Since 1997, the Bay Area Academy has been responsible for the training and staff development of public child welfare staff in twelve counties in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Training classes and seminars, and other professional development resources, are provided primarily to county child welfare and probation staff serving children and families in the foster care program, but may also include public health nurses, support staff, foster care providers, and community agencies who work with clients served by the public child welfare system. Training focuses on core skills and knowledge for new child welfare workers, advanced skills and knowledge for experienced child welfare workers, core skills and knowledge for new and experienced supervisors, interdisciplinary training for social workers, nurses, mental health workers and other disciplines, and core training for new managers. Participants who complete training are eligible for professional Continuing Education Units and receive certificate of completion for all core training series. The Academy utilizes various multi-media training vehicles and is developing distance learning courses that can be offered to staff at their work site.

For further information on the Regional Child Welfare Training Program, please contact Judith Lefler