Foster Care Training

How we begin to form and shape our understanding of ourselves, our surroundings, our values and beliefs are influenced heavily by the people who predominantly raised us, the institutions we attended and the kind of media we were exposed to. This cycle of socialization can be applied to how we think of our gender, our race/ethnicity, culture, etc and the intersectionality of so many identities. This course provides participants with a thorough examination of how we have been socialized in terms of our gender and dissect what is socially constructed. Participants will do self-reflective explorations around their own personal gender story, reflecting on their socialization around gender roles, expressions, influences. Understanding the full context of what clients and colleagues are going through the lens of gender is critical for social workers and providers to recognize and support for themselves and for their clients and families. Translating one’s personal stories into the larger picture will help build trust and healthier relationships with families, youth and colleagues.