Resources include core/foundation training curricula and materials for child welfare caseworkers on family support and preservation that address topics such as family engagement, strengths-focused assessment, participatory case planning, and more. Resources include State and local examples.
Child Welfare Training Toolkit: Helping Child Welfare Workers Support Families With Substance Use, Mental, and Co-Occurring Disorders
National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
Provides learning opportunities and baseline knowledge on substance abuse and mental health problems among families involved in the child welfare system, facilitates cross-systems work, and incorporates cultural awareness and competency in child welfare practice.
Keeping Families Together and Safe: A Curriculum for Child Protective Services Workers and Homeless Services Workers: Instructor's Manual (PDF - 782 KB)
Child Welfare League of America (2006)
Provides a curriculum for a training designed to help child welfare front-line workers and homeless service workers address the housing and safety issues that cause many children to be separated from their families. A Participant Resource Manual (PDF - 421 KB) is also available.
Parent Leadership Ambassador Training: Facilitator Guide (PDF - 845 KB)
Circle of Parents & FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (2006)
Discusses a guide with worksheets used in a 2-day parent leadership training workshop that explains the continuum of parent involvement/engagement/empowerment and agency actions that promote such engagement as well as the principles of family support practices.
Preparing Professionals to Support the Safety and Permanency Needs of At-Risk Children Through Relationship and Marriage Education (PDF - 97 KB)
National Extension Relationship and Marriage Education Network (2011)
Highlights the Healthy Relationship and Marriage Education project by discussing the impact of unhealthy or abusive relations between parents on the development and safety of children and the need for child welfare workers to reinforce elements of healthy family functioning in order to minimize these risks to children and maximize the opportunity for family preservation.
State and local examples
Center for Parent Education and Family Support
College of Education, University of North Texas
Offers training and professional development opportunities for parent and family educators, family support professionals, and students in Texas.
Family-Centered Practice Curriculum
Florida's Center for the Advancement of Child Welfare Practice & Florida Department of Children and Families
Provides handouts, slides, and participant and trainer guides for a curriculum for child welfare practitioners in Florida. The training identifies the philosophy and values of family preservation services and addresses family engagement, assessment, case planning, teaming, and more.
Shaping Attitudes in Public Child Welfare: An Innovative MSW Training Program
Love & Campbell
Family Preservation Journal, 10, 2007
View Abstract
Explores a qualitative study of California's Child Welfare Services Group, which proposed changes in how child welfare services are delivered and calls for including more partnering with families and communities to strengthen families, prevent unnecessary placements, or reunite families successfully.