is done through completion of the Caseworker Individual Training Needs Assessment (Refer to the Introduction of this section for information on the Individual Needs Assessment). Training needs are based on:
• Prior background and experience of the caseworker;
• Job duties and responsibilities of the caseworker;
• Competencies that the caseworker and supervisor identify which the worker needs to attain.
After reviewing a caseworker’s training needs, the caseworker and supervisor identifies the training/courses in which the caseworker will need to enroll. On-going training requirements can be fulfilled by attending a variety of training events. These training events may include training offered by any of the following:
• OCWTP
• ODJFS
• Accredited colleges or universities when the course work is relevant to the worker/supervisor’s assigned duties
• Seminars, conferences, or workshops
Supervisor Training
At a minimum of once every two years the executive director or the designated person and the supervisor is responsible for working with the supervisor to determine the supervisor’s training needs. This is done through completion of the Supervisor’s Individual Training Needs Assessment (Refer to the Introduction of this section for information on the Individual Needs Assessment). Training needs are based on:
• Prior background and experience of the worker;
• Job duties and responsibilities of the supervisor;
• Competencies that the supervisor and the immediate supervisor identify the supervisor needs to attain.
After reviewing a supervisor’s training needs, the supervisor and the immediate supervisor identifies the training/courses in which the supervisor will need to enroll. In-service training requirements can be
fulfilled by attending a variety of training events. These training events may include training offered by any of the following:
• OCWTP
• ODJFS
• Accredited colleges or universities when the course work is relevant to the worker/supervisor’s assigned duties
• Seminars, conferences, or workshops
The following workshops are available to caseworkers and supervisors through OCWTP to meet their ongoing training requirements:
Specialized Child Welfare Practice
This category includes knowledge and skills needed by staff who work in special program areas or with particular client populations. Training content includes both basic and advanced level coursework.
Workers can attend the following specialized training when indicated on the Individual Training Needs Assessment.
Adoption and Foster Care Working with Adolescents Sexual Abuse
Intake and Assessment of Risk Legal Issues in Child Welfare Services to Single Parents
Family-Centered Assessment/Intervention Related Casework Practice
Related workshops are developed based upon data identified from Individual Training Needs Assessment data. Following is a list of related casework practice workshops:
Treatment Strategies and Interventions Family Systems Theory and Family Therapy Casework with Children
Recognizing and Assessing Developmental Delay and Disability Parenting Skills
Collaborative Interdisciplinary Services to Families Cultural Competence
Adult Psychopathology Substance Abuse Family Violence
Understanding Psychological Evaluations Group Work Skills
Time and Stress Management: Personal Safety Human Sexuality
Writing Skills for Case Documentation Health and Medical Issues
Adoption Assessor Training
Training is required for all social workers providing foster care or adoption services in Ohio. In includes six workshops and 36 hours of training. Workshops include:
Family and Child Assessment – 12 hours Birth Parent Services – 6 hours
Post-Finalization Adoption Services – 6 hours
Adoption Assistance – 3 hours Placement Strategies – 3 hours
Pre-finalization Adoption Services – 6 hours
In addition, adoption assessors must complete an advanced series of four workshops. These workshops include:
Cultural Issues in Permanency Planning – 12 hours
Achieving Permanency through Interagency Collaboration – 6 hours Openness in Adoption – 12 hours
Gathering and Documenting Background Information – 6 hours
Monitoring
PCSAs are responsible for maintaining all employees’ education and training records. Additionally, PCSAs are required to ensure completion of ITNAs and submit ITNA data to their respective RTC.
Item 34. Foster and Adoptive Parent Training
The State provides training for current or prospective foster parents, adoptive parents, and staff of State licensed or approved facilities that care for children receiving foster care or adoption assistance under Title IV-E, which addresses the skills and knowledge base needed to carry out their duties with regard to foster and adopted children.
Policy
Adoptive applicants are required to complete preservice training before an agency can approve their homestudy (OAC 5101:2-48-09). PCSA adoptive applicants are enrolled in the OCWTP Pre-service training for prospective adoptive parents. Private agencies certified to perform the adoptive function are required to provide the required preservice training to adoptive applicants..
In Ohio, foster and adoptive families may be dually licensed; that is, approved for adoption and certified for foster care as part of the same process. Prior to being certified as a foster caregiver the applicant must complete preplacement training (ORC § 5103.031, ORC § 5103.033, OAC 5101:2-5-33). A training stipend is provided to prospective foster caregivers and certified foster caregivers to attend training. The following table outlines hours of preplacement and continuing training required for each level of foster caregiver certification.
Level of Fostering Preplacement Training Hours Required
Continuing Training During 2 Year Certification Period
Required
Infant-Only Foster Care 12 24
Family Foster Care 24 40
Specialized Foster Home 36 60
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The following workshops are required for foster and adoptive parents in order to meet their preservice training requirements. Additionally, Kinship Caregivers may enroll in these workshops.
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• Orientation and Overview
• Teambuilding
• Child Development and the Impact of Abuse and Neglect
• Attachment and Separation
• Discipline
• Preventing and De-escalating Crisis
• Cultural Issues in Placement
• Working with Primary Families
• Caring for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused
• Effects of Caregiving on the Family