System of Care Essentials Training Series

Neuroscience of Engagement and Connection and ICPM Practice Behaviors

The brain and nervous system have a built-in protection mechanism to manage dangerous situations. Psychological safety and connection underpin the neurobiology of the social engagement system, which is foundational to helping people rewire the nervous system for safety so they can connect with others to create a life they prefer.

This 4-Part interactive workshop draws on breakthroughs to provide cutting-edge discoveries related to the neurobiology of psychological safety, human development, and the facilitation of healing. The hard science that underlies the ICPM will be explored, along with fresh insights and strategies related to implementing the model at both the organizational and practice levels within a child and family serving system of care.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe a state of protection in the nervous system and how this impacts engagement, connection, and healing

• Evaluate the impacts of trauma from a brain-mind-body perspective

• Apply a brain-based framework for moving people from a state of protection to connection and growth

• Examine learning and change from a neurosomatic and growth mindset approach

• Apply science-backed strategies that support fidelity to the ICPM

Kin-first Academy: Foundations, Value and Impact

This foundational course in the Kin-first Academy introduces the values and practices that guide a kin-first approach in California’s child welfare system. Even if you don’t work directly with children and families, this course will help you better understand what is expected of county child welfare professionals—and how your role at CDSS supports statewide efforts to cultivate a kin-first culture. 

At its core, a kin-first culture embodies an organization's unwavering commitment to nurturing and supporting relationships between children, youth, and their family members—including relatives, non-relative extended family, community, and Tribes. This approach prioritizes preserving and maintaining these vital connections, ensuring that children remain rooted and connected to those they love. 

Through interactive discussion and guided reflection, you’ll explore how California’s values, policies, and practices support a kin-first approach—and how your role at CDSS contributes to statewide alignment and implementation efforts that keep children connected to their families, communities, and Tribes at every stage of involvement.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand why identifying and engaging family members early and often is a core expectation for county child welfare professionals—and how this supports a child’s sense of belonging and permanency while upholding California’s kin-first approach.
• Describe the core values, beliefs and goals of kin-first culture.
• Recognize that maintaining family, community, and tribal connections supports a child’s identity, belonging, and well-being—and embrace values that honor families as experts in their own lives.
• Identify how California’s Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) and the “Gold Standard” of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) promote family finding and kin engagement practices.
• Recognize common barriers—both systemic and personal—that can hinder efforts to place children with family or kin.
• Identify how your role within CDSS can support and align with statewide kin-first efforts.
• Join us in championing kin-first culture and shaping systems that keep children connected to their families, communities, and Tribes.

Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Overview & Tribal Engagement

In this 3-hour course, participants will learn about the historical trauma faced by Native American people in the U.S., how this history continues to impact Native American children and families, and how the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) was passed as a remedial act intended to address this historical trauma. This class will provide CDSS employees with a basic overview of ICWA; tying in tribal engagement strategies and best practices.

Fiscal Essentials 101

This course introduces the funding and claiming mechanisms of social services programs. The training covers various funding streams available for Social Services activities and how they work, how counties access those funds and what types of things can affect the revenues. The training will discuss the difference between local assistance versus state assistance and will provide an overview of Realignment. As a result of this training, participants will understand that Social Services funding is a patchwork of reimbursements for counties and how counties balance these different funding streams.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognizing the child welfare funding streams

• Identifying the difference between CEC vs. CA 800

• Differentiating between local assistance vs state

• Defining and learning what Realignment is