Training


Training for both Volunteer and Visitation Staff is a high priority for Aviva. Because of the complex nature of the social services system and the issues of confidentiality, training takes place over the course of two Saturdays.  The training program is explained in greater detail below.  The remaining training sessions for 2010 are:

Session I
The Dynamics of Child Abuse, Reporting Law
CPS Organization and Function
Juvenile Court

Introductions and the relationship of Aviva and Volunteers to CPS
Definition and Functions: Social Worker Assistants, Visit Supervisors, Mentors, Tutors, Life Book Writers
Holiday and special event volunteer options; The Abused Children’s Fund, and the Sun Rider Toy Parade

Video documentary on Child Abuse
Portrayals of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and domestic violence
Group discussions and presentations regarding the video scenarios
Mandatory reporting, Confidentiality and HIPPA
Unusual incidents involving volunteers/Aviva staff 
CPS - organization and functions
Follow a factious case through the CPS investigation process with discussion of
the Priority System, outcomes
Ongoing CPS functions - case plans, social services/community resources
Options, time lines, and permanency planning
 

Juvenile Court
How the Juvenile Court process runs parallel to the CPS process
Kinds of hearings, legal parties, disposition options
Plans such as Reunification, LTFC, Guardianship, Adoption
 

Session II
(Not required for Mentors, Tutors or Life Book Writers)
Documentation – Court Summaries/Notes/Reports
Visit Supervision – Role/Guidelines/Intervention
Transportation Guidelines
Professional Protocol
 

Model Court Process
Concurrent and Permanency Planning

Improvements in CPS System                                                                                              

Documentation - Court Summaries/Dictation/Reports
Factual, Descriptive and Objective Reporting
Avoiding Writing Bias
Importance of Logical Sequence of events, Timeliness, Clarity
Video of Actual Visitation; Practice Report Writing
Useful Acronyms and Terms   
Visit Supervision- Role of the visit supervisor
Discussion Various Visitation Scenarios; Problem Visits
Transportation and Visitation Guidelines/Role for Visit Supervisors/Levels of
Supervision/Appropriate Intervention with Parents & Children
Visitation Guidelines for Parents
Guidelines in Sex Abuse Cases

Child Safety Seat Use and Installation

Session III
Parent-Child Relationships:  Connections/Loss
Ecological Theory/ Race/Culture
Mental Health Issues/Suicide
Volunteer-Child Relationships: Communication Techniques/Boundaries

Connections
Different type of connections and their importance
How to rebuild connections
Video (Multiple Transition: A Young Child’s Point of View)

Loss
The types of loss
The impact on a child  
Loss activity

Attachment
Cycle of attachment, healthy vs. unhealthy
Definition of Attachment Disorder/RAD/Symptoms
How attachment issues affect relationship building

Ecological Theory/Culture/Race
Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System – Importance in development
Culture – Definitions and working with cultural differences

Common Mental Health Issues
DSM-IV definitions; schizophrenia, mood disorders, major depressive disorder,
oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder/eating disorders
Medications
 

Relationship Building
Active Listening:  “I” Statements, Paraphrasing, reflecting feelings (activity) 
Ways to work with difficult clients
Boundaries
Termination of volunteer client relationships