Creating a Family Adoption & Foster Care Education

If you are considering becoming a foster parent, what do you need to know before you move forward with the process? In this course, we talk with Irene Clements, Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Association. She has been a foster parent for over 27 years, fostered 127 kids, and adopted 4.

This course covers the following topics:

• The Deciding Process of Becoming a Foster Parent
  • What is the first step to take if you are thinking about becoming a foster parent?
  • Should you use the state foster care agency, or go with a private agency with a contract with the state to place foster kids?
  • What is the difference between using a state agency or a private agency to become a foster parent?
  • Can you get licensed by both a private and state agency?
• The Home Study Process of Becoming a Foster Parent
  • What type of education/training is required of foster parents?
  • How much does it cost to take the training?
  • What is the foster care home study like?
  • Do you have to own your own home, make a certain amount of money, be married?
  • Can you work full time and be a foster parent?
  • If you identify as LGBTQ can you adopt from foster care?
• The Matching Process of Becoming a Foster Parent
  • How much information do you get on the child?
  • How much lead time do you get before a child is placed with you?
  • Can you specify age and gender?
  • Can you specify the degree of special need you are able to foster?
  • Who makes the decision of what child gets matched with your family?
• Foster Parent Subsidies
  • How much and how to negotiate?
• The First Week with a New Foster Child
  • How much warning do the children get that they are being moved?
  • How to help a child transition to your foster home?
  • How to prepare children already in your home for a foster placement?
• Working with Birth Parents as a Foster Parent
  • What is expected of foster parents in working with birth parents?
  • Are foster parents responsible for getting children to meetings with birth parents?
  • How much are children told about why they are in foster care?
• Foster Parenting
  • How much support do you get from the caseworker?
  • Can you insist that the child receive therapy that the state will pay for?
  • What is respite care and how easy is it to get?
  • Can you take your foster child on vacation?
• Permanency Planning for Foster Children
  • How much say do foster parent have in what happens to the child?
  • What if the foster parent disagrees with the caseworker on what is best for the child?
  • Can foster parents adopt their foster children?
• In-service Education for Foster Parents
  • What are the ongoing educational/training requirements in order to keep your license?

*This course includes a 1-hour conversational audio lesson, a 10-question quiz, and a certificate of completion with the successful completion of the quiz at 80%. 

Your course will remain active for 180 days from purchase date.