The Training Academy launched the first virtual Social Service Information System (SSIS) Adult Protection Worker training this past April 23. As one of many trainings that are important to professionals working with vulnerable families across the state of Minnesota, the curriculum of this course was reconfigured for an online learning environment to best meet the training needs of adult protection workers. SSIS is the case management tool supporting child welfare practice throughout Minnesota, and is the equivalent of the federal Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information (SACWIS). In collaboration with the Adult and Aging Services Division at DHS, we are also able to offer more opportunities for training this spring.

SSIS Adult Protection training starts with a report received by the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) of a vulnerable adult maltreatment case. MAARC then sends the report over to the Lead Investigative Agency as an Intake where it is screened in and the remainder of the training illustrates policy and data entry through investigation and closing of the case. This training is beneficial for a variety of agency staff and supervisors who work in Adult Protection, as well as SSIS Mentors, and provides guidance on how to navigate through the important screens, documents, and decision tools used during the Intake and assessment/investigation.

During virtual training we explored ways to enhance learner engagement by developing learning tools with user friendly e-learning technology and using breakout sessions to discuss policy and SSIS functionality. With creative thinking, we were able to provide trainees with the opportunity to remotely explore the SSIS training database, with direct coaching and mentoring from our trainers. This training is structured to provide the information necessary for all workers to get a holistic view of how everything fits together in SSIS Adult Protection. 

We were pleased to learn that most of the people in this training were satisfied with the experience. The usual classroom configuration allows us to offer the training to a maximum of sixteen participants, and while we continue to pilot this training we plan to keep numbers at that capacity. Once we have a better understanding of how best to offer this training we hope to increase the number of participants per offering. 

One learning opportunity that came about through this pilot was the length of training time. While the classroom version can be accomplished in four hours, we learned that the online offering will require additional time given the need to engage learners in specialized activities and to provide adequate breaks. Future training of SSIS Adult Protection Worker will be expanded to six hours. The next scheduled trainings are May 21, June 18, and June 25.  

Registration is through TrainLink and closes two days before the class start date. Trainees who have not registered for or taken a course on TrainLink must register for a unique key. To find the SSIS Adult Protection Worker course from TrainLink, select Children’s Services from the list of Learning Centers, click the Class Schedule, and search under the category All SSIS Classes. Select the class date you wish to register for and click Enroll in this class or Join the Waitlist if the class is full. Last-minute registration may not be allowed to participate in the training. Classes may be cancelled if fewer than eight registrants enroll. Trainees will receive additional information one week prior to training.

If you have questions about this or other trainings offered by the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy (MNCWTA), please let us know at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com. Our SSIS Adult Protection trainers and curriculum writers, Eric Kratt and Anna Chaloupka are excited to hear from you.