Foster Care Training

Online Training

A significant challenge faced by many Foster Families is communication within the family. There is a need for establishing an open and easy system of communication when the emotions are strong, the stakes are high and there is a need for a crucial conversation. Individuals infrequently have the knowledge and understanding of how to effectively communicate what they want and need without a “blow up”. Giving individuals basic knowledge of how to have a crucial conversation creates an opportunity for families to establish a system to communicate effectively and create resolutions together instead of separating.

Foundational knowledge will be presented for how to effectively communicate to create resolution from the “pool of shared meaning” which establishes a family “base camp” from where communication can begin as well as a place of safety to where they can return. Learned skills will be directly applied to support foster families in having a crucial conversation using this technique. Families will learn how to avoid communicating from a place of reactivity. Techniques and practices will be shared for supporting foster families in understanding, interpreting and communicating about emotional experiences, dissonant feelings (depression, anger, and anxiety) and trauma. Participants will learn to recognize triggers and how to maintain a place of “safety” while communicating.

Interactive and physical experiential techniques will be explored, demonstrated and participants will be asked to engage in role play opportunities during this course. Participants will be asked to actively participate physically and to engage in role play scenarios to apply techniques and develop experiential skills. This course is interactive and not advised for passive participants. Active participation is required for participants to fully develop the techniques and skills in this course and for the success of the role play participation section of this course.