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.
This training seeks to provide South Carolina law enforcement with vital information that will inform their decision-making process related to the juvenile justice system during their contact with youth. This training will be offered on July 18, 2025 in Charleston.
This 2-hour virtual training will provide an overview of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach to child death investigations in South Carolina. This training will 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 for child death investigations. This training will be offered virtually on August 20, 2025 (9:00-11:00am).
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 training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center in Columbia
on August 26 and December 16, 2025.
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 and October 6-10, 2025.
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are a DSS employee, register for this
course on the DSS LMS only.
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 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
In this training, offered exclusively for current guardians and attorneys with the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program and Richland County CASA, we’ll hear from Mary-Alice who will share her lived experience with the child welfare system. This training will be offered virtually from 9-11 am on July 18, 2025.
This training will focus on enhancing collaboration between DSS and law enforcement
to prevent EPC when children can safely remain in their homes and/or their communities.
Data regarding EPCs across the state, the potential negative impacts of foster care
on youth, the importance of a trauma-responsive system, the legal restrictions and
requirements of taking a child into EPC, and the process outlined in the DSS and Law
Enforcement Protocol for Richland County will be addressed.
This training will take place July 28 (1-4:30 pm), August 15 (8:30 am - 12 pm), and
August 27 (1-4:30 pm). Lunch will be provided.
Registration coming soon!
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
July 16th, August 13th and 27th, and September 5th and 17th.
This live webinar for mandated reporters and professionals who have frequent contact with children is being offered to organizations upon request.
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.
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.