(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.