Parent advocacy programs have emerged as a critical strategy to enhance family engagement and improve family outcomes in the child welfare system. While existing research discusses the benefits of advocacy programs, less is known about the training experiences of parent advocates and how well these trainings prepare them for their complex roles. This qualitative study explores the training content, formats, perceived adequacy, and needs of parent advocates. Drawing on in-depth interviews with parent advocates, child protective services workers, and parents, this study identifies strengths and limitations in the parent advocate training curriculum.
Findings reveal that while advocates valued foundational training—covering procedural knowledge, trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and client engagement—improvements were suggested in areas such as legal literacy, mental health, child welfare system protocols, and cross-training with child protective services staff. On-the-job learning through shadowing and debriefing was described as crucial for translating training into practice. The study underscores the need for more comprehensive, experiential, and collaborative training models to fully equip parent advocates for their roles. It concludes with recommendations for enhancing training curricula, increasing access to joint learning opportunities with child protective services staff, and deepening education on behavioral health and legal systems. These insights offer practical guidance for child welfare agencies and parent advocacy programs seeking to strengthen this essential peer support workforce and promote more effective, equitable family engagement.