Foster parent training

As part of the Team Parenting™ approach to foster care, our foster parents will be provide with comprehensive and ongoing foster parent training to assist you in all aspects of the fostering task.

Foster parent training in context

Issues relating to the safety, welfare and progress of children and young people are rarely out of the newspaper headlines and off our television screens. Concerns such as anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol use, obesity and literacy have all become prominent in recent years. The impact of negative press coverage has contributed to an air of apprehension about fostering to prospective foster parents.
In terms of the complex life experiences of children and youth who are fostered, we believe that is particularly crucial that foster parents are provided with high quality training, learning and development opportunities, which increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in a wide range of subjects and areas.

Key Assets Fostering is committed to providing training courses and other learning materials that are accessible and relevant to all our foster parents. Furthermore, this training must also be compatible with the different levels of a foster parent’s knowledge and experience.

What training does Key Assets Fostering provide?

Foster care training starts as part of the assessment process with the PRIDE training and assessment in Newfound land which all applicants must attend. In Ontario we utilize the Skills to Foster Training Program as part of the initial assessment which again, all applicants must attend. During your first two years as an approved foster parent, a Core Training Program is provided introducing you to a wide range of fostering related issues and practice. As foster parents become more established they are provided with a program of specialist courses covering a wide range of single subject and interest areas which we hope will further enrich your knowledge and skills base.

The importance of training at Key Assets Fostering

The importance of learning, development and training in keeping foster parents up-to-date with national concerns and issues surrounding children and young people has already been emphasized, but there are many other important benefits:

  • Encouraging and promoting the professionalism and higher status of foster parents
  • Promoting equality, diversity and rights within the agency
  • Encouraging safer caring
  • Promoting and encouraging reflection about fostering practice
  • Learning new skills and approaches
  • Reminders about important fostering issues and tasks
  • Refreshing the energy and enthusiasm for fostering
  • Seeking and finding mutual support from others
  • Overcoming possible difficulties and obstacles with challenging placements
  • Hearing and discovering the views and opinions of others

More about foster care training

For more information about foster care training, contact your local office today.
 

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