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Training Provided to Therapeutic Foster Parents

A Healthy Future Therapeutic Foster Parent will be provided 28 hours of pre-service program-specific training, CPR and First Aid training, and various other ongoing trainings, including the following:

  • Introduction to Basic Therapeutic Care Issues (5 hours):  

    • Life Skills/Independent Living Skills Development

    • Social, Coping, Communication, Listening and Problem Solving Skills

    • Loss and Grief  (rejection and abandonment)

    • Ansel Casey Life Skills

    • Domestic Violence

    • Safety Plan Development

    • Developing Wrap-Around Services

    • Dealing with Crisis (suicidal ideation/thoughts, suicidal attempts, suicide, etc.)   

    • Dealing with Expectations

    • Developing a Strong, Positive Support System, Keeping a Positive Attitude

    • Dealing with Anger Management and Aggression   

    • Strength Based Services

    • Understanding the System – Catholic Community Service, Office of Children’s Services, Division of Juvenile Justice, Medicaid, Reunification, Permanency  

  • Basic Mental Health 101 (5 hours):

    • Working with Children with Severe Emotional Disturbance and their Families

    • Knowledge of Psychiatric Diagnosis, Assessment, Psychiatric Medications

    • Diagnostic Criteria – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

    • Natural and Logical Consequences

    • Child Development Stages

    • Abuse and Neglect

    • Understanding Trauma Issues

    • Dealing with Drugs and Alcohol

  • Managing Aggressive Behaviors (8 hours)

  • Introduction to Nurturing Parents (2 hours)

  • Overview of Developmental Disabilities, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (3 hours)

  • Cross Cultural Child Care Sensitivity, Diverse Populations, Importance of Culture and Maintaining Connections for Alaskan Native Children, Indian Child Welfare Act (3 hours)

  • Documentation Training (2 hours)

Additionally, within one month of accepting placement of a therapeutic foster child, a therapeutic foster parent must complete 16 hours of self study, core training through the State of Alaska Center for Resource Families (if not previously completed).  Finally, a therapeutic foster parent must participate in 6 hours of ongoing training quarterly, eight hours of training on management of aggressive behavior, and training specific to the therapeutic foster child and his/her family, as needed.