The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Resource Parent Recruitment and Training, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Physical Neglect, Emotional Abuse, Exposure to Domestic Violence
• Target Population: The target populations of this program are prospective foster and adoptive parents and kinship providers.

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting focuses on training participants to develop the skills, knowledge, values, traits, and motives necessary to prepare them to understand and cope with the experience of receiving an adoptive or foster child into their home. The program’s curriculum was developed by stakeholders from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the Child Welfare Training Institute (CWTI), a division of the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, collaborated with experienced foster and/or adoptive parents. Together they defined the knowledge-base, skills, abilities, and underlying personal characteristics needed to be an effective foster and/or adoptive parent. Three additional themes guided the development of this Curriculum and are interwoven throughout the document:

• Parent as Professional
• Understanding the Child
• Lifelong Learning

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting is a training for prospective foster and adoptive parents or kinship providers. Participants are challenged to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the identified competency areas:

Family Systems

• Family-Oriented Priority Setting
• Household Organization
• Coaching and Counseling
• Family Relationships

Positive Behavior Support

• Basic Behavior Management
• Management of Severe Behavioral Problems

Professional Team Member

• Collaboration
• Critical Thinking
• Interpersonal Sensitivity
• Commitment to Children
• Technical Knowledge
• Perspective
• Equilibrium
• Flexibility
• Self-Development

Health and Development

• Human Development
• Health Issues
• Psychological Understanding
• Working with Adolescents
• Cultural Sensitivity

Understanding Safety Needs

• Physical/Sexual Abuse
• Substance Abuse
• Separation and Loss

Participants receive a training manual that outlines the 8 Session topics:

Session 1: Orientation to Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting
Session 2: Understanding the Child Welfare System
Session 3: The Family as a System
Session 4: Understanding Children: Development, Attachment, and the Effects of Maltreatment.
Session 5: Understanding the Child’s Experience of Loss
Session 6: Special Considerations for Parenting Children at Risk
Session 7: The Importance of Maintaining and Supporting Connections
Session 8: Preparing for New Roles

The manual also contains evaluation tools, homework worksheets, a competency guide, and a resource guide.

A critical component of the training includes 4 separate panel discussions with the following groups:

1. Experienced foster/adoptive parents
2. Adoption workers representing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
3. Caseworkers workers representing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services
4. Youth who are either currently or were formerly in care.

TRAINING COMPLETION:

Criteria:

• Attendance at 6 of the 8 Sessions
• Completion of all written homework assignments
• Completion of content evaluations
• Completion of trainer evaluations
• Completion of a pre and post test self-evaluation

At the end of the training, participants who have met the criteria receive a joint Certificate of Completion from CWTI and DHHS as well as Continuing Education Units.

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting was not designed with a child component.

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms:

• Issues associated with becoming a foster parent, adoptive parent, or kinship provider.

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting was designed to be conducted in a group setting; but has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended group size:

8-30 participants.

Recommended Intensity:

Depending on the needs of the prospective parent/kin participants, there are either 3 hours or 6 hours of training a week. With 3 hours of training, there is one session a week. With 6 hours of training, it can either be two three-hour sessions or one six-hour session.

Recommended Duration:

Duration is 4-8 weeks for a total of 24 hours of training.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community Agency
• Departments of Social Service
• Hospital

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting includes a homework component:

Homework assignments are an essential component of this training and a requirement to obtain a Certificate of Completion. Homework is divided into a reading component, a self-reflection written assignment and a self-assessment related to specific competencies introduced in each Session.

Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

• 1-2 experienced educators (at least one of whom is a current or former foster and/or adoptive parent)
• Space for 8-30 participants
• Tables and chairs for participants
• Copies of training manuals for participants
• LCD Projector
• Laptop
• DVD/VCR player
• Training PowerPoint Presentation
• Training Bibliography
• Flip chart and paper
• Supplies: Paper, pens, markers, tape, name tags, videos
• Panel members: Experienced foster/adoptive parents
• Panel members: Current or former foster/adopted youth
• DHHS representative to present case flow of Child Protective Services
• DHHS representative to present information regarding policies practice of foster care, adoption and kinship care.

The program is most successful when offered by experienced foster/adoptive parent educators. There is no formal educational requirement. The model can be offered with co-trainers who have experience in the child welfare system and are familiar with the content of the Training Manual.

There is a manual that describes how to implement this program, and there is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Sharon Gagne, Or Becky Harvey
  USM Muskie School of Public Service, Child Welfare Training Institute
  sgagne@usm.maine.edu
  phone: (207) 626-5200
  45 Commerce Drive, Suite 11
  Augusta, ME 04330

Training is obtained:

Training can be offered on site at CWTI, at DHHS District Offices or in an appropriate community-based setting.

Number of days/hours:

12 hours of training offered in 2 days.

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified

Currently, there are no published, peer-reviewed research studies for Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting.

No reference materials are currently available for Fundamentals of Foster and Adoptive Parenting.