CFT and CANS Learning Collaborative

Child and Family Team (CFT) facilitators, Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) completers, supervisors, coordinators, and members of county CFT and/or CANS implementation teams are encouraged to join this quarterly series of practice-level collaborative learning sessions. This engaging series presents a great opportunity for a focused review of and discussion about CFT and CANS practice, policy updates, as well as cross county networking and skill development opportunities.

2026-2027 Collaborative Topics and Dates

Emergency Response and Safety Planning CFTMs featuring a Ventura County Facilitator: Tuesday, September 1^st, 2026, 9:00am – 12:00pm.

Integrating the CANS into CFT Meetings featuring presenters from Victor Community Services: Wednesday, December 9^th, 2026, 8:30am – 12:30pm.

Building and Engaging Safety and Support Networks: A Collaboration with the SOP Backbone Committee: Tuesday, March 9^th, 2027, 9:00am – 12:00pm.

Additional dates and times will be announced soon!

CEUs

0.3

Section Number

261SSA811

Instruction Method

Online class

Enroll Now

Section Schedule

Tues., Sep 1st, 2026, 9:00am to 12:00pm

Fees

$0.00

Instructors

Emma Black

Emma Black, M.S.W., is an academic coordinator working with UC Davis Human Services-Northern Academy to develop and rework its training curriculum to better support counties with various initiatives, including CANS, Child and Family Teaming, FURS, and FFPSA. Black has worked in public child welfare for nearly a decade, serving as a social worker and supervisor across several programs. She has written several county policies on case planning, visitation, foster youth rights, court report writing, safety planning, etc. She has developed a passion for working in child welfare and, through her role as a college instructor, teaches her students the significance of a social justice approach to working with vulnerable children and families.

Joanne Pritchard

Joanne Pritchard, M.A., has worked in public child welfare since 2000 as a social worker, social work supervisor and trainer. Currently, she is a training and implementation specialist and serves as the Common Core 3.0 and e-learning specialist. As an instructor, Pritchard specializes in providing technical assistance for counties implementing or practicing Team Decision Making (TDM). Prior to her working in the training field, Pritchard provided direct service to children and families in a county agency for over 12 years. She is passionate about child-centered, family-focused best practices in child welfare.

Betsy Watson

Betsy Watson has worked in the field of child welfare since 2001. She began her career as a social worker and then transitioned to Emergency Response social work at the County of Ventura, where she currently serves as an after-hours supervisor. She also serves as a backup facilitator for the county’s CFTM program. Watson has worked as a child welfare trainer since 2019 with subject matter expertise in CFTM, structured decision making, trauma-informed practice, Common Core, fairness and equity, cultural humility in child welfare interviews, critical thinking and assessment, and other training topics.

Janice Boafo

Janice Boafo, LCSW, M.S.W., (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.