The Center for the Study of Violence Against Children (CSVAC)

CATS Training Services

Overview

Training and education is an important dimension of the CATS Program. As the program was designed, one charge given the CATS Team was to find effective ways of sharing knowledge with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. This charge also reflects the overall land-grant institutional mission of the University of Kentucky. Through a variety of approaches the CATS Program shares and transfers information, techniques, approaches, and technologies to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services leadership, DCBS workers, foster parents and other caregivers, and to other professionals who work with CHFS to advance the best interests of children. Based on mandates set forth by the CHFS, the “state of the art” in contemporary child welfare, as well as the cumulative experience of consulting with DCBS workers, the CATS Program has identified and prioritized specific training targets. In order to enhance CHFS personnel development needs, the CATS Training Services need to incorporate training content and experience in the following domains:

Typical and atypical infant, toddler, and child development
The role child-caregiver attachment plays in the development and maintenance of adaptive family functioning
Family systems models, approaches to problem-solving with families, and developing positive family relationships
Clinical decision-making approaches and strategies
Introduction to effective approaches to assessment strategies, procedures, and instrumentation
Teaming and collaboration approaches with mental health service delivery agents and systems

Mission

The CATS Program Training Services is committed to serving children and families through educating and training Cabinet for Families and Children staff and other persons responsible for the care of abused and neglected children. We endeavor to synthesize and articulate clinical and scientific findings and innovations from CATS assessment and treatment approaches. We also are committed to sharing the clinical and scientific expertise of the CATS multidisciplinary staff, in order to develop meaningful learning opportunities for those mandated with the care of abused and neglected children.

Goals

To develop and test innovative assessment and treatment approaches that can be tested, analyzed, and articulated as the foundation of formal curricula and educational consultations with the Cabinet for Families and Children, and other significant persons.
To respond to stated CFC training and educational needs through the development of training curricula and educational modules.
To provide individual and team consultations with CFC staff which are case specific and generalized to the CFC service population needs, problems, and challenges.
To assist the CFC in identifying unidentified or under-identified areas for training and consultation.
To develop a research infrastructure which enables descriptive, process, and outcome research projects that enhance the CATS Program services and CFC services.
To provide an internship/practicum site for professionals-in-training who are preparing for careers serving the multidimensional needs of abused and neglected children.