CINA Laws eLearning Course
Child in Need of Aid Laws, Roles & Responsibilities, and Practices & Procedures.
The purpose of this eLearning course is to provide an understanding of the laws governing Child in Need of Aid cases, the roles and responsibilities of the legal participants, and court and agency practices and procedures. The curriculum was developed by an interdisciplinary team representing each discipline involved in CINA cases. It is designed for judges, tribal representatives, attorneys, child protection workers, and child advocates. Members of the public with an interest in the child welfare system are also welcome to take the course.
Four Training Modules
The course consists of four separate Modules:
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Module 1: How A Case Comes into Court; OCS Practice Model
Module 1 addresses the steps that lead up to a Child in Need of Aid case coming into the court system. You will learn about the Office of Children’s Services’ practice model for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect and deciding whether and how to intervene in a family’s life. You will also learn about the laws that govern OCS’s investigations and interventions.
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Module 2: Roles & Responsibilities of CINA Participants
In Module 2, you will learn about the roles, ethical duties, and challenges faced by the legal participants in CINA cases. You will see videos of participants from around the state: a judge; an OCS worker; an ICWA worker; a guardian ad litem; a CASA Volunteer; attorneys for the state, parents, youth, and Tribes; a mediator; and a youth and a parent who have gone through the system.
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Module 3: Child in Need of Aid State and Federal Laws (6 Sessions)
Module 3 delves into the substantive laws applicable to CINA cases. You will learn about the situations that can cause a child to be a Child in Need of Aid; the differences between state law and the Indian Child Welfare Act with regard to removal findings, placement preferences, and reasonable and active efforts; and basic information about rights of parties in CINA cases, the conduct of court hearings, and the Rules of Evidence.
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Module 4: CINA Court and Administrative Proceedings (4 Sessions)
In Module 4, you will go through the chronology of a Child in Need of Aid case, from the filing of a CINA petition through dismissal. You will learn about the five permanency options for children and the steps necessary to achieve each one.
Resources
The list of Training Resources includes links to legal research materials, OCS practice model guides, training opportunities, and more.
Feedback
After you have finished your work on each module of the course, please take a few moments to give us feedback on your learning experience. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CINA101E
CLE Credits
This eLearning course has been approved by the Alaska Bar Association for CLE credits as follows:
Session | Title | Credits | Category |
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Module 1 | How a Case Comes into Court; OCS Practice Model | 2.25 | General |
Module 2 | Roles & Responsibilities of CINA Participants | 3.75 | Ethics |
Module 3 | CINA State and Federal Laws | 10.0 | General |
Module 4 | CINA Court and Administrative Proceedings | 8.0 | General |
You may use this Certificate of Attendance for your records.