First Five Years: Supporting Developmental Progress for Every Child

This course will focus on CAPTA and IDEA legislation and the requirement that child welfare professionals must assess all children for possible delays, disabilities, mental illness, and trauma. Research shows that a large percentage of the children in the child welfare system have had one or more traumas and that these traumas can lead to delays and other problems that have lifelong consequences. The earlier that a child is assessed the quicker services can begin; this is especially important for children under the age of five as their brains are more impacted by trauma and their brains are more able to recover if services are provided. In this course the participants will use a case to identifying traumas, conduct an ACEs score, practice assessing a child, and selecting possible services. Having healthy relationships with one’s parents is critical to minimize trauma and maximize developmental progress. In this course the participants will develop a family time/visit/connection plan that will address grief, loss, and trauma. They will develop specific family time/visit activities that will enable the parents to help meet their child’s developmental needs.

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

• List the requirements of the federal CAPTA and IDEA laws
• Describe development phases for young children (brain, emotional, physical)
• Describe the impact of trauma and stress on brain development
• Explain how CAPTA and IDEA requirements are a part of the California System of Care and Integrated Core Practice Model
• Discuss the importance of maintaining and enhancing a child’s relationships with family, friends, culture, community, etc
• List resources for family, caregivers and professionals on child development, childhood trauma, parenting, etc.