Best Practices for Intake/Hotline Workers (In-Person Training)

Prerequisite: Completion of the SOP Foundational Institute is required to attend this training. 

This one-day overview course will enhance the skills and understanding of child welfare social workers regarding the screening of calls/referrals to the CW hotline and the subsequent process of determining whether referrals meet child abuse/neglect criteria. Emphasizing a strength-based approach, this training will equip social workers with the tools to conduct enhanced screening effectively, ensuring accurate completion of the Structured Decision Making (SDM®) hotline tool.

By the end of the training, participants will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the screening process, enhanced their critical thinking skills and acquired practical strategies for conducting thorough assessments and determining appropriate responses to referrals. Moreover, participants will be equipped with the tools necessary to implement strength-based approaches and solution-focused questioning effectively, contributing to the reduction of youths entering the child welfare system.