Foster Care Training

This course offers care professionals a foundation in understanding and respecting the diverse cultural traditions that can play a pivotal role in the lives of system-involved youth. Often, youth in the child welfare system come from backgrounds rich with cultural traditions, practices, and beliefs that they may have been separated from, or they may have limited exposure to these traditions due to family circumstances. Introduction to Multi-Cultural Traditions for Care Professionals explores how acknowledging and integrating these traditions can offer profound comfort to youth, helping them to build a sense of identity, continuity, and belonging. Through this workshop, participants will learn about the cultural practices that can become essential tools for building bridges between youth, their foster and adoptive families, and the broader communities they interact with. We’ll discuss how certain cultural values, rituals, and lifestyle elements can foster connection and healing, as well as how to be sensitive to practices that may be triggering or distressing for some youth. By embracing a culturally informed approach, care professionals can offer more compassionate, responsive support to system-involved youth, helping them form valuable connections as they grow into adulthood.