NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State University and the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services are partnering to open a Central Illinois regional simulation training lab for the Child Protection Training Academy. 

The four-year, $2.1 million grant funds the workforce development project to prepare frontline DCFS and private sector staff who play critical roles in child protection and welfare intervention services.

ISU School of Social Work Professor Doris Houston serves as Director of the Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies and PI/Co-Director of DCFS CPTA. ISU graduate Colin Winkelmann serves as the Logistics Coordinator for CPTA.

“Relationships matter as well as reputations,” Houston said. “Our school of social work has a center for child welfare and adoption studies, and it’s primarily a research and programming center. Over the years we’ve had a number of partnerships with DCFS, and they’ve been pleased with our work.” Houston said.

Houston stated that the long-time working relationship with DCFS is what solidified ISU as a successful partnership for the third training hub.

“DCFS reached out to one of our former colleagues because they wanted us to do research on outcomes for children who were adopted… to track their progress in their adoptive families, so because of that history, it really made it easier for DCFS to approach us.” Houston said.

Created from real DCFS cases, CPTA immerses trainees in two-day simulations in the multiple scenario facility, which can be set dressed into waiting rooms, apartments, doctor offices and a courtroom.

Winkelmann adds that the facility hopes to follow the Dekalb and Chicago training hubs in facilitating five-day cases, but addresses the facilities’ need for additional staffing.

“Our current two-day trainings called ‘Motivational Interviewing’ are led by the DCFS Office of Learning and Professional Development,” Winkelmann said. “So, when we get our facilitators hired, that’s the green light to go ahead and start to five-day cases. When we have them, we definitely are going to get there at some point.” Winkelmann said.

CPTA utilizes real actors to play roles for the different simulation situations. Winkelmann stated immersion is a key factor in preparing trainees, so CPTA partners with local company, Coalesce Theater on a referral process for actors.

“They really have a focus on a diverse pool of actors and our scenarios might call for certain individuals from diverse backgrounds,” Houston said.

Houston addresses the importance of the simulations, stating that healthcare professionals go through hands-on training to practice their skills, so child welfare professionals should be offered the same opportunity.

“It makes sense that people who are those frontline staff who are going out in crisis situations, who are designated to protect the lives and wellbeing of children… also have that opportunity to practice,” Houston said.

Social work professionals shared with CPTA staff that having more hands-on training after graduation would have been helpful before going into the field right away, despite the shadow work each professional does before having their own cases.

“It’s more soft, subtle skills like how to maneuver social situations and conversations,” Winkelmann said. “I can’t tell you how many people went through the open house who have social work backgrounds and work in social work, specifically said, ‘man, I wish I had had this when I started,’” Winkelmann said.

Houston states that it is the mission of many universities, not just ISU, to help serve the community through knowledge and teaching, and that CPTA is a step towards continuing the university’s mission. 

Although there is no direct way to volunteer with CPTA, Houston urges those interested in working with them as actors to reach out to Coalesce Theater Company.

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