Self-Paced

Meeting the Needs of Young Children in the Child Welfare System (Self-Paced)

Children from 0-5 years old are especially vulnerable to traumatic impacts on their development while involved in the child welfare system. Their biological development and sense of attachment is so moldable in those ages, and we must be mindful of the challenges we impose on them. Decisions within child welfare must be evaluated through early development and attachment lenses. These children are also eligible for a variety of helpful services that many people may not know exist.The programs described in this training are reflective of our experience in Douglas County, Nebraska. If you live elsewhere, brainstorm comparable options in your service area or contact Project Harmony for recommendations on getting started.We invite you to work through this training and take note of the resources and recommendations within.

Child Abuse and Neglect 101 (Self-Paced)

This course educates community members about the basic definitions and responses to all types of child abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking. This training also describes the services of a Child Advocacy Center, like Project Harmony, and contains mock calls to the Nebraska Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Lastly, the training will cover elements of receiving a disclosure, calling the hotline, and common reactions. By outlining the process and observing realistic examples, learners will be more equipped to respond to a child in need. While most of the content is foundational to all discussions of abuse and neglect, references to statute are specific to Nebraska. Participants from outside of Nebraska are encouraged to investigate child abuse and neglect policies and procedures in their own state.

Child Abuse and Neglect 101 in Iowa (Self-Paced)

This course educates community members about the basic definitions and responses to all types of child abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking. This training also describes the services of a Child Advocacy Center, like Project Harmony, and contains mock calls to the Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Lastly, the training will cover elements of receiving a disclosure, calling the hotline, and common reactions. By outlining the process and observing realistic examples, learners will be more equipped to respond to a child in need. While most of the content is foundational to all discussions of abuse and neglect, references to statute are specific to Iowa. Participants from outside of Iowa are encouraged to investigate child abuse and neglect policies and procedures in their own state.

Motivating Change (Self-Paced)

This course is designed for professionals working with individuals and families to understand the process of change, the factors that contribute or block our ability to change, and how to evoke change through motivational interviewing engagement skills. Continue Engaging Through Empathy's story of Dylan Sullivan and his interactions with a case manager. *This is an online, self-paced equivalent version of the live Motivating Change course.

Engaging Through Empathy (Self-Paced)

I Don't Care What You Know Until I Know That You CareMeet Dylan Sullivan, the single father of an 8-year-old boy named Joseph. He calls you because he says his son’s school won’t stop pestering him about Joseph misbehaving at school. He thinks that by calling your agency, he may be able to get them off his back. He also says he is interested in receiving any financial assistance you may have to offer. Can you help?Engaging through Empathy is a training where you will learn how you can approach clients in a way to create sustainable change by building relationships and meeting them where they are at. *This is an online, self-paced equivalent version of the live Engaging Through Empathy course.

Trauma Overview (Self-Paced)

This training course helps participants recognize trauma and understand its impact on the brain and body as well as on the community.You don’t have to be an emergency room nurse or a social worker to benefit from trauma-informed training. Parents, community volunteers, teachers – anyone is welcome to take this training.

Navigating Discord (Self-Paced)

Discord is a natural part of most relationships. This training describes how it is tempting to let conflict get out of control and hinder the desired outcomes for client families. But there are also proven strategies to de-escalate and mitigate instances of discord when they arise.Continue Engaging Through Empathy's story of Dylan Sullivan and his interactions with a case manager. *This is an online, self-paced equivalent version of the live Navigating Discord course.

Project Harmony Overview (Self-Paced)

This overview provides a history of Project Harmony and child advocacy centers, a description of the various departments within Project Harmony, and the roles of our co-located partner agencies.

Sexual Abuse Prevention Training for Foster Parents (Self-Paced)

Nebraska foster parents must print the Certificate of Completion that is emailed to them after passing the course and provide it to their oversight agency, or forward the emailed certificate directly to their agency representative to comply with state requirements.Part 1 of a two-part series, this course prepares mandatory reporters with the knowledge and skills to recognize and report child sexual abuse. In this training, participants will learn about normal versus problematic sexual behaviors in children, strategies for responding to behaviors that are considered problematic, the importance of using anatomical language, and identifying and reporting sexual abuse.NOTE: A score of 80% or higher on the final exam is required to pass this course.

Managing Sexual Abuse and Behaviors for Foster Parents (Self-Paced)

Nebraska foster parents must print the Certificate of Completion that is emailed to them after passing the course and provide it to their oversight agency, or forward the emailed certificate directly to their agency representative to comply with state requirements.Part 2 of a two-part series, this course prepares mandatory reporters with the knowledge and skills to recognize and report child sexual abuse. In this training, participants will learn about the short-term and long-term effects of sexual abuse on children and the importance of safety planning.NOTE: Users must complete the Sexual Abuse Prevention Training course prior to taking this course. A score of 80% or higher on the final exam is required to pass this course.

A Collaborative Approach to Missing & Anti-Trafficking Youth Services (Self-Paced)

This course explores the critical connection between missing youth cases and anti-trafficking youth services, equipping professionals with actionable insights to enhance their practice. Participants will develop the skills to advocate for the integration of missing youth cases into anti-trafficking frameworks, justify the adoption of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) approach for leading such initiatives, and compare and contrast this MDT model with other collaborative efforts, including the specific roles and responsibilities of Child Advocacy Centers.

Diving Deep into Design, Social Media, AI and the Aging Down of Technology

This advanced course explores the powerful influence of technology on today’s youth. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of why digital tools and platforms capture our attention so effectively, while developing the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate their impact. Through fresh perspectives and practical insights, the course equips learners to navigate the digital landscape thoughtfully and empower young people to thrive in a tech-driven world.

Collaboration in Child Abuse Investigations Iowa (Self-Paced)

This course is for Law Enforcement, HHS, and County Attorneys only.The purpose of this training is to expand on the processes you have been trained on in your individual agencies so you can better understand how those processes fit into the bigger picture of collaboration in child abuse investigations. We invite professionals who contribute to the investigative process to participate in this two-part training to see how the parties' responsibilities weave together and hear clarification from the panel of experts.This training consists of an online asynchronous lesson and a recorded panel discussion. Participate in both components to earn credit.

Dynamics of Youth Involved in Missing & Anti-Trafficking Youth Services Programs (Self-Paced)

Dive deep into the powerful ways trauma shapes the lives and behaviors of vulnerable youth involved in Missing and Anti-Trafficking Youth Services (MATYS). This course empowers you to spot the subtle—and sometimes challenging—signs of trauma, uncover key risk factors that signal the need for Child Advocacy Center intervention, and gain practical insights into the complex behaviors these young people may display while receiving services. Walk away equipped to respond with greater empathy, confidence, and skill—making a real difference in supporting youth on their path to healing and safety.

Collaboration in Child Abuse Investigations (Self-Paced)

This course is for Law Enforcement, DHHS, and County Attorneys only.The purpose of this training is to expand on the processes you have been trained on in your individual agencies so you can better understand how those processes fit into the bigger picture of collaboration in child abuse investigations. We invite professionals who contribute to the investigative process to participate in this two-part training to see how the parties' responsibilities weave together and hear clarification from the panel of experts.This training consists of an online asynchronous lesson and a recorded panel discussion. Participate in both components to earn credit.