Training Calendar
Virtual training
In-person training
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Professional Development
Upcoming Training
Expand your skills and knowledge with our comprehensive training programs designed for resource parents.
Training Registration
How and where to sign up
Child Welfare Academy
Majority of trainings provided here. No county registration needed.
Register NowInformation Sessions
Register directly with the Recruiter/Trainer.
2026 Training Calendar
Child Welfare Academy
Official CWA resource parent training calendar for May through August 2026. Use it to plan certification hours; register at theinstitute.ce21.com.
Download PDF Calendar (2026)Upcoming Schedule
Training Calendar
Child Welfare Academy schedule for May–August 2026 (same as the downloadable calendar). Register at theinstitute.ce21.com.
May 2026
virtual
Top 10 Car Seat Mistakes
Through this webinar, caregivers will be introduced to the most common mistakes related to car seat selection, installation, and harnessing errors. Participants will review misuse corrections and be able to ask individualized questions. Child passenger resources in Maryland will also be shared.
May 28, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (1 hour)
June 2026
virtual
What to Do When Your Child Lies, Steals and Hoards Food
BEHAVIOR (meets Discipline/Behavior requirement per calendar key). For parents to understand how to help make sense of their child’s behaviors, it is essential to understand what is behind the behavior. When children behave in this way, it is an indication that they are not feeling emotionally safe because they are traumatized and in “blocked trust.” This training will help parents make sense of lying, stealing, and hoarding and will provide strategies that will help their children develop healthier behaviors.
June 4, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
virtual
Digital Safety
Participants will learn about online safety and how to protect children from technology-facilitated crimes. Topics of discussion will be sexting, child pornography, sextortion, online predators, social networks, apps, sharing photos, peer-to-peer downloads, cyberbullying, the dark web, and other dangers. Additional resources will also be discussed.
June 12, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (1 hour)
virtual
Attachment and Trauma - Helping Kids Heal through Reparative Relationships
This workshop offers an essential overview of what trauma is, how it affects the brain, and how it impacts attachment and social/emotional functioning. These strengths-based approaches to understanding trauma will serve as the framework for introducing parenting strategies that support and encourage a healing process for foster youth.
June 17, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
virtual
Medication Management - Being Truly Trauma-Informed: Looking Beyond the Diagnosis
MEDICATION (meets Medication Management requirement per calendar key). This training will include a general review of diagnostic evaluations, outcomes and evidence-based care, informed consent/assent, treatment adherence, medication side effect and safety issues, and tips when treatment is not working. Families will learn how to integrate trauma informed care in comprehensive treatment, and the importance and benefit of trauma psychosocial services.
June 26, 2026 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (2 hours)
virtual
Building Safety and Trust: Supporting Youth with Diverse SOGIE
Do you want to learn more about LGBTQ youth? Are you unsure how to support gay and lesbian youth? This training will explore the broad range of gender identity and sexual orientation. This course will review inclusive terms and definitions. In addition to discussion and other interactive activities, local resources for children and families will be identified.
June 30, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
July 2026
virtual
Reunification – The Primary Permanency Planning Goal
This workshop will help caregivers understand the permanency options and the role of parents who are fostering in permanency planning- including reunification. Participants will view permanency from the child's perspective and understand their role in caring for children while at the same time preparing them to return home. Partnering with birth families to achieve reunification will also be explored.
July 8, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
virtual
Conflict Resolution and Strengthening Families
BEHAVIOR (meets Discipline/Behavior requirement per calendar key). This training will review the impact of trauma on family dynamics, communications, and styles of conflict resolution and family functioning. The training will highlight trauma-informed principles that support the development of family resiliency.
July 11, 2026 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (2 hours)
virtual
Adolescence and Trauma
This workshop outlines the developmental tasks of adolescence, including separation and individuation, and explores how each are severely impacted by trauma and the foster care experience. This workshop also offers tools and strategies to parents for understanding behavior and responding in a trauma-informed way that promotes healing and preserves the parent/child relationship.
July 22, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
virtual
Examining Healthy Sleep Foundations Through the Lens of Trauma
In this workshop, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and an adoptive mom will be covering the foundations of healthy sleep in children who have experienced trauma.
July 30, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
August 2026
virtual
Medication Management – Children’s Mental Health Defined
MEDICATION (meets Medication Management requirement per calendar key). Gain essential knowledge about the causes and diagnosis of mental health conditions in children, along with treatment options and medication management. This training covers diagnostic evaluations, informed consent, treatment adherence, common medication side effects, and trauma-informed care.
August 8, 2026 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (2 hours)
virtual
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: How Prenatal Exposure Impacts the Child in Your Care and How You Parent
BEHAVIOR (meets Discipline/Behavior requirement per calendar key). This training offers an opportunity to better understand the impact of substance use on a child’s brain development and why alcohol in particular is most damaging. Participants will discover the common challenges children with FASD experience and why some of their behaviors are confusing and frustrating. The training will show caregivers how to adjust their parenting strategies and expectations to best meet the child’s needs.
August 11, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
virtual
A Constellation of Caregivers- Understanding Kin First
This session will highlight how kin caregivers and non-kin resource parents form a vital network of support and healing. These caregivers are key partners in Maryland’s continuum of care, supporting children through transitions and helping to preserve connections to family, culture, and community. This training will deepen your understanding of how Maryland is reimagining care— family matters, with every caregiver shining as part of the constellation.
August 21, 2026 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (1 hour)
virtual
Improving Communication with Your Teen
Adolescence is a trying time for both teenagers and their families. While all teens struggle with issues related to identity formation, these concerns are often compounded for teens in foster care or who have been adopted. This can make parenting a foster/adopted teen a challenging and complex endeavor, requiring a unique set of skills and strategies. This interactive workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of typical vs. atypical teen development. Resource and adoptive parents will learn skills to support their teens and establish a more peaceful and cooperative relationship.
August 31, 2026 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2 hours)
National Partners
Frequently Asked Questions