Foster Care Training

A suggested method for supporting system-involved youth (SIY) in transcending their negative past experiences is to effectively engage them in accessing their hereditary strengths, talents, and passions, enhanced with future envisioning, and performance coaching towards building a life that is constructive, inspires joy, is fun, and promotes success in social settings, academics, and career related activities, and brings about a feeling of security in the individual that leads to healthy engagement with community. In this interactive training, we will explore how to enhance our capacity to support SIY by exploring Strengths-based Coaching Techniques (outlined in the above paragraph) that foster the relationship with SIY and sparks motivation to get them […]

Life books provide system-involved youth with a tangible way to document their stories, process their experiences, and honor their personal journeys. This course combines the art of storytelling with the structured approach of life book creation, empowering child welfare professionals to guide youth in crafting meaningful narratives. Participants will explore how writing, art, and creative expression can help youth navigate grief, process trauma, and celebrate their identities. The training emphasizes trauma-informed and strengths-based methods, ensuring professionals are equipped to support youth in reclaiming ownership of their stories. Participants will learn practical techniques for introducing life books in ways that are culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with each youth’s unique […]

This training is designed to assist professionals working with foster youth to connect to stories of themselves within the work that are fulfilling and sustaining. Because this work requires us to spend time in situations that tend to deplete us or contribute to ‘burnout’, it is vital that we are able to engage with versions of ourselves that demonstrate the ways that we stay connected to what we give value to. Participants will discuss some of the ideas that frame what stories are available to be told and to find ways to challenge these ideas in order to discover alternative stories. A particular story about a professional in the field […]

This specialized training is designed for professionals who provide care and support to individuals whom exhibit challenging or potentially assaultive behavior. Participants will gain essential skills and strategies for effectively managing high-stress situations and preventing violent behavior. The course covers recognizing early signs of escalation, employing de-escalation techniques, and maintaining control through clear, assertive communication. Emphasis is placed on creating a safe environment for both the individual and the caregiver while fostering mutual respect. Through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-world case studies, participants will develop practical skills to safely navigate difficult situations, reducing the risk of conflict and ensuring the well-being of all involved. Participants will leave this training with […]

This specialized training is designed for professionals who provide care and support to individuals whom exhibit challenging or potentially assaultive behavior. Participants will gain essential skills and strategies for effectively managing high-stress situations and preventing violent behavior. The course covers recognizing early signs of escalation, employing de-escalation techniques, and maintaining control through clear, assertive communication. Emphasis is placed on creating a safe environment for both the individual and the caregiver while fostering mutual respect. Through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-world case studies, participants will develop practical skills to safely navigate difficult situations, reducing the risk of conflict and ensuring the well-being of all involved. Participants will leave this training with […]

This specialized training is designed for professionals who provide care and support to individuals whom exhibit challenging or potentially assaultive behavior. Participants will gain essential skills and strategies for effectively managing high-stress situations and preventing violent behavior. The course covers recognizing early signs of escalation, employing de-escalation techniques, and maintaining control through clear, assertive communication. Emphasis is placed on creating a safe environment for both the individual and the caregiver while fostering mutual respect. Through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-world case studies, participants will develop practical skills to safely navigate difficult situations, reducing the risk of conflict and ensuring the well-being of all involved. Participants will leave this training with […]

This specialized training is designed for professionals who provide care and support to individuals whom exhibit challenging or potentially assaultive behavior. Participants will gain essential skills and strategies for effectively managing high-stress situations and preventing violent behavior. The course covers recognizing early signs of escalation, employing de-escalation techniques, and maintaining control through clear, assertive communication. Emphasis is placed on creating a safe environment for both the individual and the caregiver while fostering mutual respect. Through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-world case studies, participants will develop practical skills to safely navigate difficult situations, reducing the risk of conflict and ensuring the well-being of all involved. Participants will leave this training with […]

This training is going to review the materials from the Equilibrium curriculum as it relates to chapter one Why are you here. Through didactic, collaborative, and individual reflective learning, the group will explore the values that brought them to work in the child welfare system, how to maintain connection to those during difficult times with thoughtful personal resilience plans, and the professional responsibilities related to expressing those values such as cultural humility. These activities will support staff to provide thoughtful, responsible services for youth in their care.

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system-involved youth is to effectively engage them to break free of trauma and avoid using drugs and compulsive behavior to self-medicate. In this training, we will explore energy management and redirection of thought strategies, illicit drug facts, and harm reduction strategies to enhance our ability to support system-involved youth and/or their caregivers toward emotional development, wellbeing, resilience, and an increased ability to heal from traumatic events to lead a meaningful life. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve the practice of how we empower system-involved youth and/or their caregivers.

This training encourages providers to identify and create strategies for children and youth coming into care in the child welfare system. Additionally, this training aims to provide information about seeking out external providers who assist and will provide support to clients in this setting. We discuss how to form collaborative relationships between county child welfare and service providing staff

This course aims to equip those who support system-involved youth and families with the knowledge and skills of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and its application in the context of the Stages of Change. Participants will learn how to effectively engage, support, and empower system-involved youth and families at different stages of change, especially within the process of identifying strengths and needs and well as service and support planning efforts. Through interactive exercises, case studies, and role-plays, participants will enhance their ability to apply MI techniques and facilitate positive behavior change in this unique population. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions […]

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer; the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. QPR prepares you to know what to do if you suspect someone is contemplating suicide. Participants will know how to persuade someone to not commit suicide and how to refer this person to professionals that can begin treatment.  Register Here

Children and teens are being diagnosed more frequently with Autism and related disorders. It’s important for social service providers and those who serve and/or support system-involved youth to understand Autism and related diagnoses to most effectively serve and/or support youth on the autism spectrum. This training will provide an overview of Autism and other related diagnoses as well as strategies to work with youth on the spectrum from a strengths-based and neurodivergent affirming perspective.

For youth in foster care, resilience is often framed as an individual trait—something they either possess or need to develop in order to ‘overcome’ their circumstances. However, resilience is shaped by the structures, policies, and social expectations that determine access to stability and support. Many youth in care face institutional challenges that disrupt their well-being, from frequent placement changes to policies that limit their ability to make decisions about their own lives. What if resilience wasn’t just about helping youth cope with these realities, but about changing the conditions that create them? This session will explore how structural challenges, social conditioning, and institutional decision-making impact youth well-being, often creating patterns […]

This four-hour class is tailored for professionals who serve caregiver adults of developmentally disabled youth in foster care. The training will focus on understanding the unique emotional and physical needs of these children, with an emphasis on fostering realistic expectations and offering kind encouragement to their development. Additionally, the training will address the frustrations caregivers may experience in their desire for youth to acquire skills at a pace that aligns with their unique developmental trajectory. By the end of this training, professionals will be well-prepared to guide and support caregiver adults in providing patient, realistic, and encouraging care for these children while promoting their well-being.

This training will assist direct service professionals in reflecting on their own power and privilege within their personal identities, while also considering the intersectional context of youth clients they may assist in out-of-home care. Through personal assessment, group discussion, and multimedia, participants will define microaggressions, bias, power, privilege, and learn to recognize them. Finally, through group activity and roleplay, participants will develop personal strategies to intervene when witnessing the perpetration of damaging messages and embody what it feels like to respond in uncomfortable situations, particularly if clients or colleagues are not responsive to feedback. All definitions will be discussed in the context of system-involved youth.

Given the importance of working with resource parents and caregivers of system-involved youth, this course will provide concrete tools and discuss best practices for effectively working with them. Specifically, we will focus on best practices for partnering with resource parents and caregivers of youth in care to promote best outcomes. The workshop will also provide an overview of strategies to educate and support resource parents and caregivers in their parenting in a nonjudgmental manner.

Restorative justice principles have become increasingly popular amongst juvenile justice and social service providers. The focus is on repairing and restoring the relationship. This course will provide an overview of restorative justice principles as well as strategies to implement them when working with youth in care.

Do you know youth and families trying to navigate multi-cultural foster and adoptive placements/homes? Many of the issues they are facing are fairly typical of foster and adoptive homes. At the same time, we know that youth placed in homes with caregivers of a different racial/cultural group often experience distinct challenges in family, school and community life. If foster and adoptive parents are not considering racial identity development as a critical part of a youth’s needs while in care, then accidental harm can be done. Concrete scripts for supporting youth and caregivers in these conspicuous families will be explored. This workshop is designed to examine the strengths and challenges involved […]

“Many aspects of the child welfare system shape how youth experience care, stability, and connection. These structures influence placement decisions, support networks, and relationships with families and communities, often determining whether youth feel empowered or disconnected from their identities and cultural roots. Prioritizing right relationship” focusing on ethical, accountable, and community-centered approaches” can help professionals strengthen stability and long-term well-being for youth in care. This session will examine how historical policies and institutional structures continue to impact child welfare today. Participants will explore how relationship-building, cultural connection, and decision-making frameworks influence youth experiences. Through discussions and practical tools, attendees will gain strategies for ensuring youth experience care that respects their […]

Given the disproportionate number of youth of color in the foster care system, it’s imperative for social service providers to provide culturally relevant services. This 3-hour webinar will explore cultural perspectives on trauma, healing, and resiliency. With a greater cultural understanding of these concepts, providers will be able to increase their engagement with youth and families in more culturally meaningful ways.

This training helps resource parents identify and respond to child abuse, focusing on signs of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. It covers building trust, creating a safe environment, and understanding the effects of trauma. Resource parents will also learn reporting protocols and how to work with agencies to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. The goal is to equip resource parents with the skills to protect and support children in their care.

This training helps resource parents identify and respond to child abuse, focusing on signs of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. It covers building trust, creating a safe environment, and understanding the effects of trauma. Resourse parents will also learn reporting protocols and how to work with agencies to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. The goal is to equip resource parents with the skills to protect and support children in their care.

This training presented in Spanish helps resource parents identify and respond to child abuse, focusing on signs of physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. It covers building trust, creating a safe environment, and understanding the effects of trauma. Resource parents will also learn reporting protocols and how to work with agencies to ensure the child’s safety and well-being. The goal is to equip resource parents with the skills to protect and support children in their care.

This specialized training is designed for professionals who provide care and support to individuals whom exhibit challenging or potentially assaultive behavior. Participants will gain essential skills and strategies for effectively managing high-stress situations and preventing violent behavior. The course covers recognizing early signs of escalation, employing de-escalation techniques, and maintaining control through clear, assertive communication. Emphasis is placed on creating a safe environment for both the individual and the caregiver while fostering mutual respect. Through interactive exercises, role-playing, and real-world case studies, participants will develop practical skills to safely navigate difficult situations, reducing the risk of conflict and ensuring the well-being of all involved. Participants will leave this training with […]

This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.

This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.

Attendees will understand Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Rights for youth in foster care. These rights ensure young people in foster care age 10 and older, including non-minor dependents, have access to education, information, and services about their sexual and reproductive health. Attendees will understand the sexual and reproductive health rights of youth in foster care and the duties and responsibilities as a caregiver as well as those of the case worker, how to engage with youth about sexual and reproductive wellness. Register Here

This training is designed to prepare resource families to work with youth in the foster care system. Participants will receive a better understanding of the foster care system structure and explore how to provide a well-planned, safe, and secure environment designed to meet children’s individual and unique needs, and how to create an environment that promotes children’s social emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Participants will continue to review; Interim Licensing Standard, Child Growth and Development, Medication Guidelines, Discipline, Working with Biological Families and understanding the Effects of Trauma.

This training is designed to prepare resource families to work with youth in the foster care system. Participants will receive a better understanding of the foster care system structure and explore how to provide a well-planned, safe, and secure environment designed to meet children’s individual and unique needs, and how to create an environment that promotes children’s social emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Participants will continue to review; Interim Licensing Standard, Child Growth and Development, Medication Guidelines, Discipline, Working with Biological Families and understanding the Effects of Trauma.

This training will explain the purpose of the Child Welfare system and the Resource Family Approval application process. We will define what a Resource Parent is and go over the responsibilities that come with the role, where the Resource Parent is in the larger team of supports for foster youth, as well as the five competency categories guiding a Resource Parent. The Aldea Staff will introduce Aldea’s history, its programs, and support services provided to Resource Families. She will explain the steps in the process to become an approved Resource Parent: the required documentation, pre-service trainings, submission of background checks, how to prepare your home for RFA approval, and review […]

This training focuses on the meaning of culture and the importance of preserving the cultural identity of Native American youth in foster care. The training will provide participants with knowledge and tools to support Native American youth in foster care while respecting and honoring their culture, beliefs, and rights.   Register Here

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

This training will focus on providing concrete strategies for helping system-involved transition age youth stay safe in their homes and relationships when they are not ready to leave or identify their relationship as abusive. The training will also cover how to have conversations with system-involved transition age youth about domestic violence (DV/intimate partner violence (IPV) and provide resources and support without forcing the person to take action. Additionally, the training will cover legal remedies, safety planning, building self-esteem, and ongoing education and awareness around domestic violence. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

Most self-injurious behavior is related to early experiences of sexual, physical and emotional/verbal abuse. The adolescent stage of development is where self-injury typically starts. By understanding the causes and meanings of self-injurious behavior, caregivers can provide the early support necessary for youth to avoid long-term psychological problems. This training is designed to explore the idea, causes and effects of self-injurious behavior. Upon completion of the training, participants will have a basic understanding of how and why clients engage in self-injurious behavior. Participants will also have a set of strategies to respond to the needs of those clients.

Many system-involved struggle with anxiety and mood disorders. It’s crucial for social service and behavioral health providers to understand the different types of anxiety and mood disruptions and know how to effectively support youth and young adults. This training will provide an overview of different types of anxiety and mood disruptions as well as practical strategies providers can use to support youth and young adults struggling with them. register here

This training will support providers with having more productive conversations with transition-aged youth on the subject of utilizing health care resources for proactive healthcare. Participants will learn how to more efficiently locate providers with Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal, and learn important considerations for continuation of health care after DCFS case closure. Topics such as health anxiety and other barriers to health care utilization will also be covered. In small groups, participants will discuss common roadblocks to preventative care with transition-aged youth and apply learnings to practice engaging young people in effective conversation about health care usuage.

This 3-hour training will focus on the research on reasons why system-involved youth (SIY) self-harm and evidenced based practices to support the decrease in self-harm behaviors. Attendees will look at the relationship between self-harm and suicidality, increasing the ability to both contextualize self-harm in the spectrum of suicidality and support it independently when suicide risk is not present. The training will review strategies to balance risk assessment with youth empowerment, taking a harm reduction stance when appropriate. Lastly, attendees will review effective means of engaging caregivers, whether needing to break confidentiality or support SIY in voluntarily sharing their self-harm to enhance safety.

Moral injury refers to an individual’s psychological, emotional, and/or spiritual response to being involved in or exposed to something that goes against their values. Originally coined to describe the aftermath of soldiers witnessing, failing to prevent, or perpetrating actions that go against their sense of morality, moral injury is a phenomenon often common for child welfare workers who may be obligated to make decisions that violate their sense of right and wrong. Moral injury causes distress, contributes to compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, and can impact the health of system-involved youth (SIY) and those who support them. In this training, participants will identify four characteristics of moral injury, five sources […]

Restorative justice principles have become increasingly popular amongst juvenile justice and social service providers. The focus is on repairing and restoring the relationship. Given the many problems system-involved youth can get into at their placement or learning environment, it’s important to explore alternatives to discipline. This training will provide an overview of restorative justice principles as well as strategies to implement them with system-involved youth. register here

Transition Age Youth (TAY) are youth typically between 16-26 years of age who are transitioning from being minors and individuating into young adulthood. For our youth in foster care and in juvenile justice continuums of care, this transition is significantly more difficult than it is for youth not in these systems. Sadly, youth coming out of our systems have poor outcomes into adulthood. Let’s try something different! This training will allow us to look at some additional ways to include the extended family and other “natural” support systems in the lives of our TAY as they make this very difficult transition. This is the single largest developmental transition that we […]

Service providers working with system involved children, youth, and families are held to many local, state, and federal expectations. Among these expectations include adhering to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), privacy practices (including confidentiality), and mandated reporting. This course will provide a comprehensive overview of HIPAA, protected health information (PHI), confidentiality, and mandated reporting requirements for service providers. Due to the ever changing nature of how we communicate with children, families, and other services this training will include how to ensure electronic communications adhere to the requirements as well. Mandated reporting will cover child and elder abuse reporting practices. This course has been customized for ABW staff and […]

The experience of loss and secondary trauma for service providers, caregivers, and others who work with foster youth can at times impact quality care that is offered. This training looks at how vicarious and secondary trauma may impact those who work with system involved youth. This is an opportunity to explore the trauma that exists at micro and macro levels, and how these dynamics influence and are influenced by the direct dynamics within families and teams. Participants learn strategies to mitigate the effects of secondary trauma and strategies of sustainability for those who work long term with foster care.

From the time they enter the state’s care and likely long before, foster youth experience trauma that can severely alter their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. The impact of trauma on foster youth can mean that this vulnerable population faces numerous additional challenges as they grow and develop into adulthood. Foster youth experience trauma in many ways, often starting at home. Youth will enter the foster care system because they have experienced physical or sexual abuse, neglect, a loss of a parent, or abandonment, forcing the state to step in. Other family stress factors such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration can lead to a child’s removal from […]

This training session is designed to prepare Intensive Care Coordinators at WestCoast Children’s Clinic to effectively utilize connection maps when working with foster youth. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the purpose and structure of connection maps, develop practical skills in creating and interpreting them, and learn to apply these maps with foster youth. The training also emphasizes enhancing youth engagement, fostering cultural competence, and promoting collaboration.

CSEC 101 is a 1-day course that provides a comprehensive overview of CSEC. The course will discuss CSEC by looking at the victimization of youth as well as the demand side of exploitation. The trainer will discuss risk factors and pathways of entry for all those involved in CSEC. The trainers will highlight populations that are disproportionately impacted by CSEC such as the Native American population, LGBTQ youth, etc. Lastly, the trainer will discuss identifying youth involved in CSEC and needs they have.

This training explores the purpose of actively working with youth in care to help them meet preferred behaviors. The training highlights four things to think about in any given situation before choosing how to support youth: your personal state, the desired outcome, the situation and environment, and which approach to use. Didactic presentation, group discussion, art and visualization exercises are utilized.

Many system-involved youth and young adults struggle interpersonally. Given that trauma impacts one’s relationships it makes sense that system-involved youth can struggle to understand, build and maintain relationships. This training will equip you with the skills and knowledge to increase system-involved youth’s interpersonal relationships. register here

This training encourages providers to identify and create strategies for children and youth coming into care in the child welfare system. Additionally, this training aims to provide information about seeking out external providers who assist and will provide support to clients in this setting. We discuss how to form collaborative relationships between county child welfare and service providing staff

This training is focused on working collaboratively with system related providers on behalf of youth in care. We will facilitate a conversation with providers on how to exercise professionalism when difficult situations present themselves in the work. Further, the training will explore how to navigate difficult conversations related to providers on behalf of youth in care. This training will encourage and empower providers to explore where their biases are and how they may impact youth in care and the effectiveness of engaging youth in their services.

Providers at the Alameda County Assessment Center work with youth to prepare them as they transition into a new placement within the foster care system. Often youth that have been in foster care will refuse to go to their placements. This training invites providers with the opportunity to open up dialogue about the challenges they encounter and reasons youth refuse placement. Providers will explore and discuss strategies for encouraging challenging youth to transition to their next placement.