Learning on Demand
The ALIGN program at the Institute’s GROW Center offers online, self-directed, and self-paced training opportunities for the child welfare workforce on a variety of topics.
The GROW Center team adds new Learning On Demand tracks to the ALIGN Learning Portal on an ongoing basis to provide further opportunities for child welfare professionals to build their capacity and skillset around specific issues from the field.
Access Align Learning PortalLearning Tracks:
About
Communication skills are fundamental to social work practice. Nonviolent Communication (NVC), sometimes referred to as Compassionate Communication, offers a powerful tool for positive social change. According to its creator, psychologist Marshall Rosenberg, NVC is effective in relationships among families, colleagues, and in conflicts of any nature as it encourages empathic communication. For child welfare professionals, compassion and empathy are cornerstones to building trust among families, as well as within interprofessional relationships.
Developed with:
Janelle King
A’miracle Smith
Outline
Learners will understand how universal human needs are the crux of this communication process and they will learn about the Tube of Connection, the acronym WAIT, and Other Conversational Responses. This course will provide learners the opportunity to watch role-play videos and engage in practice scenarios that put the information into context and action.
Learners will learn about responding with empathy through the Nonviolent Communication lens. This module will provide learners the opportunity to watch role-play videos, listen to podcast episodes, and engage in practice scenarios that put the information into context and action.
Learners will learn how they can use Nonviolent Communication to express a message to someone else using observations rather than evaluations, stating their own feelings and needs, and using connecting and action requests. Child welfare professionals will be provided with opportunities to watch podcast episodes and role-play videos and engage in practice scenarios to put the information into content and action.
Enrollment Information
Currently Available!
How to Enroll:
- Complete this form to request enrollment in the self-paced course.
About
This learning track will help child welfare professionals understand how to best serve families with young children using practices informed by a large and compelling body of research. Rethinking practice with this new knowledge increases the likelihood of better short-term and long-term outcomes for the large number of infants and toddlers in professionals' caseloads. The learner will leave this training with increased job satisfaction, regaining the sense that they are making an impact during this critical, sensitive time of early child development and doing work that truly matters!
Developed with: The Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy at Florida State University
Enrollment Information
Available: January 15, 2024
How to Enroll:
- Complete this form to request enrollment in the self-paced course.
About
This learning track allows child welfare professionals to explore educational content on neurodevelopmental differences and cognitive variations in children and families while gaining new approaches to better accommodate and collaborate with their neurodiverse clients. Learners will be engaged with simulation activities and media, offering new knowledge and practical skills while enhancing their expertise in their career fields. Child welfare professionals will leave this learning track with a greater understanding of professionalism when working with families and children that are neurodiverse and will enhance their diversity, equity, and inclusion skillset by learning about neurodiversity and its prevalence in their work environment. This knowledge will allow learners to build more significant connections with families and increase their work satisfaction.
Developed with: The Institute for Family Violence Studies at Florida State University
Enrollment Information
Available: Spring 2024
How to Enroll:
- Complete this form to request enrollment in the self-paced course.
About
More information about the Support of Substance Use Interventions Special Topics course will be available soon!
Developed with: The Stoops Center for Communities, Families, and Children
Enrollment Information
Available: Fall 2024
How to Enroll:
- Complete this form to request enrollment in the self-paced course.