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Frequently Asked Questions

1. When I initially signed on the system, I had a supervisor menu. I updated my account and when I signed on again, I did not get the supervisor menu. What should I do?

   This probably means that for some reason your account has changed from a supervisor account to a worker account. Please send e-mail with your name, Employee ID Number, and the name of your supervisor to the OFI Registrar or SS Registrar, requesting that your account be changed back to a supervisor account.

2. I changed my password to one I can easily remember, but when I signed back on, the system would not take my password. What should I do?

   This seems to be happening to staff that enter a new password that has more than 8 characters. Send e-mail to the OFI Registrar or SS Registrar, requesting that we change your password. We will change it to a temporary password (pass plus the last 4 digits of your Employee ID Number).

3. What is a training coordinator?

   In most counties supervisors register their workers for training. In some counties someone else registers staff for training. If so, we call that person a training coordinator.

4. What if a supervisor or training coordinator does not have an account on the system?

   The supervisor or training coordinator should send e-mail to the OFI Registrar or SS Registrar, requesting that we set up an account for them. Include in the e-mail your name, Employee ID Number, title, county, hire date, your GroupWise ID, and the name of your supervisor, and let us know if you are a supervisor or training coordinator.

5. How do I register for courses?

   Only Training Coordinators and Supervisors can register workers for a course. Enter the employee ID in the Employee ID field and click Register. Choose a course from the drop down menu and click next. Select a Section from the drop-down menu. SSN is needed before completing the registration. Click the submit button. Click on the Register button to return to the register worker menu. Click on the Main Menu button to return to your main menu.

6. How do I find training schedule information?

   You can find training schedules here.

7. How do I view my transcript?

   Go to http://www.gadfcs.org/transcript
   Enter your employee ID & password. Click next. Click Transcript.

8. How do I obtain a password for the Online Registration System?

   Contact the Office of Family Independence Registrar or the Social Service Registrar. They are located in GroupWise under Registrar, OFI or Registrar, SS.

9. How do I find out which items I should take to training?

   You can find out what item you need to braing to class here.

10. How do I find directions to the training locations?

    Yu can find driving directions to training locations here.

11. How do I contact ETS Staff?

    You can find contact information for the ETS leadership team here.

12. How can I have my password reset?

    Contact the Office of Family Independence Registrar or the Social Service Registrar. They are located in GroupWise under Registrar, OFI or Registrar, SS.

13. How do I register a new worker who has not yet been assigned an Employee ID Number?

    You must assign the new worker a temporary Employee ID Number. Please use the zip code of your office as the first 5 digits and the last 3 numbers of their social security number as the last 3 digits. Once they are assigned a permanent Employee ID Number, go into the system and change their Employee ID Number.

14. How do I remove a worker from class?

    You can only remove a worker from a class that has not started. Go to the main menu, click on the Transcript button. Enter the employee ID in the employee ID Field and click View Transcript button. Click on the Remove button.

15. Why can't I register my workers?

    This could be happening for two reasons. Your worker does not have an account on the system, or, you are not linked as the worker's supervisor. Please contact the OFI Registrar or the Social Service Registrar for resolution.

16. How do I change a worker's employee ID?

    It is not possible to link a worker from another county to yourself. You have two options, you can ask the former supervisor to link you, or you can contact the OFI Registrar or the Social Service Registrar. They are located in GroupWise under Registrar, OFI or Registrar, SS.

17. How do I link a worker from another county to me?

    It is not possible to link a worker from another county to yourself. You have two options, you can ask the former supervisor to link you, or you can contact the OFI Registrar or the Social Service Registrar. They are located in GroupWise under Registrar, OFI or Registrar, SS

18. How can I have my account changed to a supervisor?

    Contact the OFI Registrar or the Social Service Registrar located in GroupWise under Registrar, OFI or Registrar, SS.

19. Who do I contact regarding my online training scores.

    Contact the Office of Family Independence Registrar or the Social Service Registrar. They are located in GroupWise under Registrar, OFI or Registrar, SS.

20. How frequently are classes announced?

    During the 1st week of every month a complete listing of courses scheduled over the next two months are sent out via e-mail. At the time of this announcement you are eligible to register for any course listed in that two-month time frame. Please be aware that dates and locations are subject to change.

21. What is professional excellence?

    Professional Excellence is an exciting new training track designed to target the training needs of staff who have been in the field at least 18 months or longer, or have completed their new worker training requirements. This training promotes advanced knowledge and practice skill of the child welfare professional. Professional Excellence classes are under the umbrella of Professional Development Training and will count towards the yearly 20 hour requirement.

22. What other programs are available to staff?

    • IV-E College Child Welfare Education Program - See the ETS Home page for more information.
    • Staff Enrichment and Educational Development (S.E.E.D.) - For information, please go to the ETS Home Page.
    
    
    

23. What does being "certified" mean?

    It means that the case manager has completed training and/or professional development activities and has demonstrated a basic level of competency on the assessments. Certification is not a license for clinical practice, and it is not a substitute for a professional social work degree.

24. What is the Social Services Certification Program?

    The Social Services Certification Program is a process of training, professional development activities and assessments all designed to establish a professional, stable, and competent Social Services workforce in the Division of Family and Children Services. The objectives of the Social Services Certification Program are to promote a competency-based standard of practice for case managers and supervisors and to provide staff with ongoing professional development opportunities.

25. What does certification consist of for New Workers?

    Certification is obtained through the Social Services New Case Manager Training series. Trainees complete classroom and online instruction and participate in field practice activities. Assessments occur throughout the training to determine training effectiveness. Once new workers complete the training series, two final applications of learning occur--a case record review and a field based observation. The county director makes the certification decision with input from the new worker's supervisor/training coordinator, field practice advisor, field program specialist, as well as any additional staff involved with the new worker's training.

26. What is Provisional Certification?

    County Directors have the option to provisionally certify trainees once they successfully complete the 6-week "Keys" training sequence. In making their provisional certification decision, County Directors should consider trainee performance over the first 6 weeks, the assessment results, and feedback from the Field Program Specialists, Supervisor/Training coordinator, Field Practice Advisor, and Trainer. For the purposes of training, the provisionally certified new case manager may provide closely supervised case management for up to seven (7) low risk cases. This assignment gives the trainee an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in Keys Training, and it facilitates the transfer of learning to actual practice. Provisional certification may be in effect for up to 90 days following the provisional certification decision. The expectation is that an initial certification decision will be made by the end of this 90-day period.
    Note: Case managers who qualify for a waiver of the Keys classroom training must pass the Keys Knowledge Assessment before they are eligible for Provisional Certification.

27. What if the trainee fails the Knowledge Assessments (scores below 70%)?

    Classroom knowledge assessments must be successfully passed as part of the certification process. If the trainee does not pass the Knowledge Assessments on the first attempt, the county director may provide the trainee with remediation and/or allow the trainee to retake the knowledge assessment. If the trainee fails to pass on the second attempt, the county director considers the individual circumstances and makes a decision regarding the trainee's continued training and/or employment. See the New SS Case Manager Training and Certification Manual for detailed instructions.

28. Once I obtain certification, why do I have to continue to obtain 20 professional development hours each year?

    In child welfare practice, studies acknowledge that it takes at least two years to learn the case management position. Policy and practice change continuously. The required 20 hours of professional development training helps case managers stay abreast of changes in child protection policy and the most recent practice models.

29. Who can I contact regarding New Worker Certification?

    Please address any questions related to new case manager certification to caunit@dhr.state.ga.us