Welcome to the Child Welfare Academy Website!  We train and develop professional staff who work with Alaska children and families to assure children are safe and families are strong. We provide a variety of different courses both onsite and in local communities.   Also note the additional training opportunities on our website that offers links to other related training.  If we can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  If you “like” us on Facebook, you will get regular updates regarding workforce development.

News and Updates

New Program for Foster Youth Takes Off!

In collaboration with the Office of Children's Services, the Child Welfare Academy (CWA) is thrilled to announce a program, new to Alaska and unique throughout the country.  This program breaks new ground for youth transitioning from foster care to college and careers.  In an effort to provide integrated services and promote normal life experiences to youth aging out of foster care, CWA will provide postsecondary education support, intensive case management, and assistance to youth as they navigate the college system.  Education and Training Voucher (ETV) funds are administered through the CWA.  Eligible youth can apply to receive the ETV (up to $5000 per academic year) to be used for books, fees, housing and other needs related to academic support.  With this new program, CWA will manage funding for foster youth to attend college or vocational programs that will lead to gainful employment.  We hope to encourage youth to participate in the college experience and other programs as they transition to independence.

Strengthening Families Alaska

Beginning in early 2012, the Child Welfare Academy provided training to OCS staff and Infant Learning Program Staff and other Early Interventionists across the state on each other’s systems and the Strengthening Families Framework. It proved to be very beneficial in drawing attention to understanding that there are 5 Protective Factors that if present in families will greatly reduce the likelihood of child maltreatment within those families. The Protective Factors include: Parental Resilience, Social Connections, Concrete Supports in Times of Need, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development and Children’s Social and Emotional Development. Learn more about Strengthening Families Alaska and the training project.   

Collaboration with Domestic Violence Advocates

The Child Welfare Academy has partnered with the OCS and Domestic Violence Professionals on a project named SAFT – Safe Alaskans Family Toolbox Team.  The purpose of the project is to identify, challenge and change the conditions that prevent victims’ advocates and child protective services from working collaboratively and to enhance safety by strengthening systems, resources and working relationships among groups serving Alaska families.  One of the goals of the project was to co-train OCS staff and victims’ advocates in 4 pilot sites – Fairbanks, Kodiak, Juneau and Dillingham, which happened in early 2012.  The training focused on learning more about each other’s philosophies, practices and mandates for the purpose of increasing safety for children, support for the victim and accountability for the offending parent.  Work within those four communities continues in an effort to accomplish the SAFT Team Vision – By 2025, every child, woman and man in Alaska is safe in their own home and family.