WiLearn Welcome to WiLearn, the innovative training program for new child welfare professionals in Wisconsin! The goal of this training model is to provide new child protective services (CPS) and youth justice (YJ) 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 child welfare professionals in the state. Since our child welfare system is only as strong as the people who provide the services to children, youth and families, we are committed to developing and providing a robust training experience. Building a committed, confident and competent child welfare workforce is essential to Wisconsin families, and it begins with supportive and effective child welfare professional training: WiLearn! WiLearn emphasizes the supervisor's role in supporting new child welfare professionals’ development. The following activities outline the type of support this model includes to build the professional/supervisor relationship. Learners can expect: Structured on-the-job application of skills learned in formal training. Job shadowing. Additional supervisory oversight. Learning assessment. Agency- or county-specific training. Child Protective Services Professionals WiLearn program information for CPS professionals. Learn More Youth Justice Professionals WiLearn program information for YJ professionals. Learn More FAQs What is WiLearn? WiLearn is a required training program for new child welfare (CPS and YJ) professionals. 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 child welfare professionals to complete all the training program virtually, with flexibility to do much of the learning at their own pace within scheduled deadlines. WiLearn Elements are comprised of classroom-style learning with a group of learners (at the same time) paired with learning activities and courses learners will complete on their own. Aside from the WiLearn Elements, WiLearn also includes agency-specific trainings and onboarding activities, including structured supervisory coaching and mentoring opportunities, and Pre-Service and eWiSACWIS web-based modules. What if my new professional does both CPS and YJ roles? It depends on how you are designating their primary role, and it is important to help them select the right one when filling out their PDS Online profile. New professionals who have a primary job role of CPS Access, Initial Assessment, Ongoing Services or a combination of those roles will continue to be enrolled in the WiLearn Program (for CPS). If their primary job role is YJ but they may have some occasional CPS responsibilities, then they will be enrolled in WiLearn Youth Justice. PDS will continue to confirm enrollments with direct supervisors. 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 child welfare 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 weekly (at a minimum) and will complement other activities specific to WiLearn and that are arranged by the agency to support learning. How do staff in WiLearn make up for missed WiLearn Elements? As the WiLearn Elements are all designed to build off each other, missing an entire element will cause a significant disruption in the learning process. New child welfare professionals who miss an entire WiLearn Element will be transferred into the next available cohort at the same spot in the WiLearn Element process that they were unable to complete in their original cohort. If a professional misses a portion of a WiLearn 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 child welfare professionals other than completing WiLearn? Yes. WiLearn is not intended to be the only training that a new child welfare professional completes. There are additional trainings 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 child welfare professionals take other WCWPDS trainings during WiLearn? Yes. New professionals may sign up and attend other WCWPDS trainings as deemed appropriate by the child welfare professional and agency. This can be done at any point — even while going through WiLearn — as time permits. What is available to help me support myself or my staff who are enrolled in WiLearn? Learners use a workbook for each of the WiLearn 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 WiLearn Elements to review the online learning. Visit the WCWPDS website to access these resources. Upon enrollment, staff and their supervisors receive information on resources 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. How do staff enroll in WiLearn? New child welfare professionals 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. Enrolled learners and their supervisors will receive confirmation and detailed information via email, which will include program information and a complete schedule. Can tribal child welfare professionals and others who are not required to take WiLearn still access the content? Yes. Other child welfare professionals can register to complete many of the WiLearn program components in addition 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 WiLearn elements are now offered as separate trainings: Culturally-Responsible Practice – Hybrid Trauma-Informed Practice - Hybrid Engaging Families – Hybrid Case Practice with American Indian Tribes – Hybrid Child welfare professionals can register for any of these sessions via PDS Online. Can I experience the WiLearn Elements so that I know what my staff are being trained on and can best support them? Yes. The WiLearn Elements will be available as stand-alone elements and supervisors may register for them through their PDS Online account when they become available.
