Pre-service Training

 

Orienting Families toward Success

In Utah, each prospective foster/adoptive family is required to participate in standardized training before becoming a licensed foster parent. These 20+ hours of preparation are called “pre-service training” and can take as little as a month to complete. Pre-service training is divided up below into two categories: Classroom(currently online) and Independent. Completion of these trainings is required for licensing.

Classroom Training (Region Specific)

Our state is organized by region and each region has its own meeting space and trainer. Our professional trainers will provide insights into the foster family experience, situations you may encounter, potential solutions to typical problems, and many other topics important for those preparing to foster or adopt through foster care. Classes cover the following topics

  • Orientation/Team Building

  • Child Development
  • Trauma & Its Effects/Sexual Abuse
  • Minimizing the Trauma of Placement
  • Understanding Primary Families
  • Managing Emotions & Behaviors/The Effects of Caregiving
  • Long-term Separation/Adoption Issues for Families
  • Transcending Difference in Placements

I have a question about training…

For Those Currently In Training

 

In addition to “classroom” training, there are additional videos that are required for pre-service completion. The video portion is divided into two courses. There is a quiz for each of the courses. Your regional trainer will be notified when you complete the quizzes. Please note we need a quiz from each course in each parent’s name. 

COURSE 1: PRINCIPLES & PERSPECTIVES

Watch the videos below, then take quiz 1.

Pro-tip: print out the quiz and mark your answers while watching the videos—then enter and submit your responses via the web.

COURSE 2: POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Watch the videos below, then take quiz 2.

Pro-tip: print out the quiz and mark your answers while watching the videos—then enter and submit your responses via the web.

If you prefer, you can watch all Course 2 videos in a row.

 

Knowing is half the battle.

Manuals & Other Resources

DEEPER DIVES ON FOUNDATIONAL POLICIES 

  1. Pre-Service Manual [PDF]
  2. DCFS Practice Guidelines [PDF]
  3. DCFS Policy
  4. Office of Licensing
  5. Office of Licensing Code of Conduct [PDF]
  6. Office of Licensing Home Safety Checklist [PDF]
  7. Office of Licensing Rule [PDF]
  8. Office of Licensing Forms
  9. Educating Youth in State Care [PDF]
  10. Children with Special Health Care Needs
  11. Utah Family & Children Engagement Tool [PDF]
  12. Child Welfare Statutory Time Requirements Report [PDF]
  13. A Child’s Journey Through the Child Welfare System [PDF]

Time Requirements for Dependency, Neglect, and Abuse Cases [PDF]

Training for kids too!

One of the most common questions we hear is “do you have any training for the kids already in our home?” We are so happy to be able to finally say, “yes!”. THIS BRIEF TRAINING COURSE is designed for kids from 8 to 15, though younger children may still benefit—especially if you participate with them. The course is designed, after extensive consultation with foster parents and their children, to address some of the most common issues that arise when a family begins fostering. We hope it will begin an on-going conversation between parents and kids about the joys and challenges of providing foster care. A special thank you to the IDET program at the University of Utah, specifically Jamie Shaw, Preston Lindhardt, Kailey Stayner, and Kerriann Haycock who created this training.