Foster Care Training

We are far from the “”simple”” parenting challenges of the 2Oth century. These days, the 21st-century family must confront a complex array of problematic dangers stemming from digital and mobile technologies that include online pornography and social media, as well as excessive information and communication technology (ICT) use. ICT includes sexting, cyberbullying, and other inappropriate and harmful uses of can’t-live-without-it tech. Family Play service providers are increasingly seeking to assist families in managing these issues and balancing the positives technology can offer. This workshop will provide an overview of technology-related behaviors that can increase the risk of victimization, conflict, and overuse issues, utilizing an Attachment Play-based approach. Participants will learn about family attachment, play-based assessment tools, play & expressive arts strategies to help families and youth cope with these issues safely and effectively. Participants will engage in two family play therapy assessments during the workshop and three play strategies to assist families in developing a healthy relationship with technology use. We will also review related research, laws, and ethics relevant to Family play providers and their colleagues. For example, AB 1394 will levy steep fines against social media platforms that fail to combat and remove content that depicts child sexual exploitation and abuse, which will become effective in 2025. This workshop is designed for clinicians and professionals who wish to learn how to support system involved parents and caregivers in the appropriate use of technology and develop healthy relationships with technology, including XR (Extended Reality) and AI.