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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: The Basics - Part I

This is a 3-part, virtual training,  for DSS investigators, law enforcement officers, coroners and/or deputy coroners, that focuses on the basics of child death investigations. This training will be broken up into 3, 2-hour blocks and offered on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule.  

This training will be offered online, through GoTo Trainer,  from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

Part I:  June 7, 2021

Child Death Investigations: The Basics - Part II

This is a 3-part, virtual training,  for DSS investigators, law enforcement officers, coroners and/or deputy coroners, that focuses on the basics of child death investigations. This training will be broken up into 3, 2-hour blocks and offered on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule. 

This training will be offered online, through GoTo Trainer,  from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

Complete Part I before taking Part II.

Part II:  June 9, 2021

Child Death Investigations: The Basics - Part III

This is a 3-part, virtual training,  for DSS investigators, law enforcement officers, coroners and/or deputy coroners, that focuses on the basics of child death investigations. This training will be broken up into 3, 2-hour blocks and offered on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule.  

This training will be offered online, through GoTo Trainer, from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. 

Complete Parts I and II before taking Part III.

Part III: June 11, 2021

ChildFirst® South Carolina

This registration is not for DSS staff.  If you work for DSS, please register under ChildFirst® South Carolina for DSS Employees.

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. 

ChildFirst® South Carolina for DSS Employees

ChildFirst® South Carolina (FOR DSS EMPLOYEES) 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. 

Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Investigations: The Basics - Part I (Virtual Training)

This two-part virtual training for DSS investigators and law enforcement officers focuses on the basics of child physical abuse and neglect investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination.

Part I:  June 8, 2021

 

Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Investigations: The Basics - Part I I (Virtual Training)

This two-part virtual training for DSS investigators and law enforcement officers focuses on the basics of child physical abuse and neglect investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination.

It is recommended that you complete Part I before  taking Part II.

Part II: June 10, 2021

Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: The Basics - Part I (Virtual Training)

This two-part virtual training for DSS investigators and law enforcement officers focuses on the basics of child sexual abuse investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination. Part I of the training will address the roles and function of the multidisciplinary team (MDT); dynamics of child sexual abuse; and legal issues, including statutory definitions, related criminal statutes, and admissibility of child hearsay in child sexual abuse cases.

You are not required to attend both parts of the training in the same week, but you must complete Part I before attending Part I.

Part I : June 17, 2021

Child Sexual Abuse Investigations: The Basics - Part II (Virtual Training)

This two-part virtual training for DSS investigators and law enforcement officers focuses on the basics of child sexual abuse investigations with an emphasis on multidisciplinary coordination.  Part II will focus on interviewing techniques and methods and strategies for corroborating a child’s disclosure of abuse.   

You are not required to attend both parts of the training in the same week, but you must complete Part I before attending Part II.

Part II:  June 18, 2021

Communication Challenges with Special Populations of Children (Recorded Webinar)

This recorded webinar is a multidisciplinary training designed for professionals who may have contact with potentially abused or neglected children with communication barriers. This includes children with autism, speech impairments, intellectual disabilities, visual impairments or blindness, and trauma- induced communication barriers; and children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The training will provide participants with a basic overview of these disabilities, communication challenges that may be encountered, and strategies to effectively communicate with these children. Part 1 will address children with autism, speech impairments, and intellectual disabilities. Part 2 will address children with a visual impairment or blindness, children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and children with trauma-induced communication barriers

Medical Aspects in Child Abuse Investigations(Virtual Trainings)

This training is for DSS staff and attorneys. This series of presentations  will cover the unique medical aspects of different forms of maltreatment, including
physical abuse, sexual abuse, medical neglect, failure to thrive and medical child abuse. 

5/21/21 - Medical Aspects of Physical Abuse  (9 – 10:15 am)
6/3/21 - Medical Aspects of Sexual Abuse ( 3 – 4:15 pm)
6/10/21 - Recognizing and Responding to Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Youth (3-4:15)
6/18/21 - Recognizing Medical Neglect & Failure to Thrive (9 – 10:15 am)
6/24/21 - Recognizing Medical Child Abuse (3 – 4:00 pm)

Pre-Merits Hearing Conference Training

 This training will provide DSS, OID, and GAL attorneys and DSS and GAL staff with on overview of the background and use of the Pre-Merits Hearing Conference (PMHC) protocol and procedures being added into the practice of DSS foster care cases in the South Carolina family court system. The goal of the PMHC is to expedite the completion of merits hearings and the possible return of children in foster care to their families. Attendees will be able to: 1) recognize that children in foster care have poorer outcomes than children who remain in their home or in the home of a kinship care provider, 2) differentiate between safety concerns that prevent a child from remaining in their home versus risk concerns for a child, 3) understand the purpose of the Pre-Merits Conference, and 4) demonstrate the ability to conduct a PMHC.

Dates and Designated Counties:

February 12, 2021: Upstate Counties 
March 12, 2021: Midlands Counties 
April 16, 2021: Pee Dee Counties 
May 14, 2021: Low Country Counties

Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar

This is a live webinar, designed for mandated reporters and professionals who have frequent contact with children. This webinar is being offered to anyone wishing to attend on the  following dates:

May 18, 2021 (11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
May 26, 2021 (11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
June 10, 2021 (11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
June 14, 2021 (5:00 pm - 6:00 pm)
June 17, 2021 (11:00 am - 12:00 pm)
June 21, 2021 (5:00 pm - 6:00 pm)

This training  is also being offered to organizations upon request.                                                                                                      

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

This training, for DSS staff and DSS attorneys, will address common myths, sexual development of children and 
adolescents, considerations in determining whether the behavior is problematic or inappropriate. co-occurring behavioral problems, and family dynamics. The training will also include a discussion of current treatments or commonly used interventions, risk, and recidivism.

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.

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