Below is a list of free professional development resources that can assist you in staying current on research/best practices in your field and assist in your career advancement.
Mobile Apps
Android
Basic Interviewing for Social Workers »
DSM-5 Criteria »
Elements of Child Sexual Abuse »
FOCUS on Foster Families »
ICWA Guide »
Safety Organized Practice Tool »
TF-CBT Triangle of Life »
iPhone
Child Development Milestones and Assessment: HTML5 Mobile Site »
DSM-5 Criteria »
FOCUS on Foster Families »
Social Work Social Media »
TF-CBT Triangle of Life »
Thought Diary Pro »
Newsletters
Child Welfare Information Gateway (7 options) »
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute »
National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment at AdoptUSKids »
Online Training
CDC Violence Prevention Course »
This game-like experience demonstrates the connections between violence and community issues
Domestic Violence - Understanding the Basics »
Understand common dynamics and common tactics that characterize domestic violence; recognize impact on individuals and society; identify factors that allow domestic violence to exist; and how to be part of the solution.
FRIENDS Online Learning Center »
Training on various topics
National Children's Advocacy Center Trainings »
Training on various topics
NCTSN Learning Center »
Training on various topics
Positive Psychology and Well-Being of Child Welfare Workers »
3-part training series focuses on the application of positive psychology in order to improve the well-being of child welfare workers; developed by Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare
SAMHSA Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) »
Helps professionals work with adult and adolescent clients affected by FASD, as well as clients with children affected by FASD. Parents, caregivers, and other family members can also benefit from this information.
Substance Abuse & Child Welfare Training »
A guide for child welfare professionals on understanding substance use disorders, treatment, and family recovery.
Podcasts
Child Welfare Information Gateway Podcast Series »
NCTSN Podcasts »
UAA Child Welfare Academy Podcasts »
Publications
Child Protective Services, A Guide for Caseworkers »
Published by HHS this manual describes the basic stages of the CPS process and the steps necessary to accomplish each stage with best practices and critical issues in casework practice underscored throughout
Child Welfare 360° »
Annual publication that provides communities, child welfare professionals, and other human service professionals, comprehensive information on the latest research, policies and practices in a key area affecting child well-being
Facilitation of Webinars & Virtual Meetings »
Provides best practices for faciliating webinars and virtual meetings
Family Engagement Inventory »
Learn how family engagement is defined and implemented across these fields of practice
Information Gateway's State Managers Series »
Read research summaries and examples of specific strategies for child welfare program managers
Information Gateway's Series Publications (10 options) »
Includes all the publications for these series: Bulletins for Professionals (22); Factsheets (25); Factsheets for Families (34); Grantee Lessons Learned (7); Hojas Informativas (Factsheets - 7); Hojas Informativas Para las Familias (Factsheets for Families - 16); Issue Briefs (21); Numbers and Trends (10); Related Organizations Lists (41); State Statutes (40)
How to Create Infographics in PowerPoint »
Infographics are a great way to communicate information visually and this explains how to create them easily; developed by HubSpot
Leadership Competency Framework » & Learning & Living Leadership Toolkit »
The framework details leadership competencies needed to be an effective leader in child welfare. The tool kit provides a variety of activities that develop those leadership skills.
On the Job Training Manual for Supervisors of New Child Welfare Employees »
Some content specific to Alameda County but provides great tools for supervisors.
Professional Writing for Child Welfare Practice & Supervision »
Handouts can aassist caseworkers with their professional writing skills; developed by University of Iowa School of Social Work – National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice
Social Media Tips for Foster Care Workers »
Tips from Child Welfare Information Gateway
Social Media
Use social media to get bite-sized information on best practices, resources, research and stories from the field! We've listed some great organizations to follow:
Administration for Children & Families »
Twitter, YouTube
Adopt US Kids »
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Annie E. Casey Foundation »
Facebook, Twitter
Casey Family Programs »
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Child Trends »
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube
Center for the Study of Social Policy »
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Child Welfare Information Gateway »
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Harvard Family Research Project »
Facebook, Twitter
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) »
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Vimeo
National Child Traumatic Stress Network »
Facebook, Twitter
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges »
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube
National Indian Child Welfare Association »
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation »
Facebook, Twitter
Ted Talks »
Facebook, Twitter
The Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies »
Facebook, Twitter
The Kempe Center »
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
The National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment »
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
The Network for Social Work Management »
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services »
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Videos
Lessons from Birth Parents »
This video created by the Child Welfare Partnership Training Unit is a presentation made by six parent mentors who work with birth parents involved with Child Welfare. They are all former clients. We asked them to tell us their stories and to give case workers advice on how best to engage birth parents. They are a courageous and empathetic group who are making a difference with families in Oregon.
Gateway's Family Engagement in Child Welfare Video Series »
Videos offer unique insight into the key elements needed to make peer-to-peer family engagement programs successful
ReMoved »
Follows the emotional story through the eyes of a young girl taken from her home and placed into foster care
Webinars
NCWWI Recorded Webinars »
21+ recorded webinars specifically for the child welfare field
Websites
California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) »
Resources include curricula and publications from their evaluation and research in child welfare
Child Welfare Information Gateway »
Resources covering the child welfare continuum from prevention to permanency and beyond
MyNCWW »
Access over 1,200 workforce development resources that have been vetted by the Children's Bureau
National Traumatic Stress Network »
Resources focused on childhood trauma
Trauma Informed Oregon »
A centralized repository of information and resources for providers, youth, individuals seeking or receiving services, family members and stakeholders