Missouri’s Child Welfare Learning Institute: Investigations Academy
The goal of this project is to design and implement a comprehensive onboarding and professional development program that equips new investigators with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to perform accurate safety and risk assessments and recommend appropriate next steps and interventions. This will be achieved through:
- Enhanced classroom training developed in collaboration with subject matter experts and stakeholders.
- Clearly defined on-the-job learning experiences that reinforce classroom concepts.
- Dedicated accountability partners to support real-world application and foster a strong learning culture.
Scope
- Development and refinement of classroom training curriculum for investigators.
- Creation of structured on-the-job learning plans aligned with classroom content.
- Identification and training of accountability partners to provide ongoing support.
- Collaboration with subject matter experts and stakeholders to ensure content accuracy and relevance.
In Progress Tasks
January
- Complete Fentanyl policy pilot trainings and evaluations
- Identify Accountability Partners for each region and begin defining their roles and responsibilities
- Begin on-the-job learning project planning
Next Steps
February
- Complete Fentanyl policy training, train-the-trainer, and begin implementation
- Begin curriculum updates
March
- Begin creating an on-the-job learning framework
- Continue curriculum updates
April
- Begin creating the Accountability Partner program
- Continue with curriculum updates and creating the on-the-job learning framework
May
- Continue with curriculum updates, on-the-job learning framework, and Accountability program
- Begin developing the Accountability Partner train-the-trainer
Completed Tasks
- 2025 - Quarter 4
October
- Initial fentanyl policy training drafted
- Completed professional development executive team workdays and established investigations CWLI priorities
- Redefined expectations for CWLI attendance
- Completed project management training
- Created roadmap for developing training
November
- Created the initial project charter for on-the-job learning and accountability partner development
- Edited fentanyl policy training and submitted it for review with the state and federal subject matter expert partners
- Worked with St Louis Regional leadership and teams to provide specialized training support to accommodate new workers hired through their multi-day hiring events
December
- Fentanyl policy training Storyboard presented and approved by the Executive team
- 2025 - Quarter 3
July
- Hired additional trainers
- Met with Key Stakeholders to collaborate on Safety Assessment and partnership
- Began establishing regional Training Centers for return to in-person training
- Partnered with the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence to develop and deliver online and in-person training on Domestic Violence
August
- Hired Training Supervisor
- Met with the National Center on Substance Use and Child Welfare for technical assistance on fentanyl training and established an ongoing support relationship
- Condensed and refined the Investigations and Case Management training programs to 7 Weeks
- Instituted Consistent Training Unit Office Hours
September
- First in-person trainings held in Platte and St. Charles Counties, 8 in-person domestic violence trainings held
- CWLI presentation given at Leadership Symposium and during weekly office hours
- Held first quarterly Professional Development team workdays
- 2025 - Quarter 2
May
- Established Training Unit, hired Assistant Deputy and Training Unit Manager
- Evaluated and assessed the current curriculum and team
- Met with Accenture regarding virtual reality (VR) technology
- Demonstration of VR simulation for critical decision-making training
June
- Hired two Administrative Office Assistants
- Created a tracking mechanism for training completions
- Backlog clean-up of training hours for CD team members