Foster Care Training

In the mental health field, we are tasked with having difficult conversations with kids and teens. Some of the hardest conversations to have with kids are the ones about why their parents’ behaviors are unpredictable or why they are foster care, why they can’t be with their first families, and if and when they will go home. Many children and teens are involved in the child welfare system because (at least partially) of parental substance use. On the one hand, it is hard to make specific statements about how parental substance abuse impacts kids and teens. At the same time, there is data that suggests children are negatively impacted by growing up in homes where one or more parent abuses substances. This training will explore the ways that parental substance abuse affects attachment styles in children, as well emotional and behavioral functioning. We will also offer participants insight into how to talk to children about parent substance abuse. Finally we will discuss ways to help youth be resilient when parental substance abuse is impacting their family and their lives.