Advanced Mandated Reporter Training
This two-hour virtual course is designed for individuals who have already attended a Children’s Law Center Mandated Reporter training or Train the Trainer session.
ChildFirst® South Carolina
ChildFirst® South Carolina is an intensive five-day course in which students learn the necessary skills to conduct
an investigative interview—also known as a forensic interview—of a suspected child
abuse victim. This interactive course combines lectures and demonstrations supplemented
with homework assignments and a written examination at the end of the course. This
training will be offered July 6-10, 2026 at the Children's Law Center in Columbia
. Additional 2026 dates TBA .
This registration is not for DSS staff. If you are a DSS employee, register for this
course on the DSS LMS only.
Child Physical Abuse and Neglect Investigations: The Basics
This training will begin with a focus on understanding the prevalence of child abuse
and neglect, recognizing red flags and risk factors, distinguishing between inflicted
and accidental injuries, the EPC process, and interviewing. The training will also
cover proper documentation and evidence collection and applicable definitions of abuse
and neglect and criminal laws.
This training will be offered June 26th in Summerville, SC.
Child Sexual Abuse Investigations:The Basics
This training will address the roles and function of the multidisciplinary team (MDT),
the dynamics of child sexual abuse, legal issues in child sexual abuse cases, common
evidentiary hearsay exceptions used in child abuse cases, and unique child hearsay
statutory exceptions. It will also cover interviewing techniques, and methods and
strategies to corroborate a child’s disclosure of abuse.
This training will be offered on June 30th in Conway.
Conducting Reenactments in Child Death Investigations
This 1-day, in-person training focuses on conducting reenactments with caregivers
in child death investigations and incorporates hands-on practice in a mock crime scene
apartment.
This training will be held at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center in Columbia
on June 8, 2026.
Emergency Protective Custody: Working as a Multidisciplinary Team
This training will provide an overview of statutory requirements for taking a child into EPC, response time requirements, and other procedural and substantive information. County memorandums of understanding will be shared for adaptation at the county level across the state.
GAL and CASA Training: Mothers, Babies, Families, and Substance Exposure
This training, offered exclusively for current guardians and attorneys with the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program and Richland County CASA, will explore the impact of substance exposure on mothers, babies, and families and will challenge some conventionally held beliefs. This virtual training will be offered May 29th.
Investigative Interviewing in Child Death Investigations: A Simulation Training
This training, focusing on investigative interviews during the child death investigation, will be held in Columbia at the Children’s Law Center’s Training Center on June 5, 2026.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar – OPEN SESSION
This webinar is designed for mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect, and professionals who have frequent contact with children, who play a key role in protecting children by identifying possible maltreatment and reporting it to the agencies responsible for investigation and intervention. This training will be offered virtually from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm.
Training of Trainers: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
This training is for professionals who have attended a basic mandated reporter training with the Children’s Law Center and are interested in conducting mandated reporter training within their organization. This free, online training is being offered from 9 am - 4 pm on Sept. 22, 2026, Jan. 21, 2027 and May 12, 2027 (Participants will also be required to conduct a virtual presentation the following week.)
Recognizing & Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect Webinar
This live webinar for mandated reporters and professionals who have frequent contact with children is being offered to organizations upon request.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
This interactive online training is designed to equip mandated reporters with information regarding their role and responsibilities as mandated reporters and to increase their awareness, knowledge, and skills in reporting child abuse and neglect.
South Carolina Child Abuse Response Protocol Training
This on-line, self-paced training consists of approximately 3.5 hours of instruction and includes the following topics: Introduction to the SC Child Abuse Response Protocol; The Initial Child Abuse Response for DSS and Law Enforcement First Responders; Referral to a SC Children’s Advocacy Center and Services Provided; The Forensic Medical Exam and the SC Children’s Advocacy Medical Response System; The Investigative Process, Joint Investigation (DSS and law enforcement), and Special Issues; The GAL and Court Appointed Special Advocate; The Court Process and Preparing the Child for the Courtroom; and Resources, Revisions, and Maintenance of the Protocol.
Youth "Arrest" in South Carolina: A Guide for Law Enforcement
In this training, trainees will learn the legal process for youth “arrest” and detention in South Carolina, identify which youth are eligible for juvenile detention and for what offenses, describe the importance of consulting with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in the detention decision, and explore factors officers should consider in exercising their discretion, as well as limits on their discretionary authority. Finally, this training introduces a Juvenile Detention Decision-Making Tool to guide law enforcement through the steps in deciding whether juvenile detention is appropriate. This course has been approved for 0.5 hours of continuing education credit by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.