September is Child Welfare Workforce Appreciation Month, a time to honor the incredible dedication of child welfare professionals across Minnesota. Your tireless commitment to protecting and supporting children and families is the cornerstone of our community, and your work truly makes a profound difference.

Recognizing Excellence through Child Welfare Worker Certificates of Appreciation

To celebrate the valuable contributions of child welfare workers, we are proud to present the Child Welfare Certificate of Appreciation. This award recognizes professionals who have been nominated by their peers for their exceptional work. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire and uplift the entire child welfare community.

Please nominate yourself, a colleague, or your whole team by filling out this form! Feel free to fill out the form more than once for multiple nominees! It’s a powerful way to show gratitude and help us shine a light on the unsung heroes in our field. If you have been nominated, congratulations! We will be featuring awardees on our social media platforms so we can celebrate their achievements throughout the month.

Investing in Your Future: Professional Development Resources

Beyond recognition, true appreciation means providing the tools and resources needed for success. The field of child welfare is constantly evolving, and we are committed to supporting your professional growth through our work at the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy.

Trainings we provide for child protection workers include:

  • Active Efforts Training: Family Preservation and the MAAFPCWDA Framework
  • Case Planning
  • Domestic Violence Co-Occurrence: Partnering and Engaging Parents
  • Human Trafficking and Sexually Exploited Youth: Basic Training for Child Welfare
  • Legal Practice Skills
  • Motivational Interviewing (MI) Training
  • New Worker Training
  • Responsive Child Welfare Practice with LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
  • Signs of Safety + Signs of Safety: Three Month Review
  • Structured Decision Making

Other courses we offer include:

Additional Advanced Practice courses will launch this year, including Minnesota Assessment of Parenting for Children and Youth (MAPCY). New Supervisor Training will also launch in 2026.

Stay Connected with the Training Academy

Visit our blog, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow our social media to receive updates about training opportunities and other professional development.

Additional resources are also available through the following partner resources:

  • Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare (CASCW)
    • Online Learning Modules: Explore a library of self-paced, CEU-eligible modules on a variety of topics, from working with parents to supporting youth in care.
    • Publications: Stay informed with their insightful publications, including the in-depth CW360° and the practical Practice Notes and Tips.
    • Podcasts & Events: Listen to interviews with field experts on their podcast channel or attend conferences and webinars to network and learn from leaders in the field.
  • Tribal Training Certification Partnership (TTCP)
    • ICWA/MIFPA Expertise: TTCP is the go-to source for training on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act (MIFPA), which are essential for working with American Indian families.
    • Historical & Cultural Context: Training goes beyond legal requirements to provide a deeper understanding of historical trauma and Indigenous worldview, ensuring more effective and respectful practice.
    • Customized Training: TTCP collaborates with tribal nations to develop curriculum that is culturally relevant and meets their specific needs.
  • Child Welfare Information Gateway
    • A National Information Hub: As a federally-funded service of the U.S. Children's Bureau, the Gateway offers a massive, searchable database of publications, laws, policies, and best practices.

Your dedication is the reason we celebrate this month. By combining recognition with a commitment to professional development, we honor not only the work you do today but also your continued growth for the future. Thank you for all that you do.