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Resources for Child Welfare and Family Support Professionals

Resources for Child Welfare and Family Support Professionals

This page is intended to be used by professionals in child welfare and family support services. All information is accompanied by links to the original resource, or links to the websites where you can access the training materials or tools directly. Resources on this page include trauma, safety, and well-being resources, tools to be used by professionals, internet safety, trafficking awareness, and CSAM support, and training and certification opportunities. 

Trauma, safety, and well-being resources

Professional tools

  • Lurie Children's Child Injury Plausibility Assessment Support Tool (LCAST)

    LCAST is a mobile screening tool that helps healthcare professionals assess whether bruising in infants and young children may indicate possible physical abuse. It is based on the evidence‑supported TEN‑4‑FACESp clinical decision rule developed at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

    Who it’s for: Licensed clinicians and child‑serving professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics, social service providers).

    Who it applies to: Children under 4 years old who have bruising.

    What it does:

    • Supports recognition of bruising patterns associated with higher risk of abuse
    • Helps guide next steps in evaluation
    • Serves as an educational resource
    • Not a diagnostic tool

    Why it matters: Bruising is the most common—and often the most overlooked—early sign of physical abuse. Evidence‑based tools like TEN‑4‑FACESp can improve early recognition and protect vulnerable children.

    Where to get it: Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store (search: LCAST, TEN‑4‑FACESp, child injury, bruising, etc.).

OCA Resource Pages

Online safety training and informational materials

  • MissingKids Blog Page

    The MissingKids blog highlights the rapidly evolving risks children face online, including increasing reports of online enticement, financial sextortion, and emerging AI‑driven exploitation. It also features new interactive tools that help caregivers understand these threats, along with data‑driven insights showing how children are often targeted, manipulated, and sometimes lured across state lines. It also addresses the unique complexities of family abductions and provides stories and data to help professionals, caregivers, and communities better protect children.

  • NCMEC Training Resources

    NCMEC has created a resource page of training modules accessible by the general public. There are 30+ training modules ranging from 15 to 45 minutes in length, covering topics like: 

    • Internet safety
    • Trauma mitigation 
    • Support for victims of trafficking and CSAM
    • Autism support resources 
    • and more

     

  • Netsmartz Resource Materials

    Netsmartz has an incredible page full of resources for parents, professionals, and educators to use. These resources are developed and organized by age group, giving access to materials that are relevant, appropriate, and consumable for any age group. Resource materials include: 

    • PowerPoint and Google presentations
    • Tip sheets
    • Classroom activities

    These resources are best when trainers access the accompanying NCMEC training modules. 

Safe Sleep Webinars

These webinars and more can be found on the WI CAN website: WI Child Abuse Network Page

  • From Campaign to Conversation

    Sleep Baby Safe training for professionals working with families. WI CAN Educational Series 12/18/2020.

  • Safer Sleep

    Talking with families about infant sleep recommendations. Presented by Hillary W. Petska, MD, MPH, FAAP

Training and certification opportunities

  • C.A.S.E. Training for Adoption Competency (TAC)™

    Center for Adoption Support and Education training provides classroom and virtual training, as well as clinical case consultation.

    "Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) is the nation’s premiere assessment-based certificate program for training mental health practitioners and developing adoption competency skills."

  • Child Welfare Toolkit

    National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare training modules for child welfare workers. Modules include information on topics like:

    - Family needs & impacts of substance use

    - Co‑occurring disorders, trauma, and domestic violence

    - Engagement, intervention & case planning

    - Multi‑system coordination

    - Special considerations: methamphetamine use & prenatal exposure

  • Juvenile Competency Stakeholder Training

    A Stakeholders Guide to Competency
    to Proceed in Michigan's Juvenile Courts. This is a self-paced online training course.

    This training is designed for:
    court personnel (including probation officers and managers, judges, referees, prosecutors, and attorneys), as well as advocates, behavioral health providers, MDHHS juvenile justice specialists and managers, and other MDHHS staff, are encouraged to complete the training.

    Created by: experts at National Youth Screening and Assessment Partners (NYSAP) and MDHHS

  • National Child Traumatic Stress Network

    The Core Curriculum on Childhood Trauma (CCCT) is a flexible training program designed to help professionals build trauma‑informed, healing‑centered skills for supporting children and families. It combines practical skill‑building, provider wellness, and adaptable learning modules that can be used across many youth‑serving settings. Through detailed case studies and collaborative learning, the curriculum helps practitioners apply the 12 Core Concepts of childhood trauma and strengthen their ability to respond effectively in both clinical and community environments. 

  • Infant Safe Sleep Certification Program for EMS & Fire

    Each enrollee receives a custom welcome email and support from the EMS for Children Program, MDHHS Infant Safe Sleep, and local resources. Departments can also tailor their own training and resource plans.

    Using the link, departments can:

    - Request program materials
    - Access the enrollment link
    - Request an attestation form upon program completion