About the PACC
The Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate (PACC) was developed in response to community demand to meet the need for increasing the availability and competency of a professional workforce able to work across systems to serve the unique and complex clinical and practice needs for adopted individuals and their families.
The goal of the PACC is to increase the number of qualified permanency and adoption mental health and child welfare professionals in the state who are able to work in collaborative and multicultural contexts.
The PACC includes the nationally-recognized Training in Adoption Competency (TAC) developed by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE), as well as two additional modules on child welfare policy and process and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) developed by CASCW.
» CASCW nominated by Sen. Amy Klobuchar as Angel in Adoption
Registration is now closed. Please check back for Spring 2016 Registration, opening soon.
About the PACC
The PACC program consists of:
- thirteen in-class sessions,
- two self-guided (accessing online materials) sessions,
- six months (18 hours) of post-training clinical case consultation and supervision, and
- Up to 114.5 hours of social work continuing education credits.
Upon completion of all modules and the clinical case consultation series, successful graduates will receive a Permanency and Adoption Competency professional certificate.
- Understands the nature of adoption as a form of family formation and the different types of adoption
- Understands the clinical issues that are associated with separation and loss and attachment
- Understands the common developmental challenges in the experience of adoption
- Understands the characteristics and skills that make adoptive families successful
- Is culturally competent with respect to the racial and cultural heritage of children and families
- Is skilled in using a range of interventions
- Engages birth, kinship, and adoptive families toward the mutual goal of helping individuals to heal
- Assists adoptive families to strengthen or develop and practice parenting skills that support healthy family relationships
- Is skilled in advocating with other service systems on behalf of birth and adoptive families.
Competencies developed by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.).
- Child Welfare Policy and Process
- Permanency and Adoption Through the Lens of the Relational Worldview
- Adoption History, Law and Process
- Introduction to Adoption Competent Mental Health Practice
- Clinical and Ethical Issues in Planning, Preparing for and Supporting Adoption
- Clinical Issues in Providing Therapeutic Services: Grief, Loss, Separation and Identity
- Trauma and Brain Neurobiology
- Clinical Issues in Providing Therapeutic Services: Attachment
- Adopted Adolescents and Identity Formation
- Adoptive and Birth Families
- Adoptive Family Formation
- Working with Adoptive Parents on Managing Children’s Behaviors
- Openness in Adoption
- Race and Ethnicity
- Integrating Knowledge, Values and Skills
- Hold a master’s level degree in social work, counseling, psychology (or related degree) for all mental health applicants OR a baccalaureate degree in social work, counseling, psychology (or related degree) and a minimum of 5 years post-baccalaureate practice experience if applying as a child welfare or adoption professional*
- Attend each in-person session
- Complete each self-guided, on-line session
- Complete all pre-session homework assignments
- Complete final project
- Attend each case consultation session
*Graduates of the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate who have a baccalaureate degree and have met the other conditions above will receive a Certificate of Attendance and be able to petition for the Permanency and Adoption Competency professional certificate upon successful completion of a master’s degree in the future.
Additionally, C.A.S.E. is currently developing a national credential for professionals providing adoption and permanency services. Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate graduates with a master’s level degree will be eligible for the national credential upon its development. Graduates of the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate who have a baccalaureate degree will be able to petition for the national credential of completion upon successful completion of a master’s degree in the future.
Refund Information
- Up to 30 days prior to start date: Full tuition refund, less registration fee
- 29 to 14 days prior to start date: 50% tuition refund, less registration fee
- Less than 14 days prior to start date: No refund
- After certificate program has begun: No Refund
- Applicant’s highest level of education
- Current licensure*
- Number of years of experience
- Current employment
- Past experiences in clinical or child welfare practice
- Statement of interest (in essay form)
- Description of applicant’s current employment and how it relates to permanency and adoption (in essay form)
- Description of past applicable practice experience working with members of the permanency and adoption populations if not currently in a practice setting with permanency/adoption clientele (in essay form)
- Personal connection to permanency and adoption (if any; in essay form)
*Please note: If you are a public child welfare employee, you may not need licensure. Check with your agency.
Funding made available through Minnesota Department of Human Services Child Safety and Permanency Division through grant GRK%30794.