FosterCARE Training
FosterCARE is an adaptation of Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE), a trauma-informed way for any adult to interact with any child or teen. This adaptation speaks to the unique challenges of children and families involved in the foster care system and the adults that support them. It seeks to increase positive child-adult interaction, child compliance, and child engagement. FosterCARE expands CARE skills to foster agencies, specifically to provide foster and kinship parents with basic skills for interacting with youths with trauma histories. FosterCARE is implemented through a 6 hour in-person training to include a trauma education component specialized for children involved with the child welfare system, and FosterCARE skills and strategies. FosterCARE encourages brief daily home practice between caregiver and child. Participants will learn and practice skills designed to strengthen healthy relationships. Trainers give live feedback to enhance learning of FosterCARE skills. FosterCARE training targets two key concepts:
- Positive Relationships: Skills and techniques that work together to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and reduce problematic behaviors.
- Increased Compliance: Tips and strategies to improve the likelihood of following adult directives.
AUDIENCE Who Should Attend CARE?
FosterCARE is for any adult working with children or teens in the foster care system to improve relationships and reduce mild-to-moderate behavior challenges:
- Parents (foster, kinship, adoptive, biological)
- School personnel
- Medical and allied health professionals
- Mental health professionals
- Court personnel
- Child welfare or advocates
- Early childhood program providers
- Home visitors
- Shelter, residential, substance abuse treatment staff