course »Communicating with First Families, for Foster Parents and Adoptive Parents

Date: 9/7/2018, 9:00 am—1:00 pm
County: Alameda County
CEUs: 3.25
Location: Oakland
Sponsor: Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
Phone: 510-482-2244
After many years of working with foster youth and adoptive families, it is clear that healthy relationships with birth/first family members can be a significant protective factor for foster and adopted youth. For youth and teens, navigating their contact and relationships with birth/first family members is a critical developmental task. Foster and adoptive parents are important guides on this identity journey for kids and teens, and professionals supporting youths and caregivers can offer helpful guidance on this journey. This workshop will discuss specific strategies for foster and adoptive parents to avoid pitfalls and do their part in nurturing affirming, healthy relationships between a child and their first/birth family. There can be complicated situations that require thoughtful decision-making and the aim of this workshop is to inform professionals in the field and offer support to foster and adoptive parents who are forging a kind of complex, wonderful extended family.