Foster Care Training in Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano
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Foster Care Training - Public and Private
AFS provides free, comprehensive foster care training to public and private agencies and individuals on a variety of topics related to foster care, mental health and family support. Contracted by Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, every class is led by certified personnel who conform to best practices.
Examples of training subjects include:
- pre-service training for adoptive and foster parents
- working within the child welfare system
- foster and adoptive parent orientation
- trauma-informed parenting
- de-escalation techniques
- First Aid/CPR
- cultural competency
- compassion fatigue
FAQs on Training for Resource Families and Professionals
Who are these service trainings open to?
Trainings are primarily open to current and applying foster and adoptive parents (Resource Parents), kinship caregivers, mental health and child welfare service providers, staff at accredited foster family agencies and individuals in need of continuing education and requisite training hours (CEUs).
Where are training sessions located?
Training classes are available in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano. Please see below for our training calendar and to register for an upcoming session.
How often does service training occur?
We aim to provide training sessions at least once a month, if not more frequently. For specific dates and information about classes and training sessions coming up, please see below for our detailed training calendar.
Get in Touch
Interested in learning more about service training and upcoming foster care training sessions and classes? Contact us via email at traininginfo@afs4kids.org o
Helpful Links
To learn more about foster care, mental health and the Resource Parent application process, be sure to check out these helpful links:
- Foster Care Training website for Chabot-Las Positas Community College District.
- How to Become a Resource Parent through AFS
- Resource Parent Application
- All About the AFS Adoption Process
- Current Job Openings with AFS
Training Calendar
Sign up for any class via email at: traininginfo@afs4kids.org
Please include the training, date and city in the subject line.
ABC's of Infant Care
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/3/2021
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Presenter will review the basic care and precautions while caring for infants in the foster care system. Covering best practices in sleep rules when caring for infants. Presenter will discuss new crib standards, crib recalls, safety hazards and how they affect a safe sleeping environment, addressing the proper way to feed and burp a new born infant and how to make certain the infant is consuming the proper amount formula, basic diaper rash symptoms and how to properly treat and prevent rashes. Presenter will discuss teething, infant development stages and milestone, well baby checkups, and immunizations. The basic side effects from prenatal drug exposure will be reviewed and how it can prevent the child from reaching age appropriate milestones, creating significantly more health issues and caregiving demands.
Session IV The WPW RP 3-Story Brain, Pathways of Social Maturity, and Temperament
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/4/2021
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The WPW RP 3-Story Brain, Pathways of Social Maturity, and Temperament teaches parents how to understand the impact of trauma on the developing brain, where and how it can be "stuck' in development, and how to target maturation and healing by responding to the child/teen's brain age vs chronological age.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/6/2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.
Resource Family Pre Approval Training - Session 5&6- Spanish
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/8/2021
9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
This training is the fifth and six sessions addressing issues surrounding growing a healthy child in the supportive family setting. Children’s rights are spelled out in regards to treatment within the family and community, including understanding SOGIE, sexual health education and reproductive rights, and educational rights. Also addressing importance of maintaining confidentiality in all aspects of Resource Parenting, identifying all members of the professional team vs. those who are minor players and whom we keep informed on a need-to know basis. Responsibility for respecting the child’s right to confidentiality about his or her case, family of origin, reason for community care, etc. This session also addresses child’s potential need for psychotropic medication. Handling of records around prescribing, managing and administration of psychotropic medications. Last of all, this session addresses transitions, as all foster youth experience transitions as part of growing up. Transitions include reunification, adoption or guardianship, transitional living situations or aging out of the system. Included in this session are helpful advice and support for Resource Parents as they embark on their parenting journey.
Trauma Informed Parenting- " Parenting in Oz " Part 1
Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/8/2021
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
“Parenting In OZ!” is an experiential, memorable, trauma-informed, parenting curriculum designed to help parents and staff understand and respond therapeutically to the acting-out behaviors often exhibited by children who have experienced the trauma of neglect, abuse, and loss. Utilizing the vivid imagery from “The Wizard of OZ” and the emergency room, this unique training is an entertaining, multi-sensory approach to working with trauma that both professionals and parents cannot help but remember and integrate into their work. Trauma informed parenting is a paradigm shift for many parents who have often been trained to utilize tools designed to bring external controls to address or remediate problematic behaviors within a particular environment.
Session V Putting it All Together
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/11/2021
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
In session 5 Dr. Messina will guide participants through the development of their own WPW RP Family Coaching Plan utilizing the key elements of the model to help their children/teens heal and mature. Throughout the 5 sessions, Dr. Messina will also discuss relevant resources to help parents access adjunctive
Trauma Informed Parenting- " Parenting in Oz " Part 1
Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/8/2021
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
“Parenting In OZ!” is an experiential, memorable, trauma-informed, parenting curriculum designed to help parents and staff understand and respond therapeutically to the acting-out behaviors often exhibited by children who have experienced the trauma of neglect, abuse, and loss. Utilizing the vivid imagery from “The Wizard of OZ” and the emergency room, this unique training is an entertaining, multi-sensory approach to working with trauma that both professionals and parents cannot help but remember and integrate into their work. Trauma informed parenting is a paradigm shift for many parents who have often been trained to utilize tools designed to bring external controls to address or remediate problematic behaviors within a particular environment.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/13/2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.
Resource Family Pre Approval Training - Session 1&2
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/15/2021
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
This training is designed to prepare resource families to work with youth in the foster care system. Participants will receive a better understanding of the foster care system structure and explore how to provide a well-planned, safe, and secure environment designed to meet children's individual and unique needs, and how to create an environment that promotes children's social emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Participants will continue to review; Interim Licensing Standard, Child Growth and Development, Medication Guidelines, Discipline, Working with Biological Families and understanding the Effects of Trauma.
Effects of Secondary Trauma
The Importance of Self Care When Working With System Involved Youth and Families
Virtual Training: May 17th, 2021
9:00 AM –3:00 PM 6 CEUs
Registration Link: https://zoom.us/j/93253722637?pwd=VFByTG9QSGlhY2dlYktVQlVEWVJIQT09
Trauma Informed Parenting- " Parenting in Oz " Part 2
Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/15/2021
10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
“Parenting In OZ!” is an experiential, memorable, trauma-informed, parenting curriculum designed to help parents and staff understand and respond therapeutically to the acting-out behaviors often exhibited by children who have experienced the trauma of neglect, abuse, and loss. Utilizing the vivid imagery from “The Wizard of OZ” and the emergency room, this unique training is an entertaining, multi-sensory approach to working with trauma that both professionals and parents cannot help but remember and integrate into their work. Trauma informed parenting is a paradigm shift for many parents who have often been trained to utilize tools designed to bring external controls to address or remediate problematic behaviors within a particular environment.
Understanding Depression and Mood Disorders in System Involved Youth
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/20/2021
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Through lecture, discussion and handouts, trainer will describe situations in which a child is or may be experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. These are typical of children who have experienced trauma and who are in out-of-home care. Children may experience symptoms very differently than adult sufferers. Origins of these conditions will be discussed. Trainer will also give examples of treatment options based on the child’s age and nature of trauma he or she has experienced. Trainer will also discuss temporary medication options, if recommended. Participants will learn that some level of anxiety and/or depression is a natural and normal part of life, and can sometimes be helpful.
Resource Family Pre Approval Training - Session 3&4
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/22/2021
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
This training is designed to prepare resource families to work with youth in the foster care system. Participants will receive a better understanding of the foster care system structure and explore how to provide a well-planned, safe, and secure environment designed to meet children's individual and unique needs, and how to create an environment that promotes children's social emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Participants will continue to review; Interim Licensing Standard, Child Growth and Development, Medication Guidelines, Discipline, Working with Biological Families and understanding the Effects of Trauma.
Understanding Depression and Mood Disorders in System Involved Youth
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/26/2021
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Through lecture, discussion and handouts, trainer will describe situations in which a child is or may be experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. These are typical of children who have experienced trauma and who are in out-of-home care. Children may experience symptoms very differently than adult sufferers. Origins of these conditions will be discussed. Trainer will also give examples of treatment options based on the child’s age and nature of trauma he or she has experienced. Trainer will also discuss temporary medication options, if recommended. Participants will learn that some level of anxiety and/or depression is a natural and normal part of life, and can sometimes be helpful.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/27/2021
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.
Understanding Depression and Mood Disorders in System Involved Youth
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/28/2021
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Through lecture, discussion and handouts, trainer will describe situations in which a child is or may be experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. These are typical of children who have experienced trauma and who are in out-of-home care. Children may experience symptoms very differently than adult sufferers. Origins of these conditions will be discussed. Trainer will also give examples of treatment options based on the child’s age and nature of trauma he or she has experienced. Trainer will also discuss temporary medication options, if recommended. Participants will learn that some level of anxiety and/or depression is a natural and normal part of life, and can sometimes be helpful.
Understanding Depression and Mood Disorders in System Involved Youth- Spanish
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/28/2021
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
This Topic will be presented in Spanish and through lecture, discussion and handouts, trainer will describe situations in which a child is or may be experiencing depression or anxiety symptoms. These are typical of children who have experienced trauma and who are in out-of-home care. Children may experience symptoms very differently than adult sufferers. Origins of these conditions will be discussed. Trainer will also give examples of treatment options based on the child’s age and nature of trauma he or she has experienced. Trainer will also discuss temporary medication options, if recommended. Participants will learn that some level of anxiety and/or depression is a natural and normal part of life, and can sometimes be helpful.