Week 1 An Introduction to Foster Care

We will get to know each other, talk about our expectations, learn about foster care, concurrent planning and kinship care. We will discuss how the decision to foster will effect our lives and our families.

Week 2 Family Systems and Permanency Planning

Together we will explore the concept of family and what it means. What are the rules, values, traditions in our families? What does the concept of permanency mean for children? Why is the birth family so important?

Week 3 Abuse and Neglect

We will talk about the different types of abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse, and the impact that abuse has on the children. We will also watch a video presentation that includes interviews with children who have been abused.

Week 4 Discipline and Separation & Loss

Discipline vs. punishment - does hitting ever work? Are there any alternatives? What do the Foster Parent Regulations say? What can we do instead of "spanking"?

The trauma of separation involves tremendous loss. Through the use of a group exercise and a video we will try to put ourselves in touch, to some extent, with the confusion and pain that foster children may be experiencing.

Week 5 CPS Investigations and Placement

What are the laws and regulations about reporting abuse? What is mandatory reporting? What is the process for a CPS investigation? Are foster homes ever investigated? What to do if …

Placement in review - the process, the forms, the impact on child and family.

Week 6 Permanency Planning - Reunification, Visitation, Alternative Planning

Why must we reunify children with abusive parents? What does reunification mean? We will talk about the court process, case planning and administrative reviews. How do concurrent planning and kinship foster care contribute to permanency?

What does visitation really mean? Why must children visit? How are visits arranged? Will visits have any effect on the child?

If reunification doesn’t "work" , what will happen?

Week 7 Child Development and Discipline Revisited

We will learn about the different stages of child development and the effect that the child abuse and the trauma of separation have on development.

We will revisit the topic of discipline through the use of examples and group exercises. We will learn how to determine what age and stage the child is in and how to cope with difficult behaviors.

Week 8 Diversity and Life Books

Using a group exercise and a video presentation we will explore the concept of "difference", what it means to us, what it means in our society and how, as foster parents, we might have to deal with the issue.

We will discuss the importance of memories and family history and explore ways of keeping memories and histories for our foster children.

Week 9 Resource Information; Separation Revisited; Potluck Party

Saying goodbye - what it means to the foster family when the child goes home.

Resource information will be shared on such diverse topics as universal precautions, lead poisoning, WIC, tax information for foster parents, Foster Parent Association and mentors, etc.

Party - and saying goodbye to each other!