Foster Care Training Schedule

PS Class 1: Orientation to Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption

Pre-Service Class 1 provides an overview of the child welfare system and examines the differences between foster care, adoption, and kinship care. Participants receive information about the needs of waiting children as well as the process of becoming a foster or kinship caregiver or adoptive parent.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

July Review for Alternative Caregivers and Respite Providers

This one hour class provides an overview of foster care rules and polices for individuals becoming approved as alternative caregivers or respite providers to care for foster children.

** Please note that this class is not eligible for ongoing training credit and is only approved for Alternative Care and Respite Providers.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

PS Class 2: The Child Protection Team

Pre-service class 2 discusses the history and goals of foster care, kinship care, and adoption and examines the role of foster and kinship caregivers and adoptive parents within the system. Emphasis is placed on the primary care team: the child, the foster or kinship caregiver or adoptive parent, the primary parent, and the agency caseworker. Participants become aware of strategies to use teams effectively to serve children and families.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 3&4: Child Development and Trauma & Its Effects

** Please note that classes 3 and 4 have been combined into one 3 hour class.

Pre-service class 3 & 4 introduces the core concepts of early childhood development. Participants receive an overview of brain development and gain an awareness of the importance of attachment, self-regulation, and initiative to child development. Factors that enhance development are also addressed. This class helps participants understand how childhood trauma can effect development, including brain development, as well as emotions and behavior.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 5: Child Sexual Abuse

Pre-service class 5 provides an overview of child sexual abuse and is designed to help prospective caregivers and adoptive parents understand basic facts about child sexual abuse, recognize potential indicators of sexual abuse, and take beginning steps to making their homes safe environments for children who have been sexually abused.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 6: Minimizing the Trauma of Placement

Pre-service class 6 addresses strategies caregivers and adoptive parents can use to help the child feel safe and accepted in their home and community. The importance of gathering background information and maintaining connections is stressed.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 7: Transcending Differences in Placement

Pre-service class 7 helps participants gain awareness of their own diversity in order to better understand the diversity of each child that comes into their home. Participants also consider ways they can prepare their home and community to welcome and provide a safe and nurturing environment for a child.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 8: Helping the Child Manage Emotions and Behaviors

Pre-service class 8 introduces foster and kinship caregivers and adoptive parents to strategies they can use to assist children in learning to manage their emotions and control their behaviors.

**Training is currently happening in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 9: Understanding Primary Families

Pre-service class 9 presents a rationale for involvement of foster and kinship caregivers and adoptive parents in promoting connections to primary family members, particularly primary parents and siblings. The training encourages a non-judgmental approach to the caregiver’s or parent’s work with primary families to promote reunification.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 10: The Effects of Caregiving on the Caregiver Family

Pre-service class 10 examines the impact of foster care, kinship care, and adoption on individual members of the caregiving family as well as the impact on their relationships with one another. Participants are introduced to effective coping strategies to prevent against burnout and secondary traumatic stress.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

August Review for Alternative Caregivers and Respite Providers

This one hour class provides an overview of foster care rules and polices for individuals becoming approved as alternative caregivers or respite providers to care for foster children.

** Please note that this class is not eligible for ongoing training credit and is only approved for Alternative Care and Respite Providers.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

PS Class 11: Long-Term Separation

Pre-service class 11 describes the emotions children experience when reunification efforts with the birth parents fail. Feelings of adopted children and children in long-term substitute care placements are explored. Participants will learn about typical triggers of long-term grief.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 12: Post Adoption Issues for Families

Pre-service class 12 describes adoption dynamics impacting families. Openness in adoption is addressed as well as stages of adjustment for new adoptive families. Post adoption services including subsidy are also discussed in this module.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 1: Orientation to Foster Care, Kinship Care, and Adoption

Pre-Service Class 1 provides an overview of the child welfare system and examines the differences between foster care, adoption, and kinship care. Participants receive information about the needs of waiting children as well as the process of becoming a foster or kinship caregiver or adoptive parent.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 2: The Child Protection Team

Pre-service class 2 discusses the history and goals of foster care, kinship care, and adoption and examines the role of foster and kinship caregivers and adoptive parents within the system. Emphasis is placed on the primary care team: the child, the foster or kinship caregiver or adoptive parent, the primary parent, and the agency caseworker. Participants become aware of strategies to use teams effectively to serve children and families.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 3&4: Child Development and Trauma & Its Effects

** Please note that classes 3 and 4 have been combined into one 3 hour class.

Pre-service class 3 & 4 introduces the core concepts of early childhood development. Participants receive an overview of brain development and gain an awareness of the importance of attachment, self-regulation, and initiative to child development. Factors that enhance development are also addressed. This class helps participants understand how childhood trauma can effect development, including brain development, as well as emotions and behavior.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 5: Child Sexual Abuse

Pre-service class 5 provides an overview of child sexual abuse and is designed to help prospective caregivers and adoptive parents understand basic facts about child sexual abuse, recognize potential indicators of sexual abuse, and take beginning steps to making their homes safe environments for children who have been sexually abused.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 6: Minimizing the Trauma of Placement

Pre-service class 6 addresses strategies caregivers and adoptive parents can use to help the child feel safe and accepted in their home and community. The importance of gathering background information and maintaining connections is stressed.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

September Review for Alternative Caregivers and Respite Providers

This one hour class provides an overview of foster care rules and polices for individuals becoming approved as alternative caregivers or respite providers to care for foster children.

** Please note that this class is not eligible for ongoing training credit and is only approved for Alternative Care and Respite Providers.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

PS Class 7: Transcending Differences in Placement

Pre-service class 7 helps participants gain awareness of their own diversity in order to better understand the diversity of each child that comes into their home. Participants also consider ways they can prepare their home and community to welcome and provide a safe and nurturing environment for a child.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 8: Helping the Child Manage Emotions and Behaviors

Pre-service class 8 introduces foster and kinship caregivers and adoptive parents to strategies they can use to assist children in learning to manage their emotions and control their behaviors.

**Training is currently happening in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 9: Understanding Primary Families

Pre-service class 9 presents a rationale for involvement of foster and kinship caregivers and adoptive parents in promoting connections to primary family members, particularly primary parents and siblings. The training encourages a non-judgmental approach to the caregiver’s or parent’s work with primary families to promote reunification.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 10: The Effects of Caregiving on the Caregiver Family

Pre-service class 10 examines the impact of foster care, kinship care, and adoption on individual members of the caregiving family as well as the impact on their relationships with one another. Participants are introduced to effective coping strategies to prevent against burnout and secondary traumatic stress.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 11: Long-Term Separation

Pre-service class 11 describes the emotions children experience when reunification efforts with the birth parents fail. Feelings of adopted children and children in long-term substitute care placements are explored. Participants will learn about typical triggers of long-term grief.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

PS Class 12: Post Adoption Issues for Families

Pre-service class 12 describes adoption dynamics impacting families. Openness in adoption is addressed as well as stages of adjustment for new adoptive families. Post adoption services including subsidy are also discussed in this module.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Each attendee must register individually.

Foster Parent Support Meeting: July

July’s Topic: TBA

This training is an elective credit and the topic of discussion will change monthly.  It is a chance for Beech Acres families to gather together, discuss relevant topics, and encourage each other.  (open only to Beech Acres affiliated attendees)

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Infant Development

Infant Development

The first year of life is a very dynamic time for child development.  This is a stage of great opportunity – numerous milestones occur and the foundations of attachment are set. It is also a stage of vulnerability where the child is completely dependent on the caregiver.  During this class, we will discuss  typical development during infancy, safe practices, common concerns, and potential challenges.  This class is open to caregivers of all experience levels.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Rules & Policies

Rules & Policies

This training promotes safety for all foster children and helps foster caregivers to remain in compliance
with state, local, and agency requirements. Updates to state rules and agency policies will be
presented. Normalcy practices in accordance with the reasonable and prudent parent standard will be
reviewed.

This training is required once per license period for every BAPC foster family.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Infant Development

Infant Development

The first year of life is a very dynamic time for child development.  This is a stage of great opportunity – numerous milestones occur and the foundations of attachment are set. It is also a stage of vulnerability where the child is completely dependent on the caregiver.  During this class, we will discuss  typical development during infancy, safe practices, common concerns, and potential challenges.  This class is open to caregivers of all experience levels.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Rules & Policies

Rules & Policies

This training promotes safety for all foster children and helps foster caregivers to remain in compliance
with state, local, and agency requirements. Updates to state rules and agency policies will be
presented. Normalcy practices in accordance with the reasonable and prudent parent standard will be
reviewed.

This training is required once per license period for every BAPC foster family.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Foster Parent Support Meeting: August

August’s Topic: TBA

This training is an elective credit and the topic of discussion will change monthly.  It is a chance for Beech Acres families to gather together, discuss relevant topics, and encourage each other.  (open only to Beech Acres affiliated attendees)

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Beyond the Birds and the Bees

Beyond the Birds and the Bees

Discussing sexual health with young people can be tricky. “Beyond the Birds and Bees” is a two-hour training that focuses on increasing skills around being an “askable adult.” We will discuss statistics and policies in Ohio, the importance of comprehensive and age appropriate sexual health information, and reflect on our own values. We will also practice responding to uncomfortable questions with fact-based answers.

This course will be presented in cooperation with trainers affiliated with Lighthouse Academy.  CEU’s are available with course attendance.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Trainer Information:

Tobin Bayless currently serves as the PREP (Personal Responsibility Education Program) Coordinator for Southeast Ohio District 4; building and sustaining coalitions with community partners to positively and inclusively impact the sexual health and behavior of young people ages 14-21. Previously, Tobin worked as a Cultural Competency Workshop Facilitator for a grant program funded by the Attorney General of Ohio. He took part in providing competency trainings to hundreds of youth serving professionals. Tobin has long been a community organizer and avid volunteer with an educational background in Gender and Sexuality Studies, Diversity, and Sociology. He possesses a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Curriculum & Instruction. Tobin is a former chair of the local chapter of nationally renowned LGBTQ rights in education non-profit organization, GLSEN.

Michelle Polek is the PREP Training Coordinator at Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. She holds a BA from University of Massachusetts Amherst and focused her degree on gender and sexuality studies. Prior to her role at LYFS, Michelle worked for several years in violence prevention programming and also provided trainings related to oppression, LGBTQ cultural competency, and intimate partner violence.

Key Beck is the LGBTQ Training Specialist at Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. They hold a BA in French Language and Literature as well as an MA in Anthropology. Prior to their work at LYFS, Key worked in sexual assault/domestic violence prevention. They have provided trainings related to LGBTQ and other diversity topics for over 12 years.

Independent Living

Independent Living

This ongoing training aimed to provide foster parents the necessary tools to understand, teach, and encourage independent living skills. All foster parents are welcome to attend. If you are licensed to care for children who are 14 or older, this is a required training to be completed once per licensure period.

**Training is currently occurring in a virtual environment. All dates and locations are subject to change as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Please reserve one ticket per attendee. Video required for training credit. Same-household attendees may attend on one or multiple devices.

Beyond the Birds and the Bees

Beyond the Birds and the Bees

Discussing sexual health with young people can be tricky. “Beyond the Birds and Bees” is a two-hour training that focuses on increasing skills around being an “askable adult.” We will discuss statistics and policies in Ohio, the importance of comprehensive and age appropriate sexual health information, and reflect on our own values. We will also practice responding to uncomfortable questions with fact-based answers.

This course will be presented in cooperation with trainers affiliated with Lighthouse Academy.  CEU’s are available with course attendance.

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Trainer Information:

Tobin Bayless currently serves as the PREP (Personal Responsibility Education Program) Coordinator for Southeast Ohio District 4; building and sustaining coalitions with community partners to positively and inclusively impact the sexual health and behavior of young people ages 14-21. Previously, Tobin worked as a Cultural Competency Workshop Facilitator for a grant program funded by the Attorney General of Ohio. He took part in providing competency trainings to hundreds of youth serving professionals. Tobin has long been a community organizer and avid volunteer with an educational background in Gender and Sexuality Studies, Diversity, and Sociology. He possesses a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Curriculum & Instruction. Tobin is a former chair of the local chapter of nationally renowned LGBTQ rights in education non-profit organization, GLSEN.

Michelle Polek is the PREP Training Coordinator at Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. She holds a BA from University of Massachusetts Amherst and focused her degree on gender and sexuality studies. Prior to her role at LYFS, Michelle worked for several years in violence prevention programming and also provided trainings related to oppression, LGBTQ cultural competency, and intimate partner violence.

Key Beck is the LGBTQ Training Specialist at Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. They hold a BA in French Language and Literature as well as an MA in Anthropology. Prior to their work at LYFS, Key worked in sexual assault/domestic violence prevention. They have provided trainings related to LGBTQ and other diversity topics for over 12 years.