Comprehensive Qualified Expert Witness (QEW) Training Announcement

Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families sent this bulletin at 12/30/2024 09:15 AM PST

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Dec. 30, 2024

Comprehensive Qualified Expert Witness (QEW) Training

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) is pleased to share information about several upcoming Comprehensive Qualified Expert Witness (QEW) trainings in the new year.

The 2-day virtual training is intended to give participants the information they need to provide QEW testimony in DCYF Indian Child Welfare cases. 

Learn more!

Visit the Office of Tribal Relations' Training webpage for more opportunities or fill out the training request form below:

Training Request Form

The training provides an overview of the history and impacts of colonization on Native American and Alaska Native children and families that led to the passage of the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), an introduction to federal and state ICWA policy, an overview of DCYF dependency cases, and a detailed look at QEW purpose, qualifications, and procedures.

Participants will review two precedent-setting cases for Washington state and understand how QEW testimony can impact court cases. This training is comprised of 9.5 hours of group learning, including 3.5 hours of simulation for court testimony.

Training Dates:

  • Feb. 5-6, 2025 | Virtual
  • April 15-16, 2025 | Virtual
  • June 11-12, 2025 | Virtual

To Register:

For questions or troubleshooting, contact Sarah Lewis at szlewis@uw.edu.

If you have questions, or require an alternate format for this information, need language interpretation services, or need another accommodation or modification to participate in this event, please contact dcyf.tribalrelations@dcyf.wa.gov.

More QEW information can be found on the Office of Tribal Relations' QEW webpage.