All foster parents attend an in-depth training, which discusses the role of the foster parent as well as many children’s issues. The orientation assists foster parents in providing quality foster care by helping them learn about the issues children in treatment foster care are dealing with (i.e. sexual abuse, trauma, substance abuse, suicide, offending behavior, behavior management/modification, sexuality, and normal adolescent behavior).

Foster parents meet with other foster parents on a monthly basis to discuss feelings associated with foster parenting and receive support from one another. Community Care Services’ Foster Parent Supervisor facilitates these groups and offers clinical information, feedback, and behavioral and cognitive interventions as how to deal more effectively with children in care.

Foster parents attend 20 hours of educational training per year surrounding treatment issues. Guest speakers are brought in to discuss topics such as eating disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dual diagnosis, learning disabilities, teen parenting, sexuality, and sexual offenders.

A Foster Parent Supervisor meets with the foster parent monthly to discuss any problems/concerns they are having with the foster child. The Foster Parent Supervisor provides support and psychosocial education to assist the foster parent in effectively dealing with the child.

The Foster Care Case manager meets weekly with each foster parent to discuss progress and areas of growth for the child in placement. The Foster Care Case manager also meets with the foster child on a weekly basis to work on adjustment and other therapeutic issues. S/he provides intervention and guidance as needed.

Foster parents are urged to contact Community Care Services’ 24-hour on-call service at any time, whether for added support, guidance, information, or intervention.