WiLearn Welcome to the new, innovative training program for new child protective services (CPS) professionals in the state of Wisconsin! This new program is called, “WiLearn.” The goal of this training model is to provide new professionals with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to successfully assume a full caseload at a basic level of proficiency. WiLearn is a re-imagined, efficient, and modernized method of training new CPS professionals in the state. Since our child welfare system is only as strong as the people who provide the services to children and families, we are committed to developing and providing a robust training experience. Building a committed, confident, and competent CPS workforce is essential to Wisconsin families and it begins with supportive, effective child welfare professional training, WiLearn. Framework WiLearn is required for all new CPS professionals in Wisconsin whose primary functions include access, initial assessment, ongoing, or a mixture of those practice areas. The core of WiLearn are the 8 Foundational Elements, which will account for the majority of the new CPS professional’s time in the program. In addition to the 8 Foundational Elements, WiLearn includes several additional requirements, such as Pre-Service. All of these requirements must be completed within the first 6 months of employment. During these first 6 months of employment, CPS professionals enrolled in WiLearn are expected to be assigned up to a 50% primary caseload, which DCF defines as seven (7). Please note this expectation pertains to new CPS professionals whose primary case responsibilities are Initial Assessment, Ongoing Services, or a mixture of those two practice areas. Local Agency Work WiLearn emphasizes the supervisor's role in supporting new child welfare professionals’ professional development. The model includes activities that enhance learning, structure on-the-job application, and build the professional/supervisor relationship. These activities include: Structured on-the-job application of skills learned in formal training Job shadowing Additional supervisory oversight Learning assessment Agency- or county-specific training Process Utilized The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) is partnering with the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System (WCWPDS) to develop and implement WiLearn. Utilizing this partnership, a conscious effort has been made to include county and other stakeholder voice during the initial planning stages as well as throughout the overall development. Feedback from county and other stakeholders directly informed the overall framework and parameters of WiLearn (See FAQ below for details). Additionally, the WCWPDS Steering Committee is an oversight body made up of 10 county representatives, tribal representatives, DCF staff and university staff. This group meets quarterly and has informed the design process since the idea was initially proposed. Resources Two-Page WiLearn Informational Sheet WCWPDS WiLearn webpage - Find course related information: course materials, example WiLearn timelines, and a calendar of the 2023 cohort schedule. FAQ What is WiLearn? WiLearn is a training program for new child protective services (CPS) professionals in Wisconsin and will be required for all new employees whose primary functions include access, initial assessment, ongoing services, or a mixture of those practice areas. WiLearn utilizes a cohort model so learners within the same cohort go through the training program together. WiLearn takes advantage of enhanced technologies to allow new CPS professionals to complete all the training program virtually, with flexibility to do much of the learning at their own pace within scheduled deadlines. Much of a learner’s time will be spent on eight Foundational Elements which are comprised of synchronous classroom-style learning paired with asynchronous learning activities and courses learners will complete on their own. Aside from the Foundational Elements, WiLearn also includes agency-specific trainings and onboarding activities, including structured supervisory coaching and mentoring opportunities, Case Worker Pre-Service and eWiSACWIS web-based modules. DCF consulted with local CPS agency leadership and prioritized participation in the current safety foundation trainings in addition to the Foundational Elements. What is the difference between WiLearn and Foundation Training? WiLearn is a new model of training that looks and feels different than the current Foundation trainings. WiLearn Program Components have been organized into a sequential order with each element building off the one before. The WiLearn training program offers a uniform experience for learners as new CPS professionals receive the same information in the same order across the state. Training content that presently exists within the current foundation courses has been repurposed and transposed into the Foundational Elements contained within the WiLearn training program. DCF and WCWPDS collaborated to make updates to this content to reflect current and future revisions to standards, policies, and language. What are the Foundational Elements? The Foundational Elements are built around learning priorities identified by DCF and local CPS agency leaders and address the following areas: Culturally Responsible Practice in Child Welfare Trauma Informed Practice Understanding the CPS Case Process Engaging Families Case Practice with American Indian Tribes Areas of Assessment in CPS Critical Thinking in CPS Family Centered Decision Making Learners will experience these elements together and in this order, virtually, utilizing both synchronous and asynchronous training modalities. These specific Foundational Elements will account for 42 hours (or 7 days) of training content that will be completed within a new CPS professional’s first six (6) months of employment. Generally, the content for these elements comes directly from existing foundation courses. What is happening to content in Foundation Trainings that is not included in WiLearn? Not every piece of content within the existing Foundation courses will be included within the Foundational Elements in WiLearn. Content that is not covered in WiLearn will be offered in its current format. Could you elaborate on “additional supervisor oversight?” Any of the “supervisor” tasks can be completed by a supervisor, lead worker, designated staff, trainer, or other individuals as your agency sees fit. Enhanced supervisory oversight refers to consistent and dedicated “check-in” times between the new CPS professional and supervisor to enhance the learner’s transfer of learning between classroom work and the field. These check-ins are recommended to take place at a minimum weekly and will complement other activities specific to WiLearn and that are arranged by the agency to support learning. How is safety assessment and planning attended to in WiLearn given the significant work currently underway to identify and improve our state’s safety decision-making model? Improvements to Wisconsin’s Safety Model are underway and there will be changes to policy and practice and downstream changes to safety training requirements. DCF and WCWPDS worked collaboratively to ensure that WiLearn content does not create inconsistencies between current and future curriculum. Critical thinking skills related to safety assessment and planning practices will be introduced in WiLearn to start building a strong foundation of competence and confidence in safety practice as a starting point. However, safety decision making is a complex process and will require more specific and detailed training in order to afford new professionals opportunities for skill building and application. As indicated above, the current safety foundation courses will be used to support the continued and advanced learning related to this highly important practice area. While new CPS professionals will continue to be required to complete these additional courses within two years of their employment, DCF and WCWPDS have made every effort to ensure these courses are available to new CPS professionals concurrent to or shortly following completion of the Foundational Elements. Are there any new requirements for new CPS professionals while they are enrolled in WiLearn? If so, what are they? Yes. New CPS professionals are expected to have no more than 50% of a typical caseload that is held by a Primary Worker in eWiSACWIS during their time completing the 6-month WiLearn program. How and why was a 50% primary caseload during new CPS professionals’ first 6 months of employment decided upon? Training provides the foundational knowledge that will support CPS professionals in their career. Because training plays such a critical role in learning and supporting new staff, the county-lead workgroup recommended training be the primary focus of new CPS professionals. To help ensure this occurred, a 50% primary caseload benchmark was included into the WiLearn parameters. Based feedback and recommendations from the county-lead workgroup, 6-months was selected as the shortest amount of time new CPS professionals could realistically and conceivably complete all of the WiLearn requirements. What is being considered a 50% caseload and how is that being determined? DCF defines a typical caseload as 14 primary case assignments for both Initial Assessment and Ongoing Services. Therefore, the expectation is that new staff enrolled in WiLearn receive up to 7 (50% of 14) primary case assignments at any given time. Please note this requirement pertains to new CPS professionals whose primary case responsibilities are Initial Assessment, Ongoing Services, or a mixture of those two practice areas. What happens if new CPS professionals are assigned a primary caseload that is higher than 50%? DCF will be following federal guidance regarding WiLearn which is considered to be “intensive training” which is defined as “highly concentrated and intended to significantly strengthen and increase the employee's knowledge." Given these parameters, an employee could not participate in intensive training while maintaining a full caseload. Using its available statewide information systems, including eWiSACWIS data, DCF will monitor new CPS professionals’ primary case assignments and determine if a caseload is under, meets, or exceeds the 50% threshold. Are there any exemptions that can be made for the WiLearn requirements? Yes. There may be situations in which it makes sense for local child welfare agencies to grant exemptions to completing the WiLearn program and to its requirements (e.g., new caseworker who is experienced in child welfare in another state or county). Exemptions should be considered and analyzed on a case-by-case basis and are identified in the training rule (Administrative Code Chapter DCF 43.06) as being at the discretion of the employing agency. Reasons for the exemption must include that the new CPS professional or supervisor has completed the required core training components at a different time or location and the new employee provides the employing agency with documentation of having completed that training. What about CPS professionals who are employed part time or in an LTE position? Do the WiLearn parameters still apply to them? Yes. Any CPS professional whose primary job duties include Access, Initial Assessment, Ongoing, or a mixture of those practice areas are required to complete WiLearn within their first six months of employment. During that time, part time professionals and professionals in an LTE role are expected to carry no more than a 50% primary caseload (7 cases) at any one time. How do staff in WiLearn make up for missed Foundational Elements? As the Foundational Elements are all designed to build off each other, missing an entire element will cause a significant disruption in the learning process. New CPS professionals who miss an entire Foundational Element will be transferred into the next available cohort at the same spot in the Foundational Element process that they were unable to complete in their original cohort. If a professional misses a portion of a Foundational Element, efforts will be made to determine a manner in which the professional is able to remain with the original cohort. Those situations will be determined on a case-by-case basis due to the number of variables involved. Agencies should contact WCWPDS to discuss plans for absences in advance if possible. Are there any additional requirements for new CPS professionals other than completing WiLearn within their first 6 months? Yes. WiLearn is not intended to be the only training that a new CPS professional completes. There are additional foundation training requirements and other training that may be required by statute or policy or based on job roles. Other trainings will continue to be offered and agencies can still send staff as needed or as required by statute, policy, or job role. Can new CPS professionals take other WCWPDS trainings during WiLearn? Yes. New professionals may sign up and attend other WCWPDS trainings as deemed appropriate by the CPS professional and agency. This can be done at any point, even while going through WiLearn, as time permits. What is available to me to help support myself and my staff who are enrolled in WiLearn? Learners use a workbook for each of the Foundational Elements to support their learning and supervisors and coaches/mentors can use the workbooks as well. Additionally, supervisors and coaches of enrolled learners can request the asynchronous curriculum package of all Foundational Elements to reveiw the online learning. Visit the WCWPDS website to access these resources. Upon enrollment, staff and their supervisors receive information on recsources available to support the WiLearn Program components. Resources such as informational videos, detailed course information, workbooks, and supervisor tools can be accessed on the WCWPDS website. A training, “Coaching: Bridging the Gap Between Training and Practice,” is available to supervisors, lead workers, or any designated staff trainer who is or will be in the position of supporting new CPS professionals throughout the WiLearn program. Any questions or support needs can be directed to the WCWPDS WiLearn mailbox at wilearn@wcwpds.wisc.edu for 71 counties outside of Milwaukee and contact wcwpds-mke@uwm.edu for Milwaukee. How do my staff sign up for WiLearn? New CPS professionals with the primary role of Access, Initial Assessment and Ongoing (or combination) are identified through PDS Online and confirmed with their supervisor prior to enrollment. PDS Online accounts are automatically created with each eWiSACWIS account, typically by the next day. Supervisors can assist by having new staff complete their profiles on their PDS Online accounts as soon as possible and accurately identifying their primary role. How often will new cohorts be formed? Wisconsin balance of state has approximately 240 new CPS Access, Initial Assessment, and Ongoing Service professionals that begin their employment each year. WCWPDS Madison is planning for 12 cohorts per year with the first ones scheduled for February 2023. It is expected a new cohort will start monthly thereafter. Milwaukee has approximately 90 new CPS Access, Initial Assessment, and Ongoing Service professionals that begin their employment each year. WCWPDS Milwaukee is planning for 4 cohorts per year with the first one scheduled for February 2023. Cohort start dates will be coordinated with the Milwaukee agencies based on hiring timeframes. Can Youth Justice professionals, tribal child welfare professionals, and others who are not required to take WiLearn still access the content? Yes. Child welfare professionals who do not have primary CPS Access, Initial Assessment, and Ongoing roles can register to complete many of the WiLearn Program components in additional to other training to support their roles. Child welfare professionals can register themselves for Case Worker Pre-Service and all eWiSACWIS training modules. Four of the foundational elements are now offered as separate trainings titled Culturally Responsible Practice – Hybrid, Trauma Informed Practice - Hybrid, Engaging Families – Hybrid, and Case Practice with American Indian Tribes – Hybrid. Child welfare professionals can register for any of these sessions via PDS Online. Can I experience the Foundational Elements so that I know what my staff are being trained on and can best support them? Yes. As stated above, the WiLearn Foundational Elements will be available as stand-alone elements and supervisors may register for them through their PDS Online account when they become available.
