Foster Parent Training

Training Provided to Foster Families:

1.   Pre-Certification Training

All foster families are required to complete two 6-hour pre certification training sessions. The format includes lecture presentations, films, group work and self-evaluating home work. The training is conducted by our Master's level Social Workers. There are no fees for training. Content covers:

• Responses to crisis, anger and frustration
• Exploration of personal parenting history
• Retraining of parenting styles
• Therapeutic process in dealing with foster children
• Parenting children with history of abuse/neglect
• Dealing with short and long term issues of sexual abuse
• Defining major issues facing foster children
• Separation and loss issues facing foster children
• Dealing with the stress of foster placements
• What families' rights are and how to assess risks
• How to be a foster family when the plan is to adopt
• Characteristics common to successful foster families
• Type of child parent desires and why
• Extended family relationships
• Involvement with the community
• Meeting needs through relationships
• Resources and support for foster families

2.   Ongoing Education

These are continually led by our Masters level staff, or at times contracted professionals or through other agency resources. Significant training elements include:

• Working with Teens
• Family communication listening skills
• Conflict management
• Effective limit setting and consequence enforcement
• Seeing the world through the child's eyes
• Developing appropriate expectations for post trauma children
• Meeting parents' needs
• Bonding/attachment skills
• Family alliances
• Family style and culture
• Family systems
• Networking skills