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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Parenting Plus Training

I have been receiving many emails and phone calls with caregivers who are trying to find the time and childcare to attend the required trainings to remain licensed.

Any suggestions or comments welcome here!

5 comments:

  1. This required class is very difficult to acquire for already licensed and placement filled foster homes. When we work an 8+ hr day, foster kids and get them to their appointments plus normal household requirements and then adding 'normal' age appropriate activities such as sports. When you have more than your own children for example, we have our two children and two foster placements and they each are in age appropriate sports...that equal 8 practices a week plus four games on the weekend and the foster children's counseling appointments, sibling visits and parent visits. (Most times we have a total of 5 or 6 children total in our home) Where do we as the adults fit in trainings?
    Yes trainings are helpful and required but who is going to 'babysit' a 13 yr old and because of polices it is difficult to allow a young teen to stay at a friends house when you don't know the parents and they are not willing to do a background check.

    Where are we suppose to fit in an all day on a week day for 6 weeks training when one or both adults work?
    If it is offered in the evenings it cuts into the above mentioned activities and it is late bedtimes for adults who leave for work at 4am as well as children who for their and our sanity must be on a scheduled bedtime.
    If offered on the weekend who is going to not only watch my two children but also watch my two foster placements who have Sensory and behavioral issues.
    Also trainings are offered in main city centers which is great but start at 9 am on a week day when children don't start school until 9:30 and I have a 45min. drive. Then it ends at 3:30 and a child gets out of school at 2:20and home at 3pm and I still have a 45 min drive home to get them and at 13 my placement won't go and doesn't qualify for Daycare.

    The only options I that I can think of for this particular training are:
    1. don't have it as a requirement for those who have placement already,
    2. offer it online somehow,
    3. maybe provide it as whole family event and smoosh it into one Sat.
    4. or take my lic and my placements away.

    I know people who are giving up their lic. to even be placement and respite providers because of this required lengthy training when they have been fostering for more than three years.

    I am willing to watch videos, power points, read a book and even take online tests or write what I have learned on these required topics. All that I can do on my own time at my own pace in my own home.

    It is great to have book knowledge and education but I get more out of a discussion with a small group of fellow foster parents and wonderful social workers to brainstorm how to manage a particular child in a particular situation than sitting in a class room being taught psychology and theories and play silly role play scenarios which are not even close to what we really deal with although they are quite humorous. (I have a counseling/psychology/teaching education and background.)

    My intent wasn't to be complaining or whining but to describe what WE as foster parents REALLY do and how we are limited. I thought of a few suggestions and I am willing to listen to more suggestions or ideas and your opinion if you disagree. Just so you know I have been involved with fostering kids for about 6 yrs...and have had up to a total of 6 kids including two of my own and I am still doing it because I care about kids.

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    Replies
    1. here is the rest of what I wanted to say in the middle of this post after the Daycare for a 13 yr old...

      We don't get paid to go to meetings, trainings like Social workers do.

      WE volunteer (yes we get reimbursed gratefully) OUR 24/7 for children that at times have extreme behavioral, mental health and/or educational issues where Social Workers spend maybe an hour a month in their presence.

      WE are required to follow Governmental RULES and POLICIES which we are not required to follow if they were our own children(there are a few I hope we all follow but that would be common sense).

      WE are the ones dealing with the outbursts, behaviors, attitudes with the children when they come back after visits with siblings, or parents or cancelled visits.

      WE are dealing with the dentist appointments, counseling appointments, Doctor appointments, and school meetings, and any other therapies that may be required, oh and the court hearings.

      So in all that when am I suppose to fit in lengthy trainings?

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  2. I think there are different phases of training. Early on, foster parents may need a comprehensive module based program. Once licensed and with kids in care, there should be some recognition that these caregivers are past that phase. Now they need ongoing support, a training is offered on how to deal with case paperwork, investigations but nothing in how to deal with LICENSING. This has a huge impact on fp perception of being valued when they are under pressure from licensing while they are simultaneously caring for children. Mandatory trainings of licensed homes should be paid stipend, mileage reimbursement, childcare. Dept needs to first consider undue hardships on their homes before decreeing ALL must comply.

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