CCFL is partnering with the Lincoln CAC and now offers select training to newly hired DHHS–DCFS Child and Family Services (CFS) Specialists utilizing the CAC’s recently acquired simulation space––a house located next to the CAC training facility that is called the SIM House. This new resource provides CFS Specialists in training a place to safely practice newly acquired skills prior to performing them on the job. It allows trainees the opportunity to make mistakes and learn from them. It also allows trainers an opportunity to observe and evaluate the trainees’ performance and to refine or redirect as needed.
When offering Child and Family Services Specialist New Worker Training, CCFL has long offered video-taped mock trial experiences for testifying in court and role-playing to practice interviewing family members. CCFL began to explore the possibility of adding a simulated learning space to utilize in various case management trainings in March of 2015. The idea was to use the space to improve new worker training by providing a well-designed and safe simulation space where trainees could practice various job tasks (e.g., position themselves for personal safety, practice entering a home environment, introduce themselves as CFS Specialists to family members, interview family members, assess the environment, assess for child/family safety, and hold family and transition team meetings). The space would also be used to demonstrate best practice through role-play by trainers who are experienced in the work of case management.
CCFL’s initial response was to build a simulation room in an available space at CCFL. This proved useful but the comment was always that it would be really impactful if trainees could actually practice in a real house. About this same time, Lynn Ayers from the Lincoln Child Advocacy Center (CAC) reached out to say that a house was available on the property adjacent to the CAC and she was wondering about a collaborative use of the house for simulated training experiences. CCFL was immediately on board and partnered with the CAC to rent their training room and the SIM House next door on a regular basis to train new workers. CCFL’s use of the CAC’s SIM House began in September of 2016.
CCFL is now considering ways to improve the learning experience by adding video cameras to capture both the trainers’ and the trainees’ performances for evaluation and archiving purposes and to create the possibility of being able to live feed the SIM House performances to the CAC training room and/or other training locations.
Proposed future use of the SIM House would be to record images of the interior and from them build a virtual environment that would allow the learner to interact with the space as if it were a real-world experience. This would also allow CCFL to offer training to all areas of Nebraska without requiring learners to travel long distances.
Currently CCFL is using the SIM House in Child and Family Services New Worker Training in two units, Introduction to Child Protection and Safety and Case Management 1. During the introduction unit, trainees are provided a brief scenario of an intake regarding an allegation of abuse and neglect. Trainees must then approach the front door, knock on the door, introduce themselves to the parent, and explain the reason they are there and what they need to discuss with the parent. In the Case Management 1 unit, trainees are given a mock training case. They then meet with the mother from the training case (played by a trainer) and discuss safety concerns and the need for the implementation of a safety plan.
Thus far, feedback from the trainees on adding this new simulated experience has been very positive. They appreciate the opportunity to practice skills in an actual house, simulating what it will really be like when they meet with families. CCFL has intentions of utilizing the SIM House for additional units in 2017. CCFL is so pleased to have this opportunity to partner with the CAC through this endeavor.