Authors: Amanda Moses, MSW/MPH Student, Rukmini M Avadhanam, PhD Candidate Learning Technologies, Alyssa Meuwissen, PhD Developmental Psychology

Published: June 2022

Description: In this three-part module, participants will explore a variety of concepts in order to strengthen skills in work with parents, families, and children as child welfare professionals. Through brief lectures, exercises, and reflection, participants will be able to apply strategies in infant mental health principles, early childhood and development principles, and cultural humility principles in order to be as effective as possible in practice. It is recommended that the modules go in order from: Early Childhood and Development, Building Cultural Humility in Partnership With Parents & Families, and Using Infant Mental Health Principles.

    Watch the Module:

    Working with Parents: Early Childhood and Development focuses on early childhood and development, with information on brain development, self and relationships, and socio-emotional development.

  • Part 1: Brain Architecture and Development Module (14 min)
    The hallmarks of brain development and what caregivers can do to promote healthy  brain development and prevent/reduce chronic stress.
  • Part 2: Self and Relationships Module (9 min)
    The importance of secure attachment for children and what child welfare workers can do to promote this for children and families.
  • Part 3: Socio-Emotional Learning Module (13 min)
    Theoretical models for socio-emotional development, the ways in which this is influenced by parents, and the implications for infant mental health.

    • Working with Parents: Building Cultural Humility in Partnership With Parents & Families focuses on personal identity, implicit bias, and building cultural humility and relationship with families and children.

  • Part 1: Cultural humility (7 min)
    Implicit bias and importance of cultural humility in child welfare work.
  • Part 2: Cultural humility (17 min)
    How to build helping relationships within the confines of existing power dynamics between the family and the worker and provides resources for practice.

    • Working with Parents: Using Infant Mental Health Principles focuses on infant mental health principles, specifically relating to stress biology, trauma, and partnering with parents and caregivers.

  • Part 1: Trauma  (14 min)
    Types of trauma, their impact on families, and how child welfare workers can best practice trauma-informed care to create the best outcomes for families.
  • Part 2: Stress Biology & Toxic Stress (10 min)
    Types of stress, the impact of toxic stress, and how child welfare workers can join caregivers in working through stressful situations and promote healing and resilience.
  • Part 3: Working With Parents (23 min)
    How child welfare workers can deliver comprehensive services to families on a variety of topics including: mental health, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, adoptive/foster families, adolescents, co-parents, incarcerated parents, and ecological and cultural differences.

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