Foster Care Training - Public and Private
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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 Foster 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. You can also download the PDF calendar here.
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 Foster Parent through AFS
- Resource Parent Application
- All About the AFS Adoption Process
- Current Job Openings with AFS
Training Workshops Calendar
Sign up for any class via email at: traininginfo@afs4kids.org
Please include the training, date, and city in the subject line.
Resourse Family Pre Approval Training - Session 1&2
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
9/19/2020
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.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
9/23/2020
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.
Cultural Humility When Working With System Involved Youth
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
9/23/2020
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
This training provides an introduction to Cultural Competency strategies in a strength-based approach to service delivery that considers culture in all aspects of assessment, treatment, care and discharge. Participants will review and discuss the role of culture in society and the reasons for the development of different cultural values, patterns, and behavior in response to society’s demands. Cultural Competency training recognizes in participants and clients the fundamental role of “culture” in seeking inherent strengths and capacities, understanding attitudes and beliefs about cultural identities, establishing a practice of honoring culture, and exposing cultural barriers that may exist between clients and providers
Cultural Humility When Working With System Involved Youth
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
9/25/2020
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
This training provides an introduction to Cultural Competency strategies in a strength-based approach to service delivery that considers culture in all aspects of assessment, treatment, care and discharge. Participants will review and discuss the role of culture in society and the reasons for the development of different cultural values, patterns, and behavior in response to society’s demands. Cultural Competency training recognizes in participants and clients the fundamental role of “culture” in seeking inherent strengths and capacities, understanding attitudes and beliefs about cultural identities, establishing a practice of honoring culture, and exposing cultural barriers that may exist between clients and providers
Resourse Family Pre Approval Training - Session 3&4
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
9/26/2020
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.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/1/2020
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.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/8/2020
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.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/15/2020
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.
Holiday Stressors: Helping Youth in Foster Care Through Holiday
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/15/2020
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The holidays can be stressful and busy times for everyone. For children in foster care, this time of year can be especially difficult. Many children experience feelings of guilt, shame and sadness during the holidays. And their feelings might be really mixed. During this work shop participants will review and identify strategies to help children cope during the holiday season. In addition to normal holiday stress, many system-involved youth face painful memories, family separation, difficult family dynamics, or at the worst, violence. The season becomes one of sadness and grief, often lasting well into the new year. Understanding how difficult this time may be for foster youth, can help caregivers and staff support them and let them know that there are people who care. Training will be conducted through lecture, class discussion, power point and hand outs.
Resourse Family Pre Approval Training - Session 1&2
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/17/2020
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.
Holiday Stressors: Helping Youth in Foster Care Through Holiday
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/21/2020
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The holidays can be stressful and busy times for everyone. For children in foster care, this time of year can be especially difficult. Many children experience feelings of guilt, shame and sadness during the holidays. And their feelings might be really mixed. During this work shop participants will review and identify strategies to help children cope during the holiday season. In addition to normal holiday stress, many system-involved youth face painful memories, family separation, difficult family dynamics, or at the worst, violence. The season becomes one of sadness and grief, often lasting well into the new year. Understanding how difficult this time may be for foster youth, can help caregivers and staff support them and let them know that there are people who care. Training will be conducted through lecture, class discussion, power point and hand outs.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/22/2020
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.
Holiday Stressors: Helping Youth in Foster Care Through Holiday
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/23/2020
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
The holidays can be stressful and busy times for everyone. For children in foster care, this time of year can be especially difficult. Many children experience feelings of guilt, shame and sadness during the holidays. And their feelings might be really mixed. During this work shop participants will review and identify strategies to help children cope during the holiday season. In addition to normal holiday stress, many system-involved youth face painful memories, family separation, difficult family dynamics, or at the worst, violence. The season becomes one of sadness and grief, often lasting well into the new year. Understanding how difficult this time may be for foster youth, can help caregivers and staff support them and let them know that there are people who care. Training will be conducted through lecture, class discussion, power point and hand outs.
Resourse Family Pre Approval Training - Session 3&4
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/24/2020
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.
Exploring Foster Care and Adoption
For Caregivers
DISTANCE LEARNING
10/29/2020
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.