(20 ILCS 505/21.2a)

Sec. 21.2a. The Department of Children and Family Services' Child Protection Training Academy.

(a) Findings. The General Assembly finds and declares all of the following:

(1) The Department of Children and Family Services collaborated with the University of Illinois at Springfield to develop the Child Protection Training Academy in 2015.

(2) The Child Protection Training Academy represents an innovative approach to training frontline child protection investigators using experiential learning through simulations. Simulations provide a safe learning environment that bridges the gap between policy and practice, increases worker engagement, and accelerates learning.

(3) Research indicates that traditional classroom training results in less than a 15% transfer of knowledge once in the field.

(b) Subject to appropriation, the training efforts of the Child Protection Training Academy shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) The continued development of simulation training for all child protection investigators, including those newly hired and seasoned investigators.

(2) The continued development and implementation of simulation training for investigation, intact, and permanency supervisors.

(3) The development of simulation training for intact and permanency workers both in the Department and at private agencies.

(4) The development of simulation-based training curricula on recognizing and responding to cases of child abuse or neglect for mandated reporters.

(5) The development of simulation-based training for multidisciplinary teams in partnership with the Department, including, but not limited to, the use of mock medical and mock forensic facilities.

(6) Cultural competency training for investigative staff that provides tools and other supports to ensure that a child welfare provider's response to and engagement with families and children of color are: (i) conducted or provided in a manner that is responsive to the beliefs, interpersonal styles, attitudes, language, and behaviors of the individuals who are receiving services; and (ii) conducted or provided in a manner that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring maximum success of or participation in the child welfare program or services being provided.

(7) Laboratory training facilities that may include, but not be limited to, mock houses, mock courtrooms, mock medical facilities, and mock forensic interview rooms that allow for simulated, interactive, and intensive training.

(8) Minimum standards of competence that staff shall be required to demonstrate prior to receiving Child Welfare Employee Licensure certification from the Department.

(c) By July 1, 2020, the Department of Children and Family Services may adopt procedures for the administration of the Child Protection Training Academy that not only establish statewide competence, assessment, and training standards for persons providing child welfare services, but that also ensure that persons who provide child welfare services have the knowledge, skills, professionalism, and abilities to make decisions that keep children safe and secure. The Department shall continue to arrange for an independent evaluation of the Child Protection Training Academy through June 2021, inclusive of the first 5 years of operation. Nothing in this Section prohibits the Department from administering simulation training with other entities outside of the University of Illinois at Springfield. The Department may contract with any entity to provide all aspects of child welfare training.

(Source: P.A. 101-569, eff. 8-23-19.)