Training costs are up and so when organizations look to cut costs - your training budget and program can suffer.  Sure - we all know how important training is and how critical it is to deliver ongoing training to your caseworkers.  In child welfare - it's vitally important to the welfare of the kids in the system.

But - the costs of training cannot be ignored. 
   

Training is just one of the components.  And when compared to some of the other components (foster care, services, community planning, etc.,) - it may not be as important.  HOWEVER - cutting your training budget isn't the answer. 

A strategic plan to transform, transfer and re-allocated funds towards building more effective training solutions is the answer!
  

In our hyper-connected world - organizations need to take a real hard look at how they deliver their training - and then quite simply - do it better.  Here's a scenario worth thinking about...

An child welfare organization runs training classes for their caseworkers 10 times/year at 4 different locations.  For most caseworkers - to attend a two day training session requires them to get in their cars and travel 100 miles one way.  For the organization, that means paying for travel/hotel stay and meals.  The costs really do add up and when you multiply a per person cost X 200 caseworkers.  If you have more caseworkers... - the costs can explode.

Be smart.  Consider e-learning.  Taking some of the classes and delivering them over the Internet via webinars, teleseminars or by using an e-learning management solution is so much smarter.  Deciding on the courses that don't need a "live" instructor - can go a long way towards slashing costs and improving your bottom line - within your program.  It is about taking what you're already spending and re-allocating it for better ROI.  Once you start to do this - there are so many benefits that will come later.  An immediate benefit is the reduction of your financial outlay - when you don't have to pay for so much travel expense.

FAMCare includes a comprehensive e-learning solution.
  

That's why earlier in the year, GVT made a conscious decision to include their proven learning management solution, OminTrackPlus as a built-in module to FAMCare.  Caseworker training is that important - and the ability to have a tool in place to measure caseworker training performance against caseloads is critical to your success.

Here's a real-live example of how folks are doing it in the UK.  http://www.trainingpressreleases.com/newsstory.asp?NewsID=4661     The point is - taking a real hard look at what training courses you can switch and deliver over the web - will not only save you time and money - but will improve caseworker morale and speed up your knowledge base.