Presenters: 

* Amy Thome, GAL 14th Circuit Managing Attorney 

* Victoria Maines, MDT Coordinator (former DCF Child Protective Investigations Supervisor)


This course will focus on common core safety concepts to determine if a child is safe within the Florida Child Welfare Practice model, namely: 

  1. Present Danger 
  2. Impending Danger


Key advocacy points include: 

  • Importance of communicating with Child Protective Investigations at the outset and critical junctures throughout the case. 
  • Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology is Florida's child welfare practice model. 
  • Encourage staff and volunteers to generate an abuse report by phone so that information related to the six domains of family functioning can be included. 
  • When assessing child safety, caregiver protective capacities are important considerations that may mitigate an identified danger threat. 




Additional notes for GAL Volunteers and/or Staff: 

  • OPTIMA TRAINING TOPIC:  (Volunteers & GAL Staff):  "Child Welfare System / DCF / CBC"
  • CAM CERTIFICATION DOMAIN: Legal, Ethical and Professional Responsibilities
  • CLE Certificate number and information provided at completion of course.    



Original Webinar Date:  May 26, 2022



Course curriculum

  • 1

    Protective Investigations (Legal Training, May 2022)

    • Protective Investigations

    • Thoughts & Feedback