Foster and Adoptive Care Essentials Training (FACES)
FACES is offered to individuals interested in providing foster/adoptive care, including those who are non-licensed relative caregivers. It consists of a minimum of 21 hours of training that promotes a better understanding of working with children, families and child-placing agencies. This training assists in preparing the applicant to be a skilled caregiver and professional team member. Courses are primarily instructed by foster and adoptive parents. The training consists of seven three-hour modules.
The modules are:
Orientation
This module is an introduction to the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families' (DCYF) foster care system. Included is a summary of the need for foster/adoptive homes and the role and expectations of foster/adoptive parents.
Regulations
Preparation is required in order to become a licensed foster home. This session summarizes the rules and regulations, the application and home-study process, and the paperwork necessary to obtain a NH foster care license
The Developing Child
This module explores the theories of child and adolescent development. Physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and sexual development is discussed as well as variations from usual development patterns. It is important to recognize how abuse and neglect affects child development and the stressors that are placed on children's development. A look at strategies to help children and adolescents thrive are explored.
Experiencing Grief and Loss
This module explores how transitions impact the placement process of children and families. The focus includes the grieving process, attachment, and strategies to integrate a child(ren) into a new foster/adoptive family. The importance of recognizing and identifying one's own grief and loss issues before fostering/adopting a child is presented. Stages of grief and loss and their effects on the child and the foster/adoptive family are explored. Theories of attachment as well as the continuum of possible attachment related behaviors are explained. Methods to facilitate healthy attachment are discussed.
The Effects of Childhood Trauma
This module presents an overview of the effects of childhood trauma on children who are in care. Participants become aware of the trauma that children experience and learn to recognize the common symptoms and behaviors of children. The course explains triggers and how they affect traumatized children. Strategies for supporting children in care are explored and discussed.
Promoting Positive Behavior
This module introduces prospective foster/adoptive parents to parenting styles and behavior management techniques. It explains how goals and expectations can influence a person's parenting both positively and negatively. Participants are encouraged to examine their own parenting styles, understand methods of communication and discover new tools for managing behavior of children in care. Resources for ongoing learning about parenting techniques for children are reviewed.
Lifelong Connections
This module explores children's needs for lifelong relationships and connections. Participants will assess their own opinions, notions, and biases related to families of children in care. Material is presented that addresses family dynamics, and the influence of a child's history, culture and traditions upon caregiver families. Family/community contacts and visitations and the effects of multiple loyalties on the daily lives of children are examined.
FACES to Faces
Covered in this module can be a range of guest speakers, follow-up questions and answers, and final paperwork.
|
ALUMNI AND FRIENDS
ACADEMICS
