Child welfare training coordinator -- Mandatory education and training of child welfare caseworkers -- Development of curriculum.
Utah Code § 80-2-402
in effect80-2-402. Child welfare training coordinator -- Mandatory education and training of child welfare caseworkers -- Development of curriculum.
(1) There is created within the division a full-time position of a child welfare training coordinator.
(2) The child welfare training coordinator is not responsible for direct casework services or the supervision of casework services, but is required to:
(a) develop child welfare curriculum that:
(i) is current and effective, consistent with the division's mission and purpose for child welfare; and
(ii) utilizes curriculum and resources from a variety of sources including those from:
(A) the public sector;
(B) the private sector; and
(C) inside and outside of the state;
(b) recruit, select, and supervise child welfare trainers;
(c) develop a statewide training program, including a budget and identification of sources of funding to support that training;
(d) evaluate the efficacy of training in improving job performance;
(e) assist child protective services and foster care workers in developing and fulfilling their individual training plans;
(f) monitor staff compliance with division training requirements and individual training plans; and
(g) expand the collaboration between the division and schools of social work within institutions of higher education in developing child welfare services curriculum, and in providing and evaluating training.
(3) The director shall, with the assistance of the child welfare training coordinator, establish and ensure child welfare caseworker competency regarding a core curriculum for child welfare services that:
(a) is driven by child safety and family well-being;
(b) emphasizes child and family voice;
(c) is based on a policy, procedure, program, or practice that demonstrates an ability to minimize retraumatization associated with the criminal and juvenile justice system; and
(d) is consistent with national child welfare practice standards.
(4) A child welfare caseworker shall complete training in:
(a) the legal duties of a child welfare caseworker;
(b) the responsibility of a child welfare caseworker to protect the safety and legal rights of children, parents, and families at all stages of a case, including:
(i) initial contact;
(ii) safety and risk assessment, as described in Section 80-2-403; and
(iii) intervention;
(c) recognizing situations involving:
(i) substance abuse;
(ii) domestic violence;
(iii) abuse; and
(iv) neglect; and
(d) the relationship of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States to the child welfare caseworker's job, including:
(i) search and seizure of evidence;
(ii) the warrant requirement;
(iii) exceptions to the warrant requirement; and
(iv) removing a child from the custody of the child's parent or guardian.
(5) The division shall train the division's child welfare caseworkers to:
(a) apply the risk assessment tools and rules described in Subsection 80-1-102(84); and
(b) develop child and family plans that comply with:
(i) federal mandates; and
(ii) the specific needs of the child and the child's family.
(6) The division shall use the training of child welfare caseworkers to emphasize:
(a) the importance of maintaining the parent-child relationship;
(b) the preference for providing in-home services over taking a child into protective custody, both for the emotional well-being of the child and the efficient allocation of resources; and
(c) the importance and priority of:
(i) kinship placement in the event a child must be taken into protective custody; and
(ii) guardianship placement, in the event the parent-child relationship is legally terminated and no appropriate adoptive placement is available.
(7) If a child welfare caseworker is hired, before assuming independent casework responsibilities, the division shall ensure that the child welfare caseworker has:
(a) completed the training described in Subsections (4), (5), and (6); and
(b) participated in sufficient skills development for a child welfare caseworker.
Amended by Chapter 48, 2025 General Session
Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title80/Chapter2/80-2-S402.html?v=C80-2-S402_2025050720250507Fetched: 10/26/2026