TRAINING

The purpose of the training is to prepare the prospective foster parents in their new role, guiding them through the issues they will be dealing with as a foster parent. Using a process of education and self-assessment under the leadership of the agency, foster and adoptive parents are able to work as partners with staff, children and their families in the child welfare system.

The training will help you:

• Understand the special needs of foster children and their families.
• Understand the background of the children coming into foster care
• Understand the behaviors of the children and why they behave that way
• Learn how to deal with those behaviors
• Learn how to use community resources to help the children and families
• Understand the impact of a foster child into your home
• Identify your own limits and which behaviors you can or cannot deal with

To accomplish the above, you will:

• Participate in role playing
• Participate in "guided imagery" whereby you imagine going through a scenario
• Participate in problem solving within a group and brainstorm on how to deal with a problem
• Be provided with reading materials each week

By the end of the tenth training session, you will be better equipped to become a foster parent. A mutual decision will be made as to whether or not foster parenting is right for you.

Schedule:

The training consist of ten 3 hour sessions once a week. The trainings are given in the daytime and evenings.

Locations:

Trainings will take place in the Community Service Center where your Homefinder is located.