Foster Care Training

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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 or call (916) 254-5200 to learn more.

Helpful Links

To learn more about foster care, mental health and the Resource Parent application process, be sure to check out these helpful links:

Training Calendar

Sign up for any class via email at: traininginfo@afs4kids.org
Please include the training, date and city in the subject line.

Non-Violent Crisis Prevention When Working With System Involved Youth - Part 1

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/22/2023
5:30PM - 8:30PM

This training will introduce Crisis Prevention Interventions, with an emphasis on early intervention and nonphysical methods for preventing or managing disruptive and assaultive behavior. Trainers will review effective communication and human physiology during aggressive moments, as well as core philosophy of maintaining Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security, which provides the training’s solid foundation. Many human service professionals around the world have participated in CPI training programs to learn proven strategies for safely resolving situations when confronted by anxious, hostile, or violent behavior, while protecting the therapeutic relationships with those in their care.

Register Here

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/25/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

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.

Register Here

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/1/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

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.

Register Here

Engaging Youth about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression (SOGIE) for Caregivers - Understanding the Needs of Queer Youth in Care

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/7/2023
5:00PM - 8:00PM

This training is intended to provide participants with general knowledge and understanding to better prepare them to engage in conversations with youth about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. In addition to educating participants on SOGIE and relevant laws protecting LGBT youth in care, we will explore some of the potential barriers to youth disclosing their identities and strategies to overcome these barriers. We use a combination of lecture, videos, interactive activities, discussions and handouts to enhance the caregiver’s ability to better serve transition aged youth in care.

Register Here

Resource Family Pre Approval Training - Session 1&2

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/10/2023
10:00AM - 4:00PM

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.

Register Here

Resource Parent Pre & Post-Adoption Support Group- Preparing for Permanency

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/13/2023
6:00pM - 8:00PM

These groups are designed to support Resource Parents with training and resources to make informed decisions regarding permanency planning. Post Adoption support services and resources will be shared throughout the sessions. Sharing is Caring: We look forward to your attendance and welcome your stories, concerns, questions, resources and solutions.

Register Here

Resource Family Pre Approval Training - Session 3&4

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/17/2023
10:00AM - 4:00PM

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.

Register Here

Engaging Youth about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression (SOGIE) for Caregivers - Understanding the Needs of Queer Youth in Care

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/17/2023
10:00AM - 1:00PM

This training is intended to provide participants with general knowledge and understanding to better prepare them to engage in conversations with youth about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. In addition to educating participants on SOGIE and relevant laws protecting LGBT youth in care, we will explore some of the potential barriers to youth disclosing their identities and strategies to overcome these barriers. We use a combination of lecture, videos, interactive activities, discussions and handouts to enhance the caregiver’s ability to better serve transition aged youth in care.

Register Here

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/22/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

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.

Register Here

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/29/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

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.

Register Here

Preventing Burnout When Working with System Involved Youth and Families

Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/24/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

This training is designed for those looking to understand the concepts of Compassion Fatigue, addressing risks and resiliency factors when caring for others in both a professional and non-professional capacity. Also known as secondary trauma, it s recognized as a significant and serious condition that leaves service providers and caregivers with their own symptoms of traumatic stress. After working years in situations in which helping professionals and caregivers come face-to-face with the suffering of others, the reality of these heart-wrenching experiences can take an emotional and physical toll on the helping professional.

Register Here

Preventing Burnout When Working with System Involved Youth and Families - Spanish

Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
5/26/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

This training is designed for those looking to understand the concepts of Compassion Fatigue, addressing risks and resiliency factors when caring for others in both a professional and non-professional capacity. Also known as secondary trauma, it s recognized as a significant and serious condition that leaves service providers and caregivers with their own symptoms of traumatic stress. After working years in situations in which helping professionals and caregivers come face-to-face with the suffering of others, the reality of these heart-wrenching experiences can take an emotional and physical toll on the helping professional.

Register Here

Non-Violent Crisis Prevention When Working With System Involved Youth - Part 1

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/5/2023
5:30PM - 8:30PM

This training will introduce Crisis Prevention Interventions, with an emphasis on early intervention and nonphysical methods for preventing or managing disruptive and assaultive behavior. Trainers will review effective communication and human physiology during aggressive moments, as well as core philosophy of maintaining Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security, which provides the training’s solid foundation. Many human service professionals around the world have participated in CPI training programs to learn proven strategies for safely resolving situations when confronted by anxious, hostile, or violent behavior, while protecting the therapeutic relationships with those in their care.

Register Here

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/8/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

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.

Register Here

Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/12/2023
5:30PM - 8:30PM

Presenter will review the basic care and precautions while caring for infants in the foster care system. The training covers 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. Training addresses 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 also discusses common health issues in infants and toddlers in Foster Care. Presenter will discuss teething, infant development stages and milestones, 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.

Register Here

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/15/2023
6:00PM - 8:00PM

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.

Register Here

Trauma Informed Parenting- " Parenting in Oz " Part 1

Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/17/2023
10:00AM - 1:30PM

“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.

Register Here

Engaging Youth about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression (SOGIE) for Caregivers - Understanding the Needs of Queer Youth in Care

For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/21/2023
5:00PM - 8:00PM

This training is intended to provide participants with general knowledge and understanding to better prepare them to engage in conversations with youth about Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression. In addition to educating participants on SOGIE and relevant laws protecting LGBT youth in care, we will explore some of the potential barriers to youth disclosing their identities and strategies to overcome these barriers. We use a combination of lecture, videos, interactive activities, discussions and handouts to enhance the caregiver’s ability to better serve transition aged youth in care.

Register Here

Trauma Informed Parenting- " Parenting in Oz " Part 2

Trauma Impact
DISTANCE LEARNING
6/24/2023
10:00AM - 1:30PM

“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.

Register Here