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Joseph F. Rice School of Law

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Training

We offer trainings throughout the year on various topics related to children's law and child well-being. All of our programs are developed by former practitioners with years of experience and expertise in the topic area and are designed to ensure you get the most out of your training experience. Please check back for updates - trainings are added throughout the year.

  

Child Death Investigations: Overview of the Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach

This 2-hour virtual training will provide an overview of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to child death investigations in SC and address the manner and causes of child deaths, the expectations of an MDT response according to the SC Child Abuse Protocol, and applicable criminal statutes. This training will be held from 9 - 11 am:
•  April 8, 2025
•  May 7, 2025
•  June 5, 2025

ChildFirst® South Carolina

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.
This training will be offered at the Children’s Law Center's Training Center  in Columbia April 28-May 2, 2025; and additional dates in 2025 TBA .
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are a DSS employee, register for this course on the DSS LMS only.  

Children with Disabilities Speaker Series

This monthly lunchtime virtual training series, hosted by the SC Children’s Justice Act Task Force, will focus on topics surrounding children with disabilities.  The goal of this speaker series is to improve advocacy skills for professionals working with children with disabilities and provide specific information about various disabilities and special needs issues, available state resources, best practices, and federal guidelines.
These training sessions will be offered on the third Thursday of each month from 12:00-1:15 pm, unless otherwise noted, as follows:

This presentation will provide a brief overview of disabilities commonly encountered when working with children with special needs, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficient/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other developmental and genetic syndromes.  It will highlight the importance of early identification and intervention, discuss key screening and assessment tools, and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration with healthcare providers and specialists.  A special focus will be placed on the intersection of disability and experiences of abuse or neglect, exploring how these factors impact a child’s development, behavior, and overall well-being.
Presenters:
Christopher Moylan, PsyD
Pediatric Psychologist, Prisma Health
Sara E. Lilly, MD
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Prisma Health  

Autistic people interact with the legal system in multiple ways. Data suggests higher rates of maltreatment in individuals with autism and intellectual disability. The data that resulted from a large study examining rates of SCDSS contact with youth diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders will be presented.  In addition to an increased risk of maltreatment, there has also been considerable debate about the role autism may play in the perpetration of criminal activity. Data on rates of criminality in the autism community and the impact of autism on a person’s interactions with the legal system will be presented.
Presenter:
Catherine Bradley, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics, MUSC  

This presentation will discuss a range of programs and services that are available to parents who have children with disabilities. These programs engage the parents to help them provide the needed care for their child. In addition to an overview of programs, this presentation will also discuss challenges parents face navigating systems and accessing services. 
Presenter:
Candace Chamberlain, LISW-CP      Social Work Care Coordinator         Developmental Pediatrics, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital

 

Conducting Reenactments in Child Death Investigations

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 trainining is being held at the Children's Law Center's Training Center in Columbia on June 17, 2025.

GAL and CASA Training: Exploring the DSS Case from the Viewpoint of Incarcerated Defendant Parents

This training, offered exclusively for current guardians and attorneys with the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program and Richland County CASA, will explore the DSS case from the viewpoint of incarcerated defendants. This training will be held vritually on April 18, 2025.

Medical Aspects in Child Abuse Investigations (Virtual Trainings)

The Children’s Law Center is offering focused presentations on various medical aspects of child abuse investigations. Each presentation will cover the unique medical aspects of a different form of maltreatment. These virtual trainings will be offered as follows:
Medical Aspects of Physical Abuse 
• April 2, 2025 (10 - 11:15 am)
• April 24, 2025 (9-10:15 am)
Medical Aspects of Sexual Abuse
• April 10, 2025 (9-10:15 am)
• April 16, 2025 (11 am -12:15 pm)

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar

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. 
This webinar will be conducted through Microsoft TEAMS from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm on:
April 14, 2025
April 23, 2025
May 13, 2025
May 21, 2025
June 9, 2025.

Recognizing and Responding to Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Youth (Virtual Training)

This training will identify myths, describe sexual development of children and adolescents, outline considerations in determining whether the behavior is problematic or inappropriate, and identify co-occurring behavioral problems and family dynamics. The presentation will include a discussion of current treatments or commonly used interventions and risk and recidivism.
This virtual training is being offered on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 (1:00 pm - 2:30 pm)

Training of Trainers: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

This training is for professionals who have attended a basic mandated reporter training with the Children’s Law Center and are interested in conducting mandated reporter training within their organization. This free, online training  is being offered from 9 am - 4 pm on May 15, 2025 (Participants will also be required to conduct a virtual presentation on May 22nd.)

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

This interactive online training is designed to equip mandated reporters with information regarding their role and responsibilities as mandated reporters and to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills in reporting child abuse and neglect.

South Carolina Child Abuse Response Protocol Training

This on-line, self-paced training consists of approximately 3.5 hours of instruction and includes the following topics: Introduction to the SC Child Abuse Response Protocol; The Initial Child Abuse Response for DSS and Law Enforcement First Responders; Referral to a SC Children’s Advocacy Center and Services Provided; The Forensic Medical Exam and the SC Children’s Advocacy Medical Response System; The Investigative Process, Joint Investigation (DSS and law enforcement), and Special Issues; The GAL and Court Appointed Special Advocate; The Court Process and Preparing the Child for the Courtroom; and Resources, Revisions, and Maintenance of the Protocol.

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