Course Descriptions

This course provides an introduction to the topic of risk management. Every social service organization takes risks in order to achieve its mission. Taking risk is most effective when the leaders of an organization appreciate the risks associated with activities and know how to develop practical responses that suit the culture, resources and goals of the organization.

This course applies to a myriad of risks that arise when a social service organization engages volunteers. Learn how to harmonize risk and reward while managing the expectations of your volunteers and the requirements of your social service organization.

If you have questions about what insurance is and what it can and can't do for your social service organization, this course offers an overview of insurance for social service organizations. Insurance is a risk-financing tool with many facets. The type of insurance purchased depends on 1) the type of risks the social service organization might have, combined with 2) the liklihood that the risk will occur. Should an insurance claim or lawsuit be filed against the social service organization, an insurance policy may provide a means to pay claims for injury, property damage or death, attorney's fees, and court costs.

This course suggests a strategy and approach to managing a social service organization's insurance program - the collection of coverages purchased by an organization.

Social service organizations may contract for space, equipment, printing, a CEO/executive director, a content specialist and many other products and services. If you have questions about what constitutes a contract, what it should contain, and when an attorney's knowledge is required, this course identifies what establishes an agreement as binding and the types of information to address in a contract between your social service organization and another party.

This course focuses on risks created by the members of the board of directors in the course of their duties. You will want to take this course if you are committed to understanding and addressing the governance risks facing your social service organization.

This course addresses a main cause of lawsuits against social service organizations and explains what you need to know to protect your organization from harm or loss associated with your hiring, supervision or dismissal practices.

This course isolates screening from the total hiring process and explains the protection that various screening tools provide or don't provide. You should take this course to make certain that you use screening appropriately - in accordance with the demands of the position and in compliance with federal and state laws.

If your organization offers services to young people, this course differentiates the expected physical and mental development of children from early childhood through late adolescence and their needs as related to age and development. It also addresses additional needs of children with disabilities.

If your organization offers daily or occasional services to children and youth, this course identifies some of the factors that contribute to undesired, unexpected events in youth-serving organizations and secen principles that will increase the protection of children in your organization.

Does your social service organization have staff members or volunteers who drive for the social service organization's business? This course highlights methods for ensuring driver and vehicle safety for those who drive as part of their job description and those who drive intermittently as the need arises in company vehicles or personal vehicles.

Whether your social service organization hosts an annual fund raising extravaganza or periodic events that vary in size and scope, this course divides event planning and management into a step-by-step process to reduce risk and protect people, property and reputation.

This course identifies the responsibilities and risks of a social service organization owner, renter or borrower in relation to the space it occupies. It discusses the need to know federal, state and local codes and regulations regarding the buildings and grounds and how to keep users and the social service organization from harm.

Some social service organizations sponsor sports or recreation programs on a regular basis or occasionally offer recreation as part of a special event or another activity. This course addresses the inherent risk in any sport or recreation program and the expectation and requirement of our legal system that sports organizers, administrators and coaches develop programs that anticipate and manage foreseeable risks.