Foster Care Support Network
Budget cutbacks and arranging face-to-face trainings can make foster parent trainings a real headache. It was in response to this lack of convenient and inexpensive trainings for foster parents, that Impact Publications launched the Foster Care Support Network (FCSN) in July 2001.
FCSN offers practical parenting advice on a wide variety of topics, such as attachment and bonding, sexualized behavior, anger management, life skills training, and others. Noted experts in foster care often cover topics.
FCSN has approximately 250 member agencies that distribute the CE trainings to nearly 5,000 foster parents nationwide. The tests are also available in Spanish. The following are some of the reasons why the tests are so popular:
- CE tests are convenient because foster parents can read the test at home and hand it in at their convenience, so there’s no scheduling nightmares for foster care agencies!
- CE tests are inexpensive – as little as $1.50 per hourly credit – and that’s no small consideration in today’s budget-strapped economic climate!
- CE trainings increase foster parent retention by providing useful parenting advice, and improving communication between agencies and foster parents.
- CE trainings improve the standard of foster care by educating foster parents on the latest techniques and trends covering a wide range of foster care topics.
Impact always encourages you to check with the licensing entity in your state to ensure that this type of training will be counted toward training hours.
How it works/cost: Foster parents conveniently complete the CE Test in their home. They read the three-page article, answer the questions on the back, and turn it in to their support agency. Participating FCSN agencies, in turn, can then credit foster parents with one hour of training each month. A one year Agency membership to the FCSN CE Test includes one agency CE Test with answers, one certificate of completion and one foster parent CE Test per month for $36 annually (Additional tests for foster parents cost $18/year, that’s only $1.50 per 1 hour of training credit.) See also the FAQ link, or call us with questions at 715-258-2448.
Who can join/what is covered: Both individual, private and public agencies and organizations can sign up, but agency and organizational membership allows multiple caregivers to complete CE Tests. New CE Tests are published monthly. Noted foster care experts often cover topics. We always encourage you to check with the licensing entity in your state to ensure that this type of training will be counted toward training hours. See our editorial calendar for topics scheduled to be covered in 2009.
WHAT YOUR PEERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FOSTER CARE
SUPPORT NETWORK
“The Foster Care Support Network CE Test continues to be a valuable tool in providing continuing education to foster/adoptive/kinship families.”
- Ruth Smith, Child Foster Care Licensor,
Rice County Social Services
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to use FCSN for our foster families. The study guides and CE Tests are helpful and very pertinent. Our parents have voiced their happiness and appreciation, not to mention you make our agency look even more professional. Thank you again for all that you do to help children. We certainly have the same goals. We make a great team.”
- Billie Harbison, Vice President, Recruitment and Retention,
Boys' Home Association Families Plus
“They are indeed full of good information that parents can pace themselves through as they balance the tremendous roles of foster parenting and work/community/home.”
- Susan K. Taylor–Turner, Central Area Training Coordinator,
CRAFFT Initiative Community Resource, Adoptive, and Foster Family Training
“We recently subscribed to the CE Test for our foster parents. Our agency has received an overwhelming positive response to the test. The information presented is pertinent, instructive, and it is an easy way for working foster parents to get their required training hours. It has also made my job easier because I will no longer have to constantly remind the foster parents about getting their training as the monthly mailing will be a continual reminder to them.”
- Carol Pontious, Foster Care Coordinator/Caseworker
Armstrong County Children, Youth and Family Services
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