SERVICES

Improvements to Caregiver Training

Children's Administration, in collaboration with FPAWS (Foster Parent Association of Washington State), developed a workgroup to identify training improvement needs for caregivers. The Training Workgroup included representatives from FPAWS, RFTI, DLR and Children's Administration staff.

The workgroup identified priorities for improvement based on the fundamental belief that foster parents provide better care when they have adequate and sufficient training related to the specific needs of foster children. The workgroup also explored the unique relationship between the caregiver and Children's Administration and recommended a required post-licensing course to address CA's current policy and practices.

The new Caregiver Training Policy will be implemented on October 15th, 2011. Improvements to the Training Policy will include:

• Required 36 hour Parenting Plus course within first 2 years of licensing*
• Required 3 hour So You Have Your First Placement course within first year of licensing
• Training hours decreased to 30 hours for second licensing period
• Training hours decreased to 24 hours for third and all subsequent licensing periods
• A total of 12 training hours can be rolled over into next licensing period
• Increased use of foster parent and tribal co-trainers

If you have any questions, please contact your DLR licensor who will be happy to assist you.

*Caregivers will be exempt from taking Parenting Plus if you have previously taken Foster Parent Scope.

• Policy 45121 Foster Parent Training
• Foster Parent Training Model