Important Information
Winston Rhea Scholars Program - Each year we select 2-3 scholars and provide them with four consecutive years of unwavering support that goes beyond just a scholarship. Learn more here. The application window for the 2026-2027 school year is now open until March 1st, 2026! The scholarship … Read More
Spotlight on State CWLS Champions – LOUISIANA! - LOUISIANA’s CIP Sponsorship and Child Representation Partnership In Louisiana, the Court Improvement Program (CIP) and one of the state’s child representation agencies (MHAS/CAP) both support and celebrate the CWLS community. The CIP underwrites the cost of registration for the Red … Read More
Enhancing Juvenile and Family Court Responses to Human Trafficking: A Project Snapshot - In 2021, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) to provide training and technical assistance to four grantee sites separately funded under the … Read More
Upcoming Events
Children prenatally exposed to alcohol face increasing neurodevelopmental challenges as they grow and develop. This training session will provide an approach to recognizing and diagnosing children within the fetal alcohol spectrum and discuss the implications of misdiagnosis.
Trainers:
Ira J. Chasnoff, M.D., an award-winning author, researcher and lecturer, is President of NTI Upstream and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He is one of the nation’s leading researchers in the field of child development and the effects of environmental factors on the developmental trajectory of children and adolescents. Dr. Chasnoff’s work encompasses community approaches to the integration of behavioral health services into primary health care, the schools, and the other multiple systems that serve children and families.
Christine Schmidt, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist who has specific interest and expertise in working with youth and families impacted by prenatal substance use and pre- and post-natal trauma. Most recently, Dr. Schmidt co-directed a three-year grant designed to help address the impact of secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma on professionals working with youth in the child welfare system. Dr. Schmidt has been a member of NTI Upstream’s training faculty for over 15 years and provides consultative psychological services to administrators, caseworkers, and other professionals.
Amy Groessl, PhD, a licensed clinical social worker, brings extensive expertise in treating children and adults with complex trauma histories, neurocognitive challenges, attachment disorders, and adoption-related issues. She is based in Chicago and provides psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and consultation through her private practice. Dr. Groessl has been with NTI Upstream’s Training Faculty since 2016. She is also a Core Faculty member at the Institute for Clinical Social Work, where she teaches courses on qualitative research, trauma, attachment theory, and neuropsychology.
Sue Green, OTR/L, has practiced as a pediatric occupational therapist since 1987, culminating in over three and a half decades of knowledge. Currently, Sue is the Pediatric OT/PT supervisor at The Chautauqua Center, Inc in Jamestown, NY, providing early intervention, preschool and pediatric outpatient services to those who need it most. Sue has been a member of NTI Upstream’s senior faculty since 2023, providing education and training to healthcare and social service professionals who share a common goal of enhancing positive outcomes for the children and families they treat.
REGISTER HERE
Parenting is challenging, particularly when you are parenting a child from a hard place. TBRI® Correcting Principles will provide an in-depth look at strategies for correcting behaviors. This multi-disciplinary training is designed to give caregivers, volunteers, and professionals who serve children and families the knowledge and practical skills they need to bring hope and healing.
This multi-disciplinary training is designed to give caregivers, volunteers, and professionals who serve children and families the knowledge and practical skills they need to bring hope and healing. This live, online training has 4 video-conferencing modules, giving participants the opportunity learn in an interactive environment.
Parenting is challenging, particularly when you are parenting a child from a hard place. TBRI ® Empowering Principles will provide an in-depth look at ways to empower your children by meeting their unique physical needs and creating an environment in which they can succeed. This session includes information on sensory processing and practical tools and skills to help children regulate their emotions and behaviors. This multi-disciplinary training is designed to give caregivers, volunteers, and professionals who serve children and families the knowledge and practical skills they need to bring hope and healing.
This multi-disciplinary training is designed to give caregivers, volunteers, and professionals who serve children and families the knowledge and practical skills they need to bring hope and healing. This live, online training has 4 video-conferencing modules, giving participants the opportunity learn in an interactive environment.
TRAINERS: Carrie Norris
APSAC Board Member Darcey Merritt, PhD, MSW, FAPSAC will be leading a conversation about emerging issues and trends.
The Racial Justice Section continues APSAC’s commitment to work towards ending racism and implicit bias in the field of child maltreatment. This mission requires all of our participation, listening closely to others, learning, changing ourselves, and changing our practices. You are invited to share observations and experiences, discuss challenges that we face as child abuse professionals, and provide each other with collegial support.
CWLA is pleased to present a virtual training opportunity for social work and human service professionals that invites participants to explore the evolution from traditional competence frameworks toward approaches emphasizing continuous reflection and respect for self-defined identities. Participants will analyze how overlapping identity dimensions—such as age, ability, and socioeconomic position—shape lived experiences and influence outcomes within child welfare systems. Drawing on theoretical constructs, the discussion will examine how long-standing structures and prevailing norms—such as appearance-based decisions—affect both practitioners and the families they support. Through guided inquiry, attendees will develop strategies to engage with authenticity, interrogate assumptions, and advance fairness and consistency in professional practice.
TRAINER:
Deborah Wilson Gadsden, LSW, MSW, MHS, CWLA Director, EIB & Permanency Standards Project
CWLA is pleased to present the three-part virtual training series that features our CWLA Press publication Working with Traumatized Children – A Handbook for Healing, Third Edition. The latest edition of Working with Traumatized Children features new strategies and approaches for caregivers and others responsible for meeting the needs of children who are vulnerable.
Participants will gain a strengthened capacity to:
- Define what trauma is and differentiate it from stress
- Provide examples of trauma symptoms in children and adults
- Describe how trauma can impact children’s brains
- Advocate for the provision of safe environments when working with children and adults who have been affected by trauma
- Provide examples of how systems can be traumatizing or retraumatize people
- Explain the importance of understanding the vagus nerve when working with families and children who have been affected by trauma
- Express why self-reflective practices and supervision are important when working with this population
Training registrants will receive an electronic copy of Working with Traumatized Children, Companion Workbook which supplements the virtual training sessions. Training registrants are also eligible to receive a 30% discount on the purchase of hard copies of Working with Traumatized Children – A Handbook for Healing, Third Edition and Working with Traumatized Children, Companion Workbook. Use promo code WWTC-30 in CWLA’s Bookstore.
Trainer:
Paulette Mader, MSN is a Senior Training and Consultation Specialist at Rutgers University. She is a certified trainer in “Nurtured Heart Approach”, “ACE and the Neurobiology of Trauma”, “Wrap Around” and “CFT”.
This fun and interactive workshop helps young people with disabilities get ready for work. Together, we’ll talk about why having a job is important and how working can help you earn money, meet new people, and become more independent. You’ll learn what employers look for, practice important workplace skills like communication, teamwork, and problemsolving, and explore jobs that match your interests and strengths. Practice real-life skills such as building a simple resume, preparing for job interviews, and learning how to ask for help or accommodations at work. This workshop is designed to help you feel confident, prepared, and excited about your future at work!
As part of the Transition to Adulthood Workshop Series, this interactive session will provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families with essential information about waivers and how they can support independent living. Participants will learn practical tips for navigating waiver programs, accessing available services, and advocating for their needs. Through real-life scenarios, hands-on activities, and guidance, attendees will gain confidence in utilizing waivers to enhance their quality of life. Join us for this engaging workshop and take home easy-to-understand resources to support your transition to adulthood!
Details
Developed in coordination with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), this webinar will help child welfare agencies and partners strengthen prevention and response efforts related to human trafficking and children missing from care. The event will also reinforce federal statutory requirements, particularly for data collection.
Key focus points:
- Recent data, emerging trends, and promising practices related to children missing from care;
- Cross-sector approaches and partnerships that support improved outcomes; and
- Federal statutory requirements related to identifying, reporting, training, and collecting data on children missing from care.
Healthcare professionals are often the first line of defense in identifying vulnerable children. This session emphasizes the importance of integrating child welfare perspectives into pediatric care, home visiting programs, and maternal health. Participants will learn how to conduct sensitive screenings, develop multidisciplinary response teams, and navigate legal and ethical issues in information sharing between medical and social systems.
Learning Objectives:
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Strengthen provider capacity to detect and respond to risk factors.
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Embed prevention into pediatric visits and maternal health programs.
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Navigate HIPAA and information-sharing within ethical boundaries.
2025 – 2026 Louisiana CASA Webinar Series: Strength in Unity
Louisiana CASA is excited to host our fourth webinar series. This year, we are partnering with Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy (LCWTA) to bring this series to community members across our state. This series equips professionals, child welfare advocates, and community members with the knowledge and collaborative strategies needed to protect children, support families, and prevent child abuse and neglect. Each session emphasizes the importance of cross-sector cooperation, early identification of risk factors, and collective responses that foster safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. By promoting a shared understanding and responsibility among systems—such as education, healthcare, faith-based institutions, family services, and policy leaders—participants will develop the tools and partnerships necessary to create resilient families and communities.