FAQ

NTI is designed as a comprehensive training to prepare professionals to effectively address the mental health challenges of children and youth and their foster, adoptive and kinship families. Content builds on previous modules and is intended to be completed in full. Certificates of completion are only provided for those who complete all the modules and pass all module post-tests at 80%. Continuing education credit is also based on completing the entire training.

The training is web-based and requires an internet connection. The training is viewable on computers, tablets, and smartphones; however, it is best viewed on a computer. Other devices may limit access to some features. It also works with all browsers, but works best with Firefox and Google Chrome.

Organizations interested in integrating NTI into their training arrays will need to have a learning management system that accepts SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 Tin Can or HTML 5 files. 

There are two ways NTI can be accessed: 

1. NTI Trainings can be accessed free of charge (as funding allows) through C.A.S.E. Learning Management System.*
2. States agencies and national organizations can integrate NTI into their internal learning management systems (LMS). For organizations interested in hosting NTI, see FAQ section below for organizations.  

*It is recommended that organizations engaged in technical assistance with the National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services or the National Center for Post Adoption Supports use the C.A.S.E. LMS for the duration of work. Our NTI Implementation Specialists will also work with organizations interested in hosting the training to have access to the training files for upload for future sustainability, prior to the technical assistance support from the National Center ending.

In calculating the total number of CE’s per training, hours were based on the average time it would take a learner to go through the training itself.  Because of the interactive elements of the training and the time individuals may spend reviewing resources provided, it is not possible to provide an exact “running time” for each lesson.  An average of 30 minutes per lesson was used, taking into consideration that some lessons may be shorter while others are longer. The actual time spent in the training may be more than the hours reflected, since some individuals may spend more time than others answering questions, reflecting on content or reviewing resource materials. 

NTI is not a certification or credentialing program, which would require us to verify that completers meet a specific level of competency. However, participants who successfully complete all modules and pass all module post-tests at 80% or better will receive a certificate of completion and CE credits.

In compliance with federal funding and Section 508 (www.section508.gov), the trainings are designed to be accessible to users with both hearing and sight impairments.  This content is compatible with screen reading software. All presentation content is narrated with closed captioning. Additionally, the training can be used with mouse or keyboard functions. Each lesson has the entire narrative available for users to read along with the presentation in the Transcript tab of the player , and users can also print out the transcript from the Resources tab to follow along with the presentation.

NTI has no requirement to complete the training within a certain amount of time. To help staff pace themselves and stay motivated, we recommend that each curriculum be completed within 4-6 months, based on pilot testing. Host agencies can set their own expectations for completion dates or time frames for completing each module to keep staff progressing through the curriculum. The Implementation Planning and Transfer of Learning Guides can provide organizations with best practices and learning from the pilot of NTI.

NTI Training Pacing Guides are available for each curriculum to help support progress through completion:

• MHP Pacing Guide
• CWP Pacing Guide
• CWS Pacing Guide

This depends on where the training is accessed. If you access the training through C.A.S.E. Institute you should have access as long as you have an account in the learning management system.  If you access NTI in another LMS, you will need to check with the system administrator to determine what the limits are for access.

NTI is free, web-based training ranging from 7 modules to 9 modules depending on the curriculum. It provides… NTI trainings were evaluated with more than 12,000 child welfare and mental health professionals to assess satisfaction, efficacy, and impact on practice.  

TAC is a 72-hour 12-module training developed by C.A.S.E. designed for master’s level, licensed clinicians that includes classroom and remote instruction as well as clinical case consultation. TAC has been rigorously evaluated with more than 3,000 training participants including trainee and trainer feedback, fidelity measures, and family outcomes. In 2019 TAC was rated by the California Evidence-based Clearinghouse as having promising research evidence (3) and high relevance with the child welfare population as a Child Welfare Workforce Development and Support Program. TAC is also accredited by the Institute of Credentialing Excellence as the only accredited, assessment-based certificate program in adoption-competency.

NTI was developed by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) and funded initially through a $9 million cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau (Administration on Children and Families, US Dept of Health and Human Services) with the goal of providing free access to NTI in all U.S. states, tribes and territories.  It has been funded for an additional $10 million dollars through 2027 to provide revisions to the curriculum and to continue to support implementation with child welfare and mental health systems and providers.

C.A.S.E. led a team of experts in curriculum development, web-based production, and evaluation to oversee the development of the NTI trainings. This team worked collaboratively with an advisory group of nationally recognized experts in child welfare and mental health, including foster and adoptive parents and former foster youth to develop the competencies that provide the foundation for the curriculum. 

All trainings have been modified to comply with Trump Administration orders. As part of the federal funding through 2027, the NTI Trainings were already in the process of having updated content.

• NTI Training for Mental Health Professionals has been enhanced and is currently available. Learn more
• NTI Training for Child Welfare Professionals and NTI Training for Child Welfare Supervisors are currently under revision with an estimated completion date in early 2027.

Each host agency is required to sign a Host Site Agreement with the Center for Adoption Support and Education. The template can be located here. There are restrictions against editing, copying, re-distributing, or re-purposing the training content or materials. There is a requirement to provide the training in full and a request for organizations to share de-identified data back with C.A.S.E. to help us with evaluation and data tracking. 

Organizations that integrate NTI into their training system will need to submit NTI Trainings for CE credit approval by national or state licensing boards. NTI can provide the information needed for CE credit submission packets.

NTI has Implementation Specialists who can work with your state, tribal/territory or large organization to plan for integration of NTI trainings into your learning management systems for free access by child welfare and mental health professionals. When this is not an option, Implementation Specialists can work with your implementation team to determine the most appropriate option for access (see the LMS options below).

Implementation Specialists can also assist in problem-solving to overcome implementation barriers, support planning for transfer of learning from training to practice and planning for sustainability of NTI within your training array. 

NTI also has a Marketing Project Manager to assist your team with promotion of NTI and the NTI website has a “Communications Tools” navigation tab with resources to support implementation and hosting of the training on your LMS.

Pacing Guides and Transfer of Learning Support are also available. Please inquire here. 

We know how important and challenging it can be to work across systems. NTI is designed to effect system change – by building the capacity of both child welfare and mental health professionals to understand and address the mental health and developmental challenges of families served. The trainings are aligned, provide shared language and encourage collaboration across child welfare and mental health service systems. NTI Implementation Specialists are available to assist you and your agency to plan for effective collaboration and to build the network of adoption competent mental health providers in your state/community. NTI also has an Implementation Planning Guide to assist with implementation best practices.

• If you represent an organization interested in integrating NTI into your training system or discussing the options for access, email info@adoptionsupport.org and one of our Implementation Specialists will be in touch to provide guidance on NTI implementation.  
• Agencies/organizations that do not have an LMS and/or who want enhanced features such as access to the training with evaluation, coaching or other fee-for-services, can contact Dawn Wilson, Director, NTI at wilson@adoptionsupport.org.