Current through Register Vol. 18, September 20, 2024
(1) All Child and Family Services Division
employees who are employed in child-facing employment positions, including
child protection specialist supervisors and child protection specialists, must
maintain certification.
(2) All
division employees in child-facing positions hired after October 1, 2021 must
successfully complete the training requirements for initial certification in
their first year of employment.
(3)
Following the completion of the mandatory training requirements, the division
employee in a child-facing position must obtain a passing score on a competency
examination approved by the division administration. An overall score of 80% is
required for passage of the competency examination.
(a) Any division employee in a child-facing
position who does not obtain a passing score as outlined above, must meet with
their direct supervisor and regional training staff to review all relevant
materials prior to attempting the competency examination again.
(b) Any division employee in a child-facing
position who does not obtain a passing score on the competency examination
following a second attempt must meet with the regional administrator and the
division training development supervisor to review all relevant materials prior
to attempting the competency examination again.
(c) Following the third unsuccessful attempt
to obtain a passing score on the competency examination, the progressive
discipline process through the department's human resources office will be
utilized.
(d) If an employee hired
after October 1, 2021 resigns and returns to the division within one year, and
prior to resignation had completed the required training, the employee may
choose to take the competency examination without repeating the training
program.
(e) Current employees who
were hired prior to October 1, 2021 who have completed training within the
first year of hire are not required to repeat the training.
(i) Current employees must complete and pass
the competency examination by October 1, 2023.
(ii) If the employee does not pass the
competency examination within two attempts, the employee must repeat the
training program prior to the third attempt.
(4) To be a child protection specialist
supervisor, an employee must obtain the child protection specialist
certification.
(5) Each division
employee in a child-facing position who successfully completes the initial
certification process must complete twenty hours of training on an annual
basis.
(a) Annual training topics must
include the topics required by statute.
(b) Other annual training topics approved by
the division include, but are not limited to:
(i) parent coaching and supportive
visitation;
(ii) childhood
trauma;
(iii)
multidisciplinary/child protection team;
(iv) substance use disorders;
(v) engagement and communication with
children;
(vi) engagement and
communication with adults;
(vii)
forensic interview training;
(viii)
identification and support of commercial sexual exploitation; and
(ix) any other trainings approved by division
administration.
(c)
Proof of successful completion of the required training hours must be provided
to the division's training unit.
(6) For purposes of this rule, "division"
means the Child and Family Services Division.
AUTH:
41-3-131,
MCA; IMP: 41-3-127, 41-3-129, 41-3-130,
MCA
