Caregiver Skill Development
All licensed family foster homes (including private agency, DCYF and licensed relative homes) are required to complete ongoing training during each three-year licensing period. Depending on what you are interested in learning about, or what works best for your schedule, the Alliance offers a wide variety of options.
Specialized topics
If you are managing a challenging situation or circumstances you are new to, we have courses to support you. Read more about all our options on our Caregiving Challenges page.
eLearnings
- Car Seat Safety: Select, Fit and Install Correctly (also available in Spanish)
- Caregiving for Children with Physically Aggressive Behavior Concerns (also available in Spanish)
- Caregiving for Children with Sexual Behavior Concerns (also available in Spanish)
- Connecting: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Training for Caregivers and Kinship Providers
- Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Child Development (separate offerings for Foundational Concepts, Birth to 3 Years, 3 to 5 Years, 5 to 11 Years and 11 to 17 Years)
- Identifying and Supporting Commercially Sexually Exploited Children for Caregivers
- Infant Safety and Care for Caregivers
- Medication Management and Administration for Caregivers (also available in Spanish)
- Multi-Ethnic Placement Act: What Caregivers Need to Know
- Parenting a Native American Child: Partnering in the Interest of Culture for Caregivers
- Pregnant and Parenting Youth for Caregivers
- Preparing Youth for Transitioning to Adulthood
- Prudent Parenting
- So You Have a New Placement…Now What? (also available in Spanish)
- Understanding Autism: Reflections and Insights from Parents and Professionals
Indigenous family wellness
- Parenting a Native American Child: Parenting in the Interest of Culture: This training provides caregivers an introduction to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), Tribal sovereignty and the impacts on foster parenting. The Indian Child Welfare Act obliges child welfare agencies and caregivers to take certain steps to protect and preserve the rights and cultural and familial connections of children covered by the act. For non-Federally recognized tribes (and in other circumstances), Washington State enacted policy related to Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory Committees (LICWACs) to staff tribal cases and these impacts and supports are also discussed. This training explores the legal, historical, and social biases that have impacted and continue to have a disproportionate impact on Native American children and families.
Mandatory reporters
Professionals who interact often with children are obligated to report concerns about abuse or neglect. Learn more about the Alliance’s specific, in-depth eLearning that will guide you through the process of identifying and documenting those concerns. Learn more here.