Your FIRST Response to Alleged Child Maltreatment

Protecting children from child abuse and maltreatment requires that everyone understand how to recognize, respond and report any form of maltreatment a child may experience. FIRST response is often the single most important step in effectively responding and reporting maltreatment.

FIRST will give you and your community the tools necessary to better protect kids. This half-day training goes beyond recognizing types of maltreatment. The training combines both lecture and practicum giving participants the tools and practical skills to better communicate with a child during the initial outcry of maltreatment.

The FIRST process teaches three critical components:

How to recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and maltreatment
How to listen and respond to a child’s needs
How to effectively and accurately report any form of maltreatment to authorities

Your FIRST Response to an Allegation of Child Maltreatment training teaches participants how to listen to children who have experienced maltreatment and gather the correct information needed in a way that puts the child’s needs FIRST.

Learning Objectives:

Understand reality of child abuse
Understand how to gather information utilizing the FIRST process
Understand responsibility of mandated reporting and information needed for report

Your FIRST Response to Alleged Child Maltreatment is a train-the-trainer model. If you are interested in learning how you can train this material to those in your region, reach out to Suzanne Severson (Suzanne@ZeroAbuseProject.org) for more information on cost and additional training requirements.

This training is being offered to professionals in and residents of Minnesota free of charge under a grant funded by MN OJP. We are only able to approve attendance for those working within the state of Minnesota.

Your FIRST Response to Alleged Child Maltreatment (MN Residents Only)