There is a need for short learning programs for social workers who work in the forensic field and want to improve their knowledge and skills. Not all students are in the position to study a full or part time master’s degree. The development of short learning programs could be used to train forensic social workers (family councilors) in the forensic field. The shortage of skilled social workers that are also well-trained in the specialized field of Forensic Social Work has resulted in the urgent need for this training. There is also an urgent need in the market for university approved and quality assured short learning
programmes in forensic social work that is evidence based. This need arose because social workers are required to assess children and are then called as expert witnesses in court. Without proper training, they are not serving in the best interest of the child. In South Africa it will be in the best interest of all children that more social workers are trained, especially in the Office of the Family Advocate, South African Police Services and social workers in private practice that can assess children who are sexually abused. Social Workers working in the rural areas of South Africa are confronted with large numbers of children who are being abused and all parties in those communities will benefit if social workers are formally trained in doing evidence based forensic assessments.