CDSS Foundational Series - Pilot

Note: This is the first, pilot offering of the newly reconfigured CDSS Foundational Series for Child Welfare Workers, with both new and revised courses for 2026.

This virtual series of trainings is designed for California Department of Social Services employees. Each class focuses on a different topic within Child Welfare and will enhance the participant’s knowledge in this topic area. Classes should be taken as a series but can be taken individually if they need to be made up.

The consists of seven sequenced courses (approximately nine training days total) covering the following topics: 

• (2 days): Framework: Orientation to Child Welfare Practice — System functions, Laws and Regulations including Division 31, Penal Code, WIC Code, Disproportionality and Disparity, Data, Outcomes and Accountability, ICPM, Cultural Humility and Facilitation Skills.  October 13-14, 2026

• (1 day) Strengthening the System of Care: Safety, Permanency and Wellbeing — Prevention Pathways, from Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting, SOP, SDM, CFTs, IP-CANS and AB 2083. October 20, 2026

• (1 day) ICWA and Tribal Engagement. November 4, 2026

• (2 days) Permanency Planning: Resource Parents/RFA, Family Reunification, Adoption, Guardianship, APPLA, ILP, EFC/ AB 12. November 18-19, 2026

• (1 day) Legal Procedures and the Child Welfare System: Investigations and ER, VFM, FM, FR, Selection and Implementation of a Permanent Plan. December 10, 2026

• (1/2 day) A Day in the Life of a Child Welfare Social Worker. January 7, 2027

• (1/2 day)- Foster Youth Rights. January 14, 2027

Instructors

Ken Weston

Ken Weston began volunteering in children’s mental health in 1985, took a social worker position in 1989, and worked in public child welfare as a caseworker and supervisor for more than 30 years, retiring in 2020 as a Child and Family Team Meeting facilitator. His experience mentoring child welfare social workers in the early 2000s sparked his interest in training and curriculum development, which he has pursued since 2016. Weston currently facilitates Child Welfare Line Worker Core courses, assessment tools trainings and Child and Family Team-related courses for regional academies. He also occasionally delivers a court testimony training that he developed. Weston enjoys supporting the ongoing improvement of child welfare case management services through his training efforts.

Alissa Sykes

Alissa Sykes, M.S.W., has worked in child welfare since 1999 as a social worker, supervisor, manager and director. She also served as academic coordinator for the Northern Academy at UC Davis Human Services, leading organizational development, curriculum design and leadership initiatives. Sykes continues to provide workforce training and consultation through UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education, with emphasis on SOP, prevention, kin-first culture and CQI processes.

Roger Coffman

Roger Coffman, J.D., is a retired senior deputy county counsel for Placer County. He served as a deputy for 39 years in Placer, Tulare and El Dorado Counties. Coffman has 34 years of experience representing county child welfare agencies, providing court representation, general legal advice, appellate representation and on-going training to child welfare staff. He has been an instructor with the Northern Academy at UC Davis since 1989, the Bay Area Academy for approximately 15 years and an occasional instructor with the Central Academy. He has practiced in state trial and appellate courts and in the federal district courts and the Federal Court of Appeal.

Kristina Tanner

Kristina Tanner, an advocate for foster youth since 2015, draws from her personal experience in the foster care system to drive systemic change in child welfare and juvenile justice. She works at local, state and national levels, shaping policies and collaborating with lawmakers and organizations to address systemic issues. Through advocacy, education and reform efforts, Tanner aims to create a supportive environment for foster youth, ensuring access to essential resources and opportunities. As a speaker, she raises awareness and inspires action to transform the child welfare system for future generations.

Janice Boafo

Janice Boafo, LCSW (She/Her), is a coach, facilitator, TA provider, curriculum developer and adjunct faculty member with a passion for culture, community and kinship. Her approach reflects more than 25 years in behavioral health and family-serving systems, as well as her lived experience. Boafo centers whole-person engagement, liberatory practices and authentic connection inside and outside organizations. She is committed to cultivating culturally responsive practice, healing and the power of shared stories. Rooted in just practice, she advocates for public child welfare reform, pedagogy as activism and the intersection of creativity, culture and recovery. She reminds us, “You bring your whole self to work,” and invites conversation about what that truly means.

Michael Brenn

Michael Brenn, J.D., is a senior deputy county counsel in the Shasta County juvenile dependency unit. He earned his law degree from California Western School of Law, where he was recognized for excellence in mock trial advocacy and later coached a regional championship team. Brenn previously served in the City of San Diego’s criminal division as a deputy city attorney and in Ventura County as a deputy district attorney. He has conducted more than 40 jury trials involving misdemeanors, felonies, domestic violence and child abuse. He now handles dependency bench trials, administrative CACI hearings, 827 requests and advisory work with Shasta Children’s Services.

Nikki Bradford

Nicole(Nikki) Bradford has spent over a decade working with vulnerable children and families as a child welfare social worker and supervisor in one of the few frontier counties in California. She has expertise in child abuse prevention and differential response, referral intake and emergency response investigations, and Resource Family Approval. Bradford has significant experience working in child abuse investigations, forensic interviewing of abuse victims and critical incidents related to child death investigations. She extends this trauma-informed lens administratively in her work to recruit, retain and build a competent child welfare workforce.

Parker Terese

Parker Terese, M.S.W., is led by purpose, receiving zir Master’s of Social Work while also inspiring people to pursue higher education through mentorship, social media and public speaking. Parker has served those impacted by the foster care and juvenile justice systems since 2014, as a mentor for Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Educational Opportunity Program in San Bernardino, CA. Ze has worked to rebuild a youth-led chapter in San Bernardino County and champion legislative and policy change through zir role as an advocate and statewide policy coordinator for one of the leading youth-led organizations in California. Parker uses zir voice to train child welfare professionals on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, Extended Foster Care, and many other topics.