ASU’s IV-E Child Welfare unit is contracted to provide field training to child welfare professionals and students interested in child welfare as a profession. Field training activities are provided to Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) field staff, Family Service Workers (FSW), DCFS Supervisors, and ASU social work students who are doing internships with DCFS, both stipend and non-stipend students.
Field Training encompasses education on state child welfare policies and procedures, collaboration/multidisciplinary endeavors, child maltreatment content, judicial and legislative procedures as well as an array of other topics in contemporary services to children and families.
Field Training for Students
ASU social work students who are participating in a DCFS internship as part of the requirement for their undergraduate degree receive 1 hour per week of field training from a IV-E staff member during the course of the semester. The purpose of this field training is to accelerate and enrich the educational process of these students. This additional layer of exposure to the child welfare profession serves as an important link to the classroom training and the internship experience. Additionally, it is hoped that this investment in the students will result in a larger applicant pool for DCFS, with applicants who are more knowledgeable and equipped to do the job upon hire and who are better informed regarding the demands and rigors of this type of social work practice.
Field Training for DCFS Family Service Workers
New DCFS workers attend classroom training over the course of 11 weeks early in their employment. Family Service Workers receive field training from the ASU IV-E staff in addition to their classroom training or any other DCFS agency training. A member of the IV-E staff is assigned to each new DCFS worker upon hire. The same IV-E staff member continues to mentor and provide field training to the worker for the first 12 months of that person’s employment with DCFS. The purposes of the field training for the workers include assisting in orienting workers to the agency; assisting in educating the workers on agency policy and procedures; educating the workers on child maltreatment practice content; providing feedback on practice skills, knowledge and personal vs. professional values; discussing ethical problems and dilemmas; teaching workers how to manage workload, time and stress; and educating workers on cultural competence in child welfare service delivery; and providing consultation on casework interventions.
ASU IV-E staff provides field training for newly hired or promoted DCFS county/unit supervisors. This field training takes place in the supervisor’s county office and occurs on a weekly basis for the first year of the person’s employment as a supervisor. The purpose of the field training for the DCFS supervisors includes education and consultation on management, leadership, and practice issues.
