Welcome to the Children’s Law Center training registration system. From this page, you can find current training sessions and additional information about each session. To register for a course, you must create an online account. This account will retain records of your registered and completed courses. It will also make registering for future training sessions easier. Once you have created an account, you can log in to access your training records, register for an upcoming training, or manage your account. Please Note: Some training sessions are offered on more than one date, so be sure to check the date(s) of the training before you register.
Current Available Training Sessions
To view more information about a training session, please click on the training session title.
Child Death Investigations: The Basics (In-Person)
Date: 2024-08-06
Time: 8:30 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child death investigations. Topics will include causes and manners of deaths; response and review of a child death, to include an overview of the Child Death Investigation Task Force; proper procedures for conducting reenactments; interviewing parents/caregivers and witnesses; documenting investigative findings; multi-disciplinary coordination of investigations; and the appropriate roles of DSS and law enforcement. Applicable definitions from the Children’s Code and criminal statutes will also be addressed.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Death Investigations: The Basics (In-Person)
Date: 2024-09-10
Time: 8:30 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child death investigations. Topics will include causes and manners of deaths; response and review of a child death, to include an overview of the Child Death Investigation Task Force; proper procedures for conducting reenactments; interviewing parents/caregivers and witnesses; documenting investigative findings; multi-disciplinary coordination of investigations; and the appropriate roles of DSS and law enforcement. Applicable definitions from the Children’s Code and criminal statutes will also be addressed.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Death Investigations: The Basics (In-Person)
Date: 2024-11-12
Time: 8:30 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child death investigations. Topics will include causes and manners of deaths; response and review of a child death, to include an overview of the Child Death Investigation Task Force; proper procedures for conducting reenactments; interviewing parents/caregivers and witnesses; documenting investigative findings; multi-disciplinary coordination of investigations; and the appropriate roles of DSS and law enforcement. Applicable definitions from the Children’s Code and criminal statutes will also be addressed.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Investigations: The Basics (In-person)
Date: 2024-09-03
Time: 8:45 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child physical abuse and neglect investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination. The training will begin with a focus on understanding the prevalence of child abuse and neglect, recognizing red flags and risk factors, distinguishing between inflicted and accidental injuries, the emergency protective custody process, and interviewing. In the interviewing segment of the training, we will begin with a review of general techniques of interviewing and then broaden the discussion to include all individuals that need to be interviewed and the questions that should be asked in a comprehensive investigation. The training will also cover proper documentation and evidence collection and a discussion of applicable definitions of abuse and neglect and criminal laws.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Investigations: The Basics (In-person)
Date: 2024-11-19
Time: 8:45 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child physical abuse and neglect investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination. The training will begin with a focus on understanding the prevalence of child abuse and neglect, recognizing red flags and risk factors, distinguishing between inflicted and accidental injuries, the emergency protective custody process, and interviewing. In the interviewing segment of the training, we will begin with a review of general techniques of interviewing and then broaden the discussion to include all individuals that need to be interviewed and the questions that should be asked in a comprehensive investigation. The training will also cover proper documentation and evidence collection and a discussion of applicable definitions of abuse and neglect and criminal laws.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: The Basics (In-Person)
Date: 2024-08-09
Time: 9:00 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child sexual abuse investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination. The training will begin with an explanation of the roles and function of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), the dynamics of child sexual abuse, legal issues in child sexual abuse cases including applicable definitions from the S.C. Children’s Code and related criminal statutes, common evidentiary hearsay exceptions used in child abuse cases, and unique child hearsay statutory exceptions. The training will then cover interviewing techniques, and methods and strategies to corroborate a child’s disclosure of abuse.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: The Basics (In-Person)
Date: 2024-10-24
Time: 9:00 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child sexual abuse investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination. The training will begin with an explanation of the roles and function of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), the dynamics of child sexual abuse, legal issues in child sexual abuse cases including applicable definitions from the S.C. Children’s Code and related criminal statutes, common evidentiary hearsay exceptions used in child abuse cases, and unique child hearsay statutory exceptions. The training will then cover interviewing techniques, and methods and strategies to corroborate a child’s disclosure of abuse.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: The Basics (In-Person)
Date: 2024-12-09
Time: 9:00 AM
Description:
This training focuses on the basics of child sexual abuse investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination. The training will begin with an explanation of the roles and function of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), the dynamics of child sexual abuse, legal issues in child sexual abuse cases including applicable definitions from the S.C. Children’s Code and related criminal statutes, common evidentiary hearsay exceptions used in child abuse cases, and unique child hearsay statutory exceptions. The training will then cover interviewing techniques, and methods and strategies to corroborate a child’s disclosure of abuse.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
Date: 2024-08-26
Time: 8:30 AM
Description:
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are DSS, you register for this course on the DSS LMS only. This registration is for non-DSS attendees only.
ChildFirst® South Carolina is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct an investigative interview—also known as a forensic interview—of a suspected child abuse victim. This interactive course combines lectures and demonstrations supplemented with homework assignments and a written examination at the end of the course. Participants also must conduct a 30-minute interview of a professional actor playing the role of a sexually abused child after which the interviewer is critiqued by a professional forensic interviewer and a group of fellow students. Completion of this training does not result in any recognized state professional “certification” to conduct forensic interviews.
Requirements. If a team from your county has attended a previous session of ChildFirst® South Carolina or Finding Words South Carolina and you work as part of that team, you may register as an individual. However, you must meet the basic requirements of any team member:
(1) You must be a South Carolina state professional, unless otherwise approved in writing by Zero Abuse Project.
(2) You must work in a job, through formal professional affiliation with a Children’s Advocacy Center, in which you conduct forensic interviews of suspected child abuse victims.
(3) You may also attend if you refer children to a children’s advocacy center for forensic interviews as part of a child maltreatment investigation or you defend forensic interviews in court. Most frequently, these professionals are law enforcement officers, DSS attorneys, DSS caseworkers, and prosecutors. Your participation in this training is focused on understanding the forensic interview process and how it fits into your comprehensive investigation.
(4) You must commit to attending every session. Anyone who misses a session, does not complete the practical exercises, or fails the examination will not be awarded a certificate of course completion.
Tuition is $425.00 per person. After registering, you will receive an email regarding payment. Participants are responsible for their own lodging and per diem arrangements and expenses.
2024 Location: The course will be conducted at the Children's Law Center's Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are DSS, you register on the DSS LMS only.
Date: 2024-10-14
Time: 8:30 AM
Description:
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are DSS, you register for this course on the DSS LMS only. This registration is for non-DSS attendees only.
ChildFirst® South Carolina is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct an investigative interview—also known as a forensic interview—of a suspected child abuse victim. This interactive course combines lectures and demonstrations supplemented with homework assignments and a written examination at the end of the course. Participants also must conduct a 30-minute interview of a professional actor playing the role of a sexually abused child after which the interviewer is critiqued by a professional forensic interviewer and a group of fellow students. Completion of this training does not result in any recognized state professional “certification” to conduct forensic interviews.
Requirements. If a team from your county has attended a previous session of ChildFirst® South Carolina or Finding Words South Carolina and you work as part of that team, you may register as an individual. However, you must meet the basic requirements of any team member:
(1) You must be a South Carolina state professional, unless otherwise approved in writing by Zero Abuse Project.
(2) You must work in a job, through formal professional affiliation with a Children’s Advocacy Center, in which you conduct forensic interviews of suspected child abuse victims.
(3) You may also attend if you refer children to a children’s advocacy center for forensic interviews as part of a child maltreatment investigation or you defend forensic interviews in court. Most frequently, these professionals are law enforcement officers, DSS attorneys, DSS caseworkers, and prosecutors. Your participation in this training is focused on understanding the forensic interview process and how it fits into your comprehensive investigation.
(4) You must commit to attending every session. Anyone who misses a session, does not complete the practical exercises, or fails the examination will not be awarded a certificate of course completion.
Tuition is $425.00 per person. After registering, you will receive an email regarding payment. Participants are responsible for their own lodging and per diem arrangements and expenses.
2024 Location: The course will be conducted at the Children's Law Center's Training Center, 1114 Pickens Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are DSS, you register on the DSS LMS only.
Conducting Reenactments in Child Death Investigations
Date: 2024-08-05
Time: 8:45 AM
Description: This 1-day, in-person training focuses on conducting reenactments with caregivers in child death investigations and incorporates hands-on practice in a mock crime scene apartment. This training begins with a review of the fundamentals of reenactments. Additional topics will include identifying the placer and finder; adapting reenactment techniques to a variety of scenarios; and identifying documentation techniques and challenges. Participants will be assigned a scenario involving an unexpected child death. Using a demonstration doll, participants will walk through the reenactment process with an actor, or actors, portraying the child’s caregiver(s). Simulation training aims to mimic the conditions and content of the tasks that an investigator will confront in real life situations and allows individuals to practice their skills and receive feedback without real-world consequences. Participants will receive a demonstration doll to take back with them to their office to use in future investigations.
Conducting Reenactments in Child Death Investigations
Date: 2024-10-29
Time: 8:45 AM
Description: This 1-day, in-person training focuses on conducting reenactments with caregivers in child death investigations and incorporates hands-on practice in a mock crime scene apartment. This training begins with a review of the fundamentals of reenactments. Additional topics will include identifying the placer and finder; adapting reenactment techniques to a variety of scenarios; and identifying documentation techniques and challenges. Participants will be assigned a scenario involving an unexpected child death. Using a demonstration doll, participants will walk through the reenactment process with an actor, or actors, portraying the child’s caregiver(s). Simulation training aims to mimic the conditions and content of the tasks that an investigator will confront in real life situations and allows individuals to practice their skills and receive feedback without real-world consequences. Participants will receive a demonstration doll to take back with them to their office to use in future investigations.
Conducting Reenactments in Child Death Investigations
Date: 2024-12-17
Time: 8:45 AM
Description: This 1-day, in-person training focuses on conducting reenactments with caregivers in child death investigations and incorporates hands-on practice in a mock crime scene apartment. This training begins with a review of the fundamentals of reenactments. Additional topics will include identifying the placer and finder; adapting reenactment techniques to a variety of scenarios; and identifying documentation techniques and challenges. Participants will be assigned a scenario involving an unexpected child death. Using a demonstration doll, participants will walk through the reenactment process with an actor, or actors, portraying the child’s caregiver(s). Simulation training aims to mimic the conditions and content of the tasks that an investigator will confront in real life situations and allows individuals to practice their skills and receive feedback without real-world consequences. Participants will receive a demonstration doll to take back with them to their office to use in future investigations.
Medicolegal Infant Death Investigations
Date: 2024-09-25
Time: 8:45 AM
Description: This three-day course is being offered to coroners, law enforcement, prosecutors, and forensic medical professionals in South Carolina to focus on the responsibilities of investigating infant deaths. The training will include statistics, causes, and risk factors of unexpected infant deaths; the multi-disciplinary response and protocol; child maltreatment red flags and indicators; burns; abusive head trauma; blunt trauma fatalities; SUID, overlay, and homicidal asphyxiation; infant death scene documentation and processing; forensic toxicology; conducting parent interviews; anatomical dolls and scene reenactment; courtroom testimony; and case studies. These topics will be presented by experts from coroners’ offices, SLED, and SC Children’s Advocacy Medical Response System.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Training - Southside Christian School
Date: 2024-08-01
Time: 2:00 PM
Description: This training is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. Participants will learn to identify mandated reporters according to South Carolina law; describe statutory requirements and protections; identify the role and responsibilities of mandated reporters; recognize signs of possible abuse and neglect; and describe when to make a report of child abuse and neglect.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar - Upstate AHEC
Date: 2024-08-16
Time: 10:00 AM
Description: This webinar is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. Participants will learn to identify mandated reporters according to South Carolina law; describe statutory requirements and protections; identify the role and responsibilities of mandated reporters; recognize signs of possible abuse and neglect; and describe when to make a report of child abuse and neglect.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar - Upstate AHEC
Date: 2024-10-08
Time: 10:00 AM
Description: This webinar is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. Participants will learn to identify mandated reporters according to South Carolina law; describe statutory requirements and protections; identify the role and responsibilities of mandated reporters; recognize signs of possible abuse and neglect; and describe when to make a report of child abuse and neglect.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar - Upstate AHEC
Date: 2024-11-06
Time: 10:00 AM
Description: This webinar is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. Participants will learn to identify mandated reporters according to South Carolina law; describe statutory requirements and protections; identify the role and responsibilities of mandated reporters; recognize signs of possible abuse and neglect; and describe when to make a report of child abuse and neglect.