If you are interested in being a foster parent, in addition to filling out an application and going through a vetting process, you are also going to have to go through some training. Many states have required training that you have to go through before you are able to become a foster parent, and many foster organizations also offer additional parenting classes to help you develop the skills necessary to be a foster parent.

State-Mandated Training

Before becoming a foster parent, most states have some sort of state-mandated training that you have to go through. This training is designed to ensure that all foster parents are equipped with the same basic tools and knowledge before becoming a foster parent.

The material covered in state-mandated training varies widely in scope and focus. To start with, it generally covers how the legal side of the process works, such as how children are assigned to your home and what your interactions with social workers and the courts will be for children in your care. Next, the training covers your responsibilities as a foster parent. It also usually covers your rights and information about the resources that you will have access to. After that, most state-mandated training will teach you tips and strategies for bonding with and parenting the children in your care.

State-mandated training usually requires both in-person classes and actual classwork. The classwork is designed to enhance your learning experience. Depending on the state you live in, you may be required to take a test at the end of your state-mandated training.

Parenting Classes

Many foster organizations also offer state-sponsored parenting classes that are designed to enhance your parenting skills and abilities. There are generally parenting classes that address all sorts of skills one may need for parenting at different life stages. For example, you could take a class on infant social-emotional development. Or you could take a class on how to work with a teenager with an attachment disorder or how to help your biological children bond with your foster children.

Most foster organizations also offer a variety of ways to access these classes, either through in-person classes or through online classes.

If you want to be a foster parent, you are going to have to go through state-mandated training. If you want to be a great foster parent, there are numerous additional classes you can access to develop the necessary skills to work with your foster children. Contact a company like Kids Count Too to learn more.

Share