PCWTA
Overview
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Public Child Welfare Training Academy
The Public Child Welfare Training Academy (PCWTA) is one of five child welfare training academies in the state of California. Established in July 1996, it serves the counties of Imperial, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Riverside. PCWTA is sometimes referred to as the “Southern Academy” part of a network of Regional Training Academies in California. Due to growth and expansion of scope, PCWTA is now a division, albeit the largest, of the Academy for Professional Excellence. PCWTA provides training to the 3,000 plus public child welfare staff and child welfare-related community based agencies in the region.
PCWTA continues to take pride in the delivery of comprehensive, competency based, in-service child welfare services training. This training program is implemented through a collaborative partnership of Academy staff, directors of county-based child welfare services in Imperial, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego, training staff in the five counties and three universities with social work degree programs (California State University San Bernardino, Loma Linda University, and San Diego State University).
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PCWTA offers two basic levels of training for Child Welfare Services (CWS) staff. These include:
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Core courses represent the essential knowledge and skills needed to perform the tasks in Child Welfare Services (CWS). The Academy offers Core training in Child Welfare Social Work Practice, Supervision, and Management. Core courses are designed for newly hired or newly promoted staff, but are also useful to those who are transitioning into new job functions and/or those who are seeking to update their knowledge and skills in the ever changing field of child welfare.
Advanced classes build upon those offered as part of Core, but offer a more in-depth review of knowledge, skill, or practice in a particular area. These classes are developed for staff that have the fundamental CWS skills and knowledge, but want to enhance their basic skills and knowledge or practice in a particular area. Other advanced classes may be requested by the counties based on their individual needs and developed for them. These advanced classes may relate to a newly adopted initiative, regulation or practice. |
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Line Worker core curriculum is based on state-wide practice standards and child welfare competencies established by the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC). Some of these classes are standardized throughout the State of California. The trainers deliver, in these fully standardized classes, a curriculum that has been developed by collaboration among representatives from Regional Training Academies and Child Welfare representatives across the state. There are seven of these classes in line worker core. The balance of line worker core is standardized in the objectives and competencies of each class. Individual trainers develop curricula in these classes while staying true to the defined curriculum objectives and competencies.
PCWTA trains over 3,000 training participants per year with a total of more than 350 classes.
PCWTA takes pride in demanding a high level of professionalism and excellence in the training provided. This is supported by a standardized trainer development policy and procedure and by a developed evaluation system that assists in trainer development while supporting our commitment to excellence in all classes delivered. PCWTA staff is committed to best practice in Child Welfare and see training as a major support to this effort in each of our counties. We take pride in the strong backgrounds of PCWTA staff in child welfare and related fields. Staff work closely with trainers to ensure curricula is up to date and reflects the values stated above.