Child protection, foster care, adoption: Training

TrainLink  is a partner and provider access point for the department’s learning management system. The TrainLink website contains several Learning Centers as well as links to other department registration systems. Find class schedules, online learning modules and the training registration system. TrainLink keeps track of learner participation, including completed classes and certifications.   

Instructions on registering for training classes can be found on PartnerLink. 

Safety and Prevention webinar series: Topic/Description (PDF)  

Placing children with complex needs: placement authority, AFCARS and foster care requirements

The Child Safety and Permanency Division, with the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) is hosting two duplicate webinars about foster care policy requirements when placing children with complex needs. These webinars are a continuation of pressing information DCYF has gathered through our work with county and Tribal agencies around children with complex needs, including the need for clarification about placement authority and foster care policy requirements.

The webinars will address:

• Bulletin #24-68-05: Clarifying when waiver residential services are foster care placements for children/youth (state.mn.us)
• Types of placement settings including crisis respite in hotel settings, crisis respite or residential services in child foster residence settings (corporate child foster care/group homes), shelter care in licensed residential facilities, children’s residential facilities, Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs), and in-patient treatment in a hospital.
• Placement authority definition, types of placement authority and when placement authority is required.
• Foster care placement policy requirements.
• Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) and placement data entry in SSIS.

The webinars’ target audience:

• Child protection and child welfare case managers
• Children’s mental health case managers
• Waiver case managers
• Child foster care licensors

Duplicate webinar dates:

• August 29, 2024: 11am – 12pm
• September 10, 2024: 2pm – 3pm

Registration links:

Thursday, August 29, 2024 11:00 AM | (UTC-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada):
Tuesday, September 10, 2024 2:00 PM | (UTC-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada):

The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act amended federal foster care Title IV-E, requiring states to support normalcy for all children in foster care. Children and youth in foster care need to experience the same types of developmentally appropriate and social activities that their friends, families and classmates — who are not in care — experience. This law permits foster parents, designated corporate foster care staff and residential staff to allow foster children to participate in normal childhood activities, including…, by applying the Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard.

This two-hour training is required for child welfare case managers of foster care placements, child foster care licensing staff, child foster care parents, and designated staff at corporate or residential facilities. 

• PowerPoint slides from the May 24, 2016 Virtual Presence Communication (VPN), Normalcy and Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard Training (PDF)
• Minnesota’s Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard Guidance DHS-7684 (PDF)
• Training Certificate  (PDF)
• Normalcy and Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard Training” VPN, YouTube link from May 24, 2016

Workers in a number of professions, including health care, social services, psychological treatment, child care, education, corrections, law enforcement and clergy, are required to report suspected child maltreatment. 

• Resource Guide for Mandated Reporters of Child Maltreatment Concerns DHS-2917 (PDF), is about Minnesota's mandated reporter statute.
• This information about maltreatment investigations in licensed facilities includes links to statutory requirements.

 Mandated Reporter Training is a self-paced learning module that is designed for professionals identified by law who are required to make a report if they have reason to believe that a child has been maltreated. This web-based training features videos and short quizzes that can be completed through self-study.

The training has been updated in 2022 and is available through the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA). 

Introduction to Children’s Mental Health training discusses a number of common mental health diagnoses that foster and adoptive children often present within the child welfare system. Each diagnosis is discussed in terms of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions, and cultural considerations. It includes information and helpful tips about common co-occurring or dual diagnoses. This course meets the training requirement in Minnesota Statute 245A.

Introduction to Children’s Mental Health (19 learning modules)

Course name: CSP204B Facilities Investigations 

Course description: Participants will build on existing knowledge, assessment strengths and skills in child protection investigations. They will gain specialized knowledge of the investigation processes to assess alleged maltreatment in a facility (child foster care, family child care or juvenile correctional facilities located within an agency’s jurisdiction). The course explores the “gray areas” unique to facility investigations, and the differing and complementary roles and responsibilities of the child protection investigator and the facility licensor. Participants review the process for facility investigations, including the intake process, evidence gathering, appropriate disposition and determination notices. It is expected that participants will have completed Child Welfare Foundation Training and is preferred that participants have completed forensic child interviewing training. 

To schedule this training course please email: dhs.csp.training@state.mn.us