ASCF clinicians utilize evidence-based curricula to train foster parents in the local community on trauma-informed parenting skills and approaches. We believe that foster parents play a vital role in a child and family’s recovery and resiliency from trauma. As a result, ASCF is committed to the continued learning, growth, and support of its foster parents as they carry out ASCF’s mission and serve as instruments of change for children and families with child welfare involvement.

Our programs team uses several evidence-based training curricula and approaches in order to accomplish the following goals: 

• Provide foster parents with education regarding trauma-related mental health symptoms in children and families. 
• Assist foster parents in utilizing trauma-informed relationship-building and parenting strategies within their homes. 
• Equip foster parents with skills to advocate for children’s needs across various child-serving systems.  
• Support foster parents as they build relationships with a child’s birth family and support children on their path to permanency.

Trauma-Informed Foster Parent Trainings

A Workshop for Resource Parents – RPC

Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma: A Workshop for Resource Parents (known as the RPC) was developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), a leader in the field of child trauma intervention. The RPC is a 16-hour curriculum delivered to groups of 10 to 20 foster parents. The curriculum educates foster parents about trauma-related mental health symptoms, provides them with trauma-informed parenting strategies, and equips them with skills to advocate for their children’s needs within various child-serving systems.

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement – CARE

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement, or CARE, is an evidence-based workshop that provides adults with practical, hands-on skills for interacting with children and teens in positive, trauma-informed ways.  CARE is appropriate for any adult working with children. CARE uses principles and skills from evidence-based, positive parenting programs to equip adults with skills needed to build healthy relationships with children and reduce children’s mild-to-moderate behavioral challenges.  With strong trauma-informed underpinnings, CARE focuses on building resilience among children ages 0-18. CARE is delivered by mental health providers formally trained in the model.  

Foster Parent Support Groups

Foster Parents who reside on the ASCF campus participate in monthly foster parent support group meetings. The content and focus of group meetings varies, but the overall goal of these groups is to assist foster parents in building supportive relationships with other foster parents on campus while enhancing their knowledge and understanding of trauma. Additional goals of the group include:

• Continued learning about and application of trauma-informed parenting skills 
• Addressing secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue 
• Applying reflective practices to the role of a foster parent to reduce stress, promote self-growth, and examine thoughts, feelings, and experiences that impact parenting 
• Discussing strategies to ensure that children feel safe, capable, and loved