GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES



|Introduction |

|Overview |Field practice is an integral part of the Division’s training sequence for case managers. A majority of a |

| |trainee’s learning occurs in the field while they observe and practice skills related to the provision of |

| |services to children and families. Field practice does not replace classroom or online training, but |

| |supplements and enhances it with activities and topics not covered elsewhere. It is critical that during field |

| |practice, the trainee receives close oversight by the supervisor/training coordinator, mentoring by a high |

| |functioning, veteran field practice advisor, and involvement by the field program specialist. |

|Purpose |The purpose of the Training and Field Practice Guide is to provide the trainee, and those involved in preparing |

| |the trainee, with: |

| |an overview of the training and certification process |

| |experiences in the application of topics learned in the classroom and online training |

| |opportunities to develop competence in program policy, practice and procedures |

| |current information about the county office and community |

| |preparation for classroom participation and re-enforcement of skills introduced in the classroom |

| |documentation of trainee activities and certification information |

|Supervisor/Training |The responsibility for providing the trainee with a quality, relevant field practice rests primarily with the |

|Coordinator |supervisor/training coordinator. |

| |The supervisor’s/training coordinator’s responsibility is to: |

| |become familiar with the activities to assist the trainee in planning their activities |

| |meet regularly with the field practice advisor and trainee to assess the trainee’s progress and provide input to|

| |the certification decision |

| |instruct the trainee to access the Education and Training website: |

| |left mouse click: Social Services |

| |left mouse click: Social Services Documents and Instructions |

| |left mouse click: Training and Field Practice Guide |

| |download the Training and Field Practice Guide to their tablet. The worksheets are available as word documents.|

|Field Practice Advisor |The field practice advisor’s responsibility is to: |

| |serve as a mentor to the trainee |

| |provide opportunities for the trainee to shadow them in conducting various case manager duties |

| |support the trainee in performing specific duties outlined in the Training and Field Practice Guide |

| |collaborate with the supervisor and field program specialist |

| |review, provide feedback and coach the trainee in specific activities as directed by the supervisor |

|Trainee |The trainee’s responsibility is to: |

| |take the time to carefully read the guide |

| |fully engage in the field practice experience |

| |access the Education and Training website: |

| |left mouse click: Social Services |

| |left mouse click: Social Services Documents and Instructions |

| |left mouse click: Training and Field Practice Guide |

| |download the Training and Field Practice Guide to their tablet. The worksheets are available as word documents.|

| |Document the field practice activity on the designated worksheet/s (Each worksheet has questions designed to |

| |guide the trainee through the activity and identify critical learning points.) |

| |If a veteran case manager is changing program areas, the field practice activities and online instruction should|

| |be completed before taking the classroom track training. |

|Field Program Specialist |The field program specialist’s responsibility is to: |

| |provide the final sign off of the weekly Master Checklist |

| |establish a collaborative relationship with the supervisor/training coordinator, trainee and field practice |

| |advisor in order to ensure a sequenced and comprehensive training experience. (Each region will clarify the |

| |specific roles and responsibilities of the field program specialist and the supervisor/training coordinator.) |

|Overview of the Training and Field Practice Guide |

|Overview of Certification |Explains the process of certification for case managers in CPS, Foster Care and Adoption. |

| |See Section 1. Introduction, pages 7-11 |

|Training Sequence and |Provides the required training sequence of field practice, online and classroom training for new |

|Certification Process |case managers in CPS, Foster Care, Adoption, and Resource Development; and the required courses |

| |post certification. |

| |See Section 1. Introduction, pages 12-20 |

|Online training |Provides instructions for accessing the online portion of Keys, CPS and FC track training. |

| |See Section 1. Introduction, page 21 |

|Master Checklists |Provides a master list of the activities to be completed week by week. When possible the |

| |activities should be completed in sequence and within the required time. In some counties it may |

| |be necessary to complete an activity when the opportunity presents itself. The Master Checklist |

| |tracks the completion of each activity and requires signatures by the following: |

| |Trainee |

| |Field practice advisor |

| |Supervisor/training coordinator |

| |Field program specialist |

| |See Section 2. Master Checklist |

|Weekly Activities |Provides activities designed to enhance classroom instruction and practice knowledge and skills |

| |introduced. |

| |See Section 3. Week One, |

| |Section 4. Week Three, and |

| |Section 5. Week Five |

|CPS Track |To be completed by any trainee seeking CPS certification. This section provides activities |

| |designed to enhance classroom instruction and practice knowledge and skills introduced. |

| |See Section 6. Child Protective Services |

|Foster Care Track |To be completed by any trainee seeking FC or Adoption certification. This section provides |

| |activities designed to enhance classroom instruction and practice knowledge and skills introduced.|

| |See Section 7. Foster Care Services |

|Adoption Track |To be completed by any trainee seeking Adoption certification. Successful completion of the FC |

| |track is a prerequisite to take this track. This section provides activities designed to enhance |

| |classroom instruction and practice knowledge and skills introduced. |

| |See Section 8. Adoption Services |

|Certification |Instruction and tools to document the field observation, record review, and certification |

| |decision. Provides a sample Certification Checklist. |

| |See Section 9. Certification |

| |Note: Supervisors, training coordinators, county directors or county administrators should email |

| |the Curriculum and Assessment Unit at caunit@dhr.state.ga.us to obtain the New Case Manager |

| |Certification Checklist template. |

|Completing Field Practice Activities |

|Instructions |Instructions for all activities consist of three components: |

| |Purpose: identifies the expected outcome |

| |Supervisor/training coordinator: defines materials and considerations the supervisor/training |

| |coordinator will need to provide for the trainee to complete the activity |

| |Trainee: provides the steps the trainee will need to follow in completing the activity |

| |The instructions will clearly explain the expectations and steps to be followed for each |

| |activity. |

|Worksheets |Most activities have a worksheet to be completed by the trainee. The worksheet has questions |

| |designed to guide the trainee through the activity and identify critical learning points. |

| |The activities provide the trainee the opportunity to apply their knowledge and reflect skills |

| |that will aide the supervisor/training coordinator in their assessment towards the certification|

| |recommendation. |

| |Training and Field Practice Guide worksheets are downloaded to the tablet from the Education and|

| |Training website: |

| |left mouse click: Social Services |

| |left mouse click: Social Services Documents and Instructions |

| |left mouse click: Training and Field Practice Guide |

| |Download the Training and Field Practice Guide to the tablet. The worksheets are available as |

| |word documents to enable the trainee to complete the activities electronically. |

|Signatures on Activity Worksheets|Each worksheet has a signature section that indicates that the trainee has completed the |

| |worksheet and received feedback from the supervisor/training coordinator and/or field practice |

| |advisor. |

|Master Checklist Sign-off |

|Master Checklist review and |Enter the date indicating the completion and review of each activity on the Master Checklist at |

|sign-off |the completion of the specified week’s activity. The trainee, field practice advisor, |

| |supervisor/training coordinator and field program specialist sign the Master Checklist. The |

| |field program specialist may ask to review specific activities. The signed Master Checklists are|

| |placed in the personnel files as documentation of completion of field practice activities and |

| |worksheet. |

|Social Services Case Manager |

|Child Protection Certification Program (CPCP) |

|What is the Child Protection |The Child Protection Certification Program (CPCP) consists of professional development activities, |

|Certification Program? |assessments and a career path designed to establish a professional, stable, competent workforce in |

| |Social Services in the Division of Family and Children Services. |

|What are the objectives of CPCP? |The objectives of CPCP are threefold: |

| |To hire appropriate and qualified staff for social services case manager positions |

| |To promote a basic standard of practice for case managers and supervisors |

| |To provide staff with professional development, career opportunities and pay increases. |

|What does CPCP consist of for New|Certification is obtained through the Social Services New Case Manager Training series. Trainees |

|Workers? |complete classroom and online instruction, and participate in field practice activities. Assessments|

| |occur throughout the training to determine training effectiveness. Once new workers complete the |

| |training series, two final applications of learning occur - a case record review and a field based |

| |observation. |

| |The county director makes the certification decision with input from the new worker’s |

| |supervisor/training coordinator, field practice advisor, field program specialist, and any additional|

| |staff involved with the new worker’s training. |

|What does being “certified” mean?|Certification means that the case manager has completed training and/or professional development |

| |activities and has demonstrated a basic level of competency on the assessments. Certification is not|

| |a license for clinical practice, and it is not a substitute for a professional social work degree. |

|What is Provisional |County Directors have an option to provisionally certify trainees once they successfully complete the|

|Certification? |6-weeks “Keys” training sequence. County Directors should consider trainee performance over the |

| |first 6 weeks, assessment results and feedback from the field program specialists, |

| |supervisor/training coordinator, field practice advisor and trainer in making their decision. For |

| |the purpose of training, the provisionally certified new case manager may provide closely supervised |

| |case management for up to 7 low risk cases. These cases give the trainee an opportunity to apply |

| |knowledge and skills learned in the Keys Training and facilitate the transfer of learning to actual |

| |practice. Provisional certification may be in effect for up to 90 days following the provisional |

| |certification decision. The expectation is that an initial certification decision will be made by |

| |the end of this 90-day period. |

| |Note: Case managers who qualify for a waiver of the Keys classroom training must pass the Keys |

| |Knowledge Assessment before they are eligible for Provisional Certification. Completion of the |

| |online training is recommended prior to taking the Keys Knowledge Assessment. |

| |The knowledge assessment (test) for such trainees will be administered at the county’s regional |

| |training center. Supervisors may make an appointment for testing by emailing |

| |ssregistrar@dhr.state.ga.us. |

|What if the trainee fails the |The Keys Knowledge Assessment must be successfully passed as part of the certification process. If |

|Keys Knowledge Assessment (scores|the trainee does not pass the Keys Knowledge Assessment on the first attempt, the county director may|

|below 70%)? |provide the trainee with remediation and/or allow the trainee to retake the Knowledge Assessment. If|

| |the trainee fails to pass on the second attempt, the county director considers the individual |

| |circumstances and makes a decision regarding the trainee’s continued training and/or employment. The|

| |county director maintains at all times the right to separate an employee from employment. |

|What is Initial Certification? |Initial certification is full certification awarded after the trainee has successfully completed the |

| |six-weeks Keys training series, Track Training and all assessments required for certification. |

| |Trainees successful in this process will attain certification at the level at which they were hired, |

| |while staff hired at the associate level are eligible for promotion to case manager after one year of|

| |employment. Those unsuccessful in this process will be evaluated for continued employment. |

|On what is the Initial |County directors should consider trainee performance over the entire training period, assessment |

|Certification decision based? |results, and feedback from the field program specialist, supervisor/training coordinator, field |

| |practice advisor, and trainer in making their decision. |

| | |

| |Assessments include: |

| |Classroom Assessments in Keys and in Track classes (70% correct required) |

| |Trainer Feedback |

| |Online Training Quizzes and Instructor led activities |

| |Field Practice performance and Policy Exercise (70% correct required) |

| |Final Certification Field Observation |

| |Final Certification Case Record Review |

|How does the county obtain the |Scores from the classroom assessments are available to the trainee and the supervisor on the |

|results of these assessments? |trainee’s transcript () following the sixth week of Keys training |

| |and after the Track classroom training. |

| |The trainer mails or emails to the supervisor feedback regarding the employee’s performance in |

| |classroom training. |

| |Internet training progress reports and quiz results are sent regularly to the supervisor and trainee |

| |via GroupWise email. |

| |The field practice advisor, supervisor/training coordinator or field program specialist reviews all |

| |Field Practice activities. The supervisor or field program specialist scores the Field Practice |

| |Policy Exercise. |

| |The field program specialist, supervisor outside the line of supervision, program director, deputy |

| |director or county director conducts the Certification Field Observation and Record Review. |

|How is the Initial Certification |Supervisors, training coordinators, county directors or county administrators should email the |

|decision documented? |Curriculum and Assessment Unit at caunit@dhr.state.ga.us to obtain the New Case Manager Certification|

| |Process Checklist. |

| |The certification decision is made by the county director. The completed Certification Process |

| |Checklist is emailed to the Curriculum and Assessment Unit at caunit@dhr.state.ga.us . The |

| |supervisor/training coordinator also places a copy of the New Case Manager Certification Process |

| |Checklist in the case manager’s personnel file. |

|What are the requirements for |The supervisor monitors the new case manager’s progress in the 6 months following certification. The|

|ongoing certification? |case manager will: |

| |have case records reviewed monthly by supervisor |

| |receive ongoing supervisory coaching and mentoring |

| |have an Interim PMP completed by the supervisor within 6 months of certification |

| |complete required follow-up courses, achieving 20 hours professional development training annually |

|Once I obtain certification, why |In child welfare practice, studies acknowledge that it takes at least two years to learn the case |

|do I have to continue to obtain |management position. Practice and policy continuously change. The required 20 hours of professional|

|20 professional development hours|development training help case managers stay abreast of the most recent practice models and changes |

|each year? |in child welfare policy. |

|Questions? |Please contact the Curriculum and Assessment Unit at caunit@dhr.state.ga.us if you have questions |

| |related to new worker certification. |

| | |

|Social Services New Worker Training Sequence |

|Keys to Child Welfare |Week 1 Field Practice Two Day Tablet |

|Practice |Training |

| | |

| |Week 2 Keys to Child Welfare Practice |

| |classroom training |

| | |

| |Week 3 Field Practice |

| |Online Training: |

| |Computer Concepts |

| |Roadmap to Successful Online Training |

| |Introduction to Child Welfare Services |

| |CPS Intake |

| |Week 4 Keys to Child Welfare Practice classroom training |

| | |

| |Week 5 Field Practice |

| |Online Training |

| |Online Training: CPS Investigations   |

| |Week 6 Keys to Child Welfare Practice classroom training |

| |Keys Knowledge Assessment |

|Provisional Certification|County Directors have an option to provisionally certify trainees once they successfully complete the 6-week |

| |“Keys” training sequence. This decision is based on trainee performance over the first 6 weeks. For the |

| |purposes of training, the provisionally certified new case manager may provide closely supervised case |

| |management for up to seven (7) low risk cases; the case manager should not have full responsibility for these|

| |cases. This assignment gives the trainee an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in Keys |

| |Training, and it facilitates the transfer of learning to actual practice. |

| |County Directors should consider the following in granting provisional certification: |

| |Satisfactory completion of online training: CPS Intake and Investigations |

| |Satisfactory completion of Keys Field Practice Activities |

| |Satisfactory completion of Keys classroom training |

| |Satisfactory assessment on the Keys Trainer Feedback Form |

| |A Score of 70% or greater on the Keys Classroom Knowledge Assessment |

| |(A passing score is not required, but is highly recommended for provisional certification.) |

| |Note: Trainees who are waived from classroom training must take the Keys Knowledge Assessment and answer at |

| |least 70% of the questions correctly in order to achieve provisional certification. Supervisors may make an |

| |appointment for testing by emailing ssregistrar@dhr.state.ga.us . |

| |Provisional certification may be in effect up to 90 days following the provisional certification decision. |

| |The expectation is that an initial certification decision will be made by the end of this 90-day period. |

|Child Protective Services|5 days Online Training: CPS Ongoing |

|Track |Field Practice |

| |5 days Child Protective Services: Process, Practice and Policy (classroom training) |

| |CPS Knowledge Assessment (in class) A score of 70% or higher is required |

| |5 days Field Practice, Certification Field Based Observation (may vary) Certification Record Review |

| | |

| |Initial Certification in CPS See Section 9. Certification |

| |In making the certification decision, County Directors should |

| |consider trainee performance over the entire training period |

| |the assessment results |

| |feedback from the Field Program Specialist, Supervisor/Training Coordinator, Field Practice Advisor and |

| |Trainer |

| | |

| |When the decision is made, the supervisor completes the New Case Manager Certification Process Checklist and |

| |emails it to: caunit@dhr.state.ga.us. |

| | |

| |A copy of the New Case Manager Certification Process Checklist should be maintained in the new case manager’s|

| |personnel file, along with verification that each component has been completed. Initial certification is |

| |required before the new case manager assumes full responsibility for a caseload. |

|Foster Care Track |10-15 days Online training: Foster Care Policy |

| |(may vary) Field Practice |

| |5 days Foster Care Services: Process, Practice and Policy (classroom training) |

| | |

| |Foster Care Knowledge Assessment (in class) A score of 70% or higher is required. |

| | |

| |5 days Field Practice, Certification Field Based , (may vary) Observation, Certification Record |

| |Review |

| |Initial Certification in Foster Care See Section 9. Certification |

| |In making the certification decision, County Directors should |

| |consider trainee performance over the entire training period |

| |the assessment results |

| |feedback from the Field Program Specialist, Supervisor/Training Coordinator, Field Practice Advisor and |

| |Trainer |

| | |

| |When the decision is made, the supervisor completes the New Case Manager Certification Process Checklist and |

| |emails it to: caunit@dhr.state.ga.us. |

| | |

| |A copy of the New Case Manager Certification Process Checklist should be maintained in the new case manager’s|

| |personnel file, along with verification that each component has been completed. Initial certification is |

| |required before the new case manager assumes full responsibility for a caseload. |

|Adoption Track |* Must complete Foster Care Track and Foster Care certification as a pre-requisite |

| | |

| |5 days Adoption field practice |

| | |

| |4 days Child Assessment and Preparation Classroom Training |

| | |

| |Adoption Knowledge assessment (in class) |

| | |

| |Certification in Adoption See Section 9. Certification |

| |In making the certification decision, County Directors should |

| |consider trainee performance over the entire training period |

| |the assessment results |

| |feedback from the Field Program Specialist, Supervisor/Training Coordinator, Field Practice Advisor and |

| |Trainer |

| | |

| |When the decision is made, the supervisor completes the New Case Manager Certification Process Checklist and |

| |emails it to: caunit@dhr.state.ga.us. |

| | |

| |A copy of the New Case Manager Certification Process Checklist should be maintained in the new case manager’s|

| |personnel file, along with verification that each component has been completed. Initial certification is |

| |required before the new case manager assumes full responsibility for a caseload. |

|Resource Development Track |The Resource development worker will be certified via the Foster Care Case Manager Track, as we currently do not|

| |have a Resource Development certification process. |

| |*Complete Foster Care Track and Foster Care certification as pre-requisite |

| |5 days IMPACT Classroom Training |

| |TBD IMPACT Application Online course (under development) |

|Ongoing Certification in |After the case manager is certified, the following activities are required over the next 6 months. |

|Case Management |The case manager’s supervisor reviews the certified case manager’s case records on a regular basis (2 records|

| |per month). |

| |The supervisor provides ongoing coaching and mentoring. |

| |The supervisor completes an Interim PMP within 6 months of certification. |

| |The case manager completes follow up training |

|Follow Up Training |Refer to the Follow-up Training Charts on the following pages. If it is at all possible, we recommend that |

| |new case managers take these courses in the order in which they are listed. Supervisors are responsible for |

| |registering case managers for these courses. This follow-up training applies toward the 20 hours annual |

| |professional development required for continued certification. |

|Professional Excellence |After mandated follow up training, ongoing professional development continues for all certified case managers|

| |and supervisors. Professional Excellence courses are posted on the Registration and Transcript System at: |

| | and will apply toward the 20 hours of annual professional development |

| |mandated by the Division. Supervisors are responsible for registering case managers for these classes. |

|Social Services Case Manager Follow-up Training |

|Required Courses for New Case Managers within 6 months of Initial Certification |

| | | | | |

|CPS Case Managers |Foster Care Case |Adoption Case Managers |Resource Development Case |Additional Requirements for |

| |Managers | |Managers |FTM Facilitators |

| | | | | |

|Documentation: 12 hours |Documentation: 12 hours|Documentation: 12 hours|ASAP: 30 hours |FTM Overview: 12 hours |

|Legal: 12 hours |Legal: 12 hours |Legal: 12 hours |Documentation: 12 hours | |

|Family Violence: 6 hours |Family Violence: 6 |Family Violence: 6 |Legal: 12 hours |FTM Skills Building: 12 |

| |hours |hours | |hours |

| |IV-E classroom: 12 |IV-E classroom: 12 | | |

| |hours |hours | |Follow up Practice |

| | |Adoption Assistance: 6 | |Activities required to be an|

| | |hours | |Approved FTM Facilitator |

| | | | | |

|Total: 30 hours | | | | |

| |Total: 42 hours |Total: 48 hours | | |

| | | |Total: 54 hours | |

*Denotes that course will be available after 7-1-06

|Required courses for New Case Managers within 6-12 months of Initial Certification |

| | | | | |

|CPS Case Managers |Foster Care Case |Adoption Case Managers |Resource Development Case |Additional Requirements for |

| |Managers | |Managers |FTM Facilitators |

| | | | | |

|Substance Abuse: 18 hours |Substance Abuse: 18 |ASAP: 30 hours |Substance Abuse: 18 hours |None at present |

|Emotional Survival: 5 hours |hours |Substance Abuse: 18 |IV-E Overview Online: 4 hours| |

|*Fiscal Policy: TBD |Emotional Survival: 5 |hours |Adoption Assistance: 6 hours | |

|IV-E Overview Online: 4 hours|hours | |Family Violence: 6 hours | |

| |*Fiscal Policy: TBD | | | |

| |IMPACT Overview: 12 | |Total: 34 hours | |

|Total: 27+ hours |hours | | | |

| | | | | |

| | | | | |

| |Total: 35+ hours |Total: 48 hours | | |

*Denotes that course will be available after 7-1-06

|Social Services Case Manager Follow-up Training |

|Required Courses for New Case Managers within 12-18 months of Initial Certification |

| | | | | |

|CPS Case Managers |Foster Care Case |Adoption Case Managers |Resource Development Case |Additional Requirements for |

| |Managers | |Managers |FTM Facilitators |

| | | | | |

|FTM Overview: 12 hours |FTM Overview: 12 hours|IMPACT Overview: 12 |Emotional Survival: 5 hours |None at present |

|IMPACT Overview: 12 hours |Adoption Assistance: 6|hours |FTM Overview: 12 hours | |

| |hours |Emotional Survival: 5 |*Fiscal Policy: TBD | |

| | |hours | | |

| | |*Fiscal Policy: TBD | | |

| | |FTM Overview: 12 hours | | |

|Total: 24 hours |Total: 18 hours | |Total: 17+ hours | |

| | |Total: 29+ hours | | |

*Denotes that course will be available after 7-1-06

|DFCS Online Training System |

|Purpose |The online training is a critical component of the learning process and should be completed as outlined in the|

| |Introduction. The classroom experience is dependent upon the trainee completing the designated assignments. |

|Supervisor/ Training Coordinator |Provide the trainee internet access. You will be expected to review the trainee’s status each week with the |

| |trainee to ensure they are completing the activities within the defined timeline. |

| |Ensure the trainee has access to the online training |

| |Ensure the trainee has adequate time to complete the required activities |

|Trainee |You will be expected to work independently to complete your Online training each week. Your supervisor/ |

| |training coordinator or designee will provide the information you need to access the system. |

| |Your supervisor/training coordinator and field program specialist will receive a weekly Administrative Report |

| |which will indicate your scores and status of your completed assignments. |

| |The Online Instructor will guide you in this learning experience. |

|Obtaining a Training Password |To get started with the DFCS Online Training, you need a User ID and a password. Your User ID is your social |

| |security number. To obtain a password enter the website address: . |

| |See the attachment to your confirmation letter for more detailed instructions. |

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TRAINING AND FIELD PRACTICE GUIDE

Introduction

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