Caregiving Challenges
Whether you’re new to the world of child welfare and community wellness or you’re just facing a situation that’s new to you, we’re here to help.
Challenging Placements
Challenging placements or transitions are often a part of the fostering journey. There are a few things you can do to prepare for what comes next.
Press pause: You can tell your licensor you will not accept a new placement for a specific amount of time.
Talk it through: Check in with each person in your household. Talk about the experience with your family, share in a caregiver support group, or seek professional counseling from a family therapist.
Self-care: Do one thing you couldn’t do during the placement. Have a coffee/dinner/day date with your spouse or close friend. Complete an enjoyable project: home improvements, crafts, art, woodworking, or something else that nourishes you.
If This, Then That
These scenarios offer caregivers a way to choose the option that best fits their current needs or combine multiple for robust support.
Advanced Adoption: Effects of Trauma and Loss on Adopted Children (eLearning)
Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma series
Trust Based Relational Intervention: Introduction and overview
Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
Why Children Lie: Development, Trauma, and Supporting the Truth
African American Skin and Hair Care
Honoring Their History: Memory Preservation for Children in Care
Individual Learner Centered Skill Development for the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)
Multi-Ethnic Placement Act: What Caregivers Need to Know (eLearning)
Parenting a Native American Child: Partnering in the Interest of Culture for Caregivers (eLearning)
SFDG: Fostering Across Race, Ethnicity, and Culture
SFDG: Supporting the Culture of a Native American Child in Your Care
Caregiver’s Responsibilities in Supporting Family Time
Drop In Discussion: Lunch with Luanne (pre-licensure support)
Family Time: Relationships and Reassurance (eLearning)
Individual Learner Centered Skills Development on Family Time
Partners Make Better Decisions
SFDG: Fostering as Part of a Team
As They Grow: The Drug Impacted Child
Introduction to Positive Discipline
Parenting the Positive Discipline Way
SFDG: Caring for Drug Impacted Infants and Children
SFDG: Using Storytime for Connection and Support
Supporting the Educational Success of Youth Experiencing Foster Care
Trust-Based Relational Intervention: Introduction and overview
Why Children Lie: Development, Trauma, and Supporting the Truth
Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Child Development: 11 to 17 years (eLearning)
Identifying and Supporting Commercially Sexually Exploited Children for Caregivers (eLearning)
Pregnant and Parenting Youth for Caregivers (eLearning)
Preparing Youth for Transitioning to Adulthood (eLearning)
Individual Learner Centered Skill Development for Emerging Caregiver Needs
So, You Have a New Placement…Now What? (eLearning)
SFDG: Who is Taking Care of the Caregiver?
SFDG: Dancing with a Porcupine
SFDG: Practical Parenting Skills for Caregivers
SFDG: Grief & Loss in Your Fostering Journey
Focused Training
These are the top 3 trainings we recommend that offer specific skill building:
Parenting Teens (multi-session course)
This seven-part, sequential course helps you develop an understanding of the underlying causes of a youth’s behavior, which is one of the first steps in supporting their well-being.
Parenting the Positive Discipline Way
This series of six trainings explores tools to help you teach valuable social and life skills to children instead of using any form of punishment, rewards, praise, permissiveness or logical consequences.
Connecting: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression for Caregivers and Kinship Providers
This training will guide you in learning how to support children and youth in your care who may be questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity or who may identify as LGTBQIA+.
Mentors
Mentors can help you by providing emotional support, sharing their experiences and connecting you to regional and state resources. They are experienced caregivers who are familiar with the supports and services available in your region. There are two types of mentors: generalists who can help all types of caregivers statewide find the resources and support they need for successful placements; and specialists who offer expertise specific to communities or needs. Mentors do not offer legal, medical, or mental health advice. You can find your mentor here.
Investigations
The FIRST Program provides neutral advice and support to foster caregivers statewide. Licensed caregivers may experience an investigation when someone makes an allegation against them. The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Licensing Division (LD) has a responsibility to look into these concerns. Most investigations do not result in a finding of abuse or neglect against a foster parent. However, these investigations can be a stressful time for you or your family. The FIRST Program is here to help you.
To learn more, visit https://alliancecares.org/first, or call 866-393-6186 to speak to a FIRST representative.