DUCS Training Materials

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Training Initiative Overview

This training initiative is a collaboration between ORR/DUCS, the Children’s Bureau, the National Resource Center for Child Protective Services, and Bridging Refugee Youth and Children’s Services (BRYCS) with the overall goal of helping to ensure a safe and caring environment for children and youth while they are in federal custody. ORR/DUCS and BRYCS are deeply indebted to all our partners for making this training initiative possible.

This Web page provides a central location for BRYCS technical assistance materials geared specifically to ORR/DUCS-funded care provider programs. These materials provide information about culturally competent child maltreatment prevention within the context of ORR/DUCS services, and include a full curriculum, instructions for implementing child maltreatment trainings using the BRYCS training model, and additional resources for those serving unaccompanied children.

The BRYCS training model promotes the use of a training team that includes a representative from the local Child Protective Services (CPS) agency.  This CPS representative can lend expertise on child abuse and neglect throughout the training, particularly during discussion of case examples, as well as clarify local child maltreatment definitions and reporting policies.  BRYCS is available to assist ORR/DUCS-funded care provider programs, as needed, in working together with their local CPS.

Training Curriculum

The curriculum, Preventing Child Maltreatment in ORR-Funded Care Provider Programs, was created by a leading expert in the field of child abuse and culture, Dr. Lisa Fontes, together with BRYCS’ Director, Lyn Morland. This curriculum provides clear instruction and opportunities for discussion regarding professional ethics and boundaries, identifying and responding to incidences of abuse and neglect, reporting maltreatment, and prevention strategies for ORR/DUCS-funded programs.

The four main components of the training curriculum are: the Trainer's Manual, the Participant's Manual  with Appendixes, and the PowerPoint Presentation.

The curriculum is also available in Spanish: Participant’s Manual (Spanish), Appendixes (Spanish), PowerPoint Presentation (Spanish).

Instructions


Instructional materials that accompany the training curriculum include the Trainer's Resource Appendix, Logistical Instructions, and Set-Up Instructions.

Evaluation Forms

Use the Sign-In sheets  and follow the On-Site training evaluation instructions very carefully. These instructions explain how to use the Pre-Training Quiz and the Post-Training Quiz.

The evaluation forms are also available in Spanish: Sign-In Sheets (Spanish), Pre-Training Quiz (Spanish), Post-Training Quiz (Spanish).

Highlighted Resources

This list contains highlighted resources  for care provider programs working with unaccompanied children and youth.

For more information regarding unaccompanied children please visit The Office of Refugee Resettlement’s Web page on The Division of Unaccompanied Children’s Services (DUCS).

For assistance with your training, working together with CPS, or for questions on child abuse and neglect, please contact BRYCS’ Child Welfare Specialist, Katrina Hobbs-Hawkins at KHawkins@usccb.org  or 202-541-3064.  The BRYCS team is also available to you for assistance with resources, the Web site, or other questions you may have about refugee and immigrant children and families – just email us at info@brycs.org or call us toll free at 888-572-6500.