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Joseph F. Rice School of Law

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Training

We offer trainings throughout the year on various topics related to children's law and child well-being. All of our programs are developed by former practitioners with years of experience and expertise in the topic area and are designed to ensure you get the most out of your training experience. Please check back for updates - trainings are added throughout the year.

  

Child Death Investigations: Overview of the Multi-Disciplinary Team Approach

This 2-hour virtual training will provide an overview of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to child death investigations in SC and address the manner and causes of child deaths, the expectations of an MDT response according to the SC Child Abuse Protocol, and applicable criminal statutes. This training will be held from 9 - 11 am on June 5, 2025.

ChildFirst® South Carolina

ChildFirst® South Carolina is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct an investigative interview - also known as a forensic interview - of a suspected child abuse victim. This interactive course combines lectures and demonstrations supplemented with homework assignments and a written examination at the end of the course.
This training will be offered at the Children’s Law Center's Training Center  in Columbia July 14-18, 2025; and additional dates in 2025 TBA .
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are a DSS employee, register for this course on the DSS LMS only.  

Children with Disabilities Speaker Series

This monthly lunchtime virtual training series, hosted by the SC Children’s Justice Act Task Force, will focus on topics surrounding children with disabilities.  The goal of this speaker series is to improve advocacy skills for professionals working with children with disabilities and provide specific information about various disabilities and special needs issues, available state resources, best practices, and federal guidelines.
These training sessions will be offered on the third Thursday of each month from 12:00-1:15 pm, unless otherwise noted, as follows:

This presentation will discuss a range of programs and services that are available to parents who have children with disabilities. These programs engage the parents to help them provide the needed care for their child. In addition to an overview of programs, this presentation will also discuss challenges parents face navigating systems and accessing services. 
Presenter:
Candace Chamberlain, LISW-CP      Social Work Care Coordinator         Developmental Pediatrics, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital

This presentation will begin with a review of the responsibilities of the public school system and the rights of children and their caregivers. Ideas for how child welfare professionals can support the educational relationship will be shared. Special attention will be given to considerations and strategies on how to navigate schooling transitions including entering foster care, losing a caregiver, enrolling in a new school,  and starting the school year and school breaks.
Presenter: 
Marjorie Cloninger, Ph.D., NCSP
Psychologist, Pediatrics 
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, USC School of Medicine 

 

Conducting Reenactments in Child Death Investigations

This 1-day, in-person training focuses on conducting reenactments with caregivers in child death investigations and incorporates hands-on practice in a mock crime scene apartment. This trainining is being held at the Children's Law Center's Training Center in Columbia on June 17, 2025.

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar

This webinar is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. 
This webinar will be conducted through Microsoft TEAMS from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm on
June 9th, July 7th and 16th, August 13th and 27th, and September 5th and 17th.

Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

This interactive online training is designed to equip mandated reporters with information regarding their role and responsibilities as mandated reporters and to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills in reporting child abuse and neglect.

South Carolina Child Abuse Response Protocol Training

This on-line, self-paced training consists of approximately 3.5 hours of instruction and includes the following topics: Introduction to the SC Child Abuse Response Protocol; The Initial Child Abuse Response for DSS and Law Enforcement First Responders; Referral to a SC Children’s Advocacy Center and Services Provided; The Forensic Medical Exam and the SC Children’s Advocacy Medical Response System; The Investigative Process, Joint Investigation (DSS and law enforcement), and Special Issues; The GAL and Court Appointed Special Advocate; The Court Process and Preparing the Child for the Courtroom; and Resources, Revisions, and Maintenance of the Protocol.


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