A service of the Children’s Bureau, member of the T/TA Network

CFSR/CFSP Coordinators’ Peer Network

National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement

Responses to Arizona’s Request for Information on Cultural Awareness Training for Child Protective Services Case Managers

07/23/2013

Request:

Greetings CFSR/CFSP Coordinators Peer Network Members!

Your colleagues in Arizona have sent the following request for information:

Greetings from Arizona.

We are in the midst of updating our Cultural Awareness training for Child Protective Services Case Managers. We are wondering if anyone can share what they currently train their staff or can share valuable resources with Arizona. So often our new Case Managers think why do I have to attend another training on Culture and feel they already know everything there is to know because they took a course on Culture in college. We are looking to update this training by pulling in how cultural awareness will help the CPS Case Manager work with families and to make safety decisions.

Thanks very much!!!

Responses:

1.  Aude Bermond Hamlet, Utah -

We are also interested in seeing what others offer in terms of Cultural Awareness training. Please, share any interesting responses. Thank you.

2.  Maribeth Preston, Michigan -

Our Michigan DHS CFSR Coordinator, Deb Buchanan,forwarded me your email with Arizona's inquiry about training for CPS workers regarding cultural competency. In Michigan, a couple years ago, we formed the Michigan Coalition for Race Equity in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice (REC) to address the disproportionate number of minority youth in both systems. Casey Family Programs (CFP)has been working with us and our training committee looked at various curriculums available. We initially had all members of the REC go through the Knowing Who You Are curriculum. The Knowing Who You Are curriculum from CFP is fantastic and addresses not only the importance of cultural competence but as part of that the lenses we view others through due to our own experiences. We are currently seeking foundation funding as a state to have our DHS workers trained in this curriculum as well as court and law enforcement stakeholders. The CFP model allows a state to have their own facilitators trained so the state can replicate the training at minimal cost, or the state can have facilitators come in if they are looking at holding sessions over a time limited period.

I have cc'd Elena Lamont from CFP on this email in the event someone from Arizona would like to follow up with her. Texas uses their curriculum for all of their DHS workers and they are the model Michigan is working to replicate. Arizona can access information and a video on the KWYA materials on the CFP website as well. I hope this helps and can't say enough positive things about Casey Family and the KWYA approach!

3.  Shanne Montague, Washington -

Here is some information that might be beneficial:

The link to the ICW internet webpage is:

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/services/srvICW.asp

This is the link to the Washington State ICWA:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5656-S.PL.pdf

This is a link that has several ICWA resources:

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/services/srvICWResources.asp

This is a link for foster parent video training that includes videos of caring for African American children (Keeping it Real), Native American children (Nak Nu We Sha video), and Gay and Lesbian children (We are GLBTO).

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/onGoingVid.asp

This is a link for cultural competency:

http://www.dshs.wa.gov/dao/ccreport.shtml

Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.