Concord University seeks to align training with needs of WV kinship families

ATHENS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Concord University has announced its role in the transformation of the pre-service training curriculum as it pertains to kinship caregivers throughout the state of West Virginia.

Concord University, in collaboration with the West Virginia Social Work Education Consortium – also known as the SWEC – proposed changes to the pre-service curriculum in use by the state to the National Training and Development Curriculum in hopes of better serving the needs of kinship caregivers in the region.

Concord University took a proactive step following approval of the changes, hiring Madeline Hawkins, a Curriculum and Training Specialist who has been instrumental in the adapting of the NTDC model to align with particular training needs of kinship families in the state.

A Train-the-Trainer event was held on July 12th and July 13th by the university in hopes of enhancing the pre-service training quality provided to adoptive caregivers and kinship families. In conjunction with the Social Work Education Consortium, Concord serves as the only provider of kinship training across the state.

The official launch of the curriculum occurred this month, with the new training model having been implemented statewide by SWEC schools. The launch offered a pilot round of training to ensure the effectiveness of the curriculum and to gain important feedback for continued improvements.

“Kinship caregivers are critical in providing stable and nurturing homes for children who cannot live in their natural homes. Recognizing these caregivers’ unique challenges, the SWEC schools have prioritized equipping their trainers with the latest knowledge, skills, and resources to support kinship families effectively,” said Concord University in a statement.

“Concord University remains committed to fostering educational excellence and community service. By leading this important initiative, the university continues demonstrating its dedication to supporting families and enhancing the well-being of children across West Virginia.”

Those interested in learning more about the initiative, as well as other programs offered by Concord University, are encouraged to visit the Concord University website .