Advertorial: Transforming Knowledge into Skills
OACAS Education Services provides a unique program with the necessary knowledge, competencies and tools for child welfare professionals, managers and resource families in Ontario to make critical decisions about child safety while simultaneously working alongside families towards better outcomes for children.
Education Services’ Curricula
OACAS Education Services curricula emphasizes the powerful application of child focused, family centred, strengths based practices that protect children and respect families. Through a unique blend of presentations, case studies, small group discussions, and self-study assignments, OACAS courses are designed to generate practical and action-oriented knowledge about child welfare in Ontario. Critical themes and relevant issues pertaining to the daily practice of child welfare are examined. The programs provide the opportunity to become a reflective professional, an innovative leader or a strong resource family in the province of Ontario.
The curricula promote current research related to child safety and well-being, diversity and anti-oppression, collaboration, resiliency, community development, and permanency planning. Supplementary research materials are provided to learners after the course has been completed. OACAS believes education in child welfare is not a one time event but rather an ongoing learning process.
OACAS trainers are highly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable about child welfare practice. Their role is to ignite a creative and positive learning environment in the classroom, or virtually--online. OACAS believes that the transfer of learning from the classroom to the work environment is vital to the professional development of participants. OACAS demonstrates a commitment to the “transfer of learning” approach by providing a team of training specialists who offer customized support to a group of professionals, an individual child welfare organization, or to a specific region in the province.
Learners in this unique program receive the necessary knowledge, develop the competencies and leave with the tools to perform the core responsibilities of a child welfare professional, manager or resource family in Ontario. The purposeful teaching approach equips learners with the tools to make critical decisions about child safety while simultaneously working along side families towards better outcomes for children.
Learners receive certificates of competencies which can be presented in court as a demonstration of knowledge and skill acquisition related to performing investigations, collaborating with families, understanding the complexities of working with maltreated children and their families, and understanding the legal mandate that governs the practice of child welfare in Ontario.
Participants' Evaluation of Child Welfare Professional Series
In preliminary analysis of data collected between January 1 and February 20, 2009, participants of the Child Welfare Professional Series were asked to rate six questions regarding course content. The results show that participants felt the content was relevant, easy to understand and would help facilitate transfer of learning into practice.
Participants were asked to rate the following questions with "strongly disagree", "disagree", "agree" and "strongly agree":
1. The content of this session met my learning expectation.
2. I will be able to incorporate this new learning into my practice.
3. The information was easy to understand.
4. The content provided relevant knowledge for current practice issues.
5. The materials (curriculum, handouts, PowerPoint presentation, etc.) provided were sensitive to cross-cultural learning needs.
The training will help to facilitate transfer of learning into practice.
It appears there is an overall strong satisfaction with the training content.
The averages shown in the chart below show most participants answered either "agree" or "strongly agree" to the evaluation questions.
It appears there is an overall strong satisfaction with the training content.
Course Title |
# of Participants |
Average Rating |
| 1. Collaborations in Child Welfare: Past, Present and Future |
204 |
94.44% |
| 2. Protecting Children and Strengthening Families-Part 1 |
151 |
97.92% |
| 3. Protecting Children and Strengthening Families-Part 2 |
90 |
99.01% |
| 4. Understanding and Responding to Children's Needs |
34 |
99.88% |
| 5. Engaging Families |
15 |
100% |
Foundations of Child Welfare |
| Child Welfare Professional Series |
- Collaborations in Child Welfare Past, Present and Future
- Protecting Children and Strengthening Families Part 1
- Protecting Children and Strengthening Families Part 11
- Understanding and Responding to Children’s Needs
- Engaging Families
- Permanency Planning and Continuity of Care
- Legal and Court Processes
- Wellness and Self Care
|
| Resource Family Series |
- Ontario Looking After Children
- Understanding PRIDE
|
| Advanced Child Welfare Practice |
- Forensic Interviewing
- Advanced Child Protection Assessment
- Advanced Service Planning
- Critical Decision Making in Child Protection
- Protection Investigations within the Context of Custody and Access
- Working with High Risk Infants and Their Families
- Working with Adolescents
|
| Management and Leadership |
- Management, Leadership and Administration within Child Welfare
- Managing Work Through Other People
- Transfer of Learning
- Supervising and Managing Group Performance: Developing Productive Work Teams
- Organizational Culture and Leadership
- Clinical Supervision
- Supervising Investigative Forensic Interviews
- Project Management
|
| Specialized Training |
- SAFE
- Adoption
- Children’s Service
|
| Trainer Development |
- Introductory Train the Trainer
- Advanced Train the Trainer
- PRIDE Team Training
- Clinical Supervision Train the Trainer
- Regional Trainer Development
|
| Resource Family |
- PRIDE Pre Service (Modules 1-9 and Digital Pre-Service)
|
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