What are the Classes like that Prepare Parents to Care for Foster Children?
Each foster care applicant certified by the Mesa County Department of Human Services (MCDHS) is required to complete 32 hours of pre-certification training. Topics taught include a general overview of foster care, administrative and legal issues, why children get placed in out-of-home care, parenting and family dynamics, key concepts of child growth and development, importance of the team approach, individual differences, such as ethnicity and culture, discipline, effects of fostering on the foster family, working with the biological family, as well as a number of other topics. This informative training gives foster parents the essential tools to care for foster children. In addition to this pre-certification training, each applicant is also required to be CPR and First Aid certified. In addition to the pre-certification training, foster parents are required to obtain ongoing training.
