In Utah, each prospective foster family is required to attend classes in advance of becoming a foster parent.
These 32 hours of classes are called “pre-service training” and take a month to complete and are required for licensing. Utah Foster Care (UFC) trainers schedule these trainings throughout the state each month. You must register for classes by contacting a UFC representative in your region.
Each class provides unique insights into the process of becoming a foster family, situations you may encounter, solutions to typical problems, the emotional aspects of being a foster family, and many other topics important for those preparing to foster.
Class subjects are listed here:
- Orientation / Team Building
- Child Development
- Trauma & Its Effects / Sexual Abuse
- Minimizing the Trauma of Placement
- Transcending Difference in Placements
- Managing Emotions & Behaviors / The Effects of Caregiving
- Long-term Separation / Adoption Issues for Families
- Understanding Primary Families
In addition to these in-class courses, three online classes (webinars) which focus on Utah-specific policies and procedures are required:
- Fostering Healthy Children
- Office of Licensing Rule
- Division of Child & Family Services (DCFS) Practice Guidelines
Additional classes on specific challenges are available after licensing.
