Certification and Renewal Training Requirements
Resource parents and relative resource parents in Oregon are required to complete training to fulfill certification and renewal requirements.
- Training is provided at no cost to resource parents/relative resource parents.
- Courses are offered throughout the state and can be taken in any county that meets resource parent/relative resource parent needs.
- Each certified adult in a resource parent/relative resource home is required to have 30 hours of training during each two year certification period. Review Training Requirements for renewal. To locate and register for ODHS Child Welfare coordinated trainings, visit the Ongoing Resource Parent Training page.
Learn more
Orientation
Becoming a resource parent can be a life changing experience. To become a certified resource parent or relative resource parent, you must complete Orientation training.
You have two options:
- Attend Orientation training with a local ODHS Child Welfare branch either in-person or via a live video-stream presentation: This option is highly encouraged to attend as it gives you the opportunity to meet a foster home certifier and other potential resource parents and ask questions in the moment. By attending Orientation with your local branch, you will not only learn about the required forms and assessment process, but you will also receive information about local processes and resources.
Connect with a local child welfare branch office for Orientation training information.
Online Orientation is being offered due to COVID-19
- Complete the Online Orientation: If you are unable to attend an in-person/live video stream Orientation in your local area you can complete the Online Orientation which includes a 5 part orientation video series, and additional video and form links. The Online Orientation will cover the required forms and assessment process but will not discuss local processes or local resources. The entire viewing of Online Orientation, videos and review of forms takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Once you have completed the Online Orientation, you will need to answer questions in the form of a Knowledge Check to confirm learning objectives were achieved.
If you have questions about Online Orientation please feel free to contact Resource.FamilyTraining@dhsoha.state.or.us
Online Orientation has multiple steps:
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Online video presentation
View the online presentation which has 5 separate parts (All 5 parts take approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to view):
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Additional video links, website and documents
In addition to the Online Orientation presentation, review the following video links, website and documents. Become familiar with the bill of rights documents that impact children and young adults in foster care, certified resource parents and relative resource parents:
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Reasonable and Prudent Parenting video (13 min, 25 sec): English ~ Spanish
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Mandatory Reporting Web page and video (29 min 25 sec): English (Use CC/Subtitles on video for other languages)
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Foster Parent Bill of Rights: English ~ Spanish
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Foster Child Bill of Rights: English ~ Spanish
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Orientation Knowledge Check. Complete the questions, regarding your review of the Online Orientation, additional videos and forms. There is not a certificate of completion for Online Orientation – the completed Orientation Knowledge Check will serve as your certificate of completion for Orientation. Each individual seeking to become certified must separately answer the questions (couples applying together must separately answer the set of questions and each submit their responses) and submit their Orientation Knowledge Check to the local branch office.
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Online Orientation Knowledge Check: English ~
Spanish
The questions consist of reflection information regarding the content viewed. Once completed, submit to a certifier from the local branch, or, if you have not applied to become a resource parent or adoptive parent yet, include your response to these questions with your application materials.
Next Steps
Are you interested in learning more and possibly applying to become a resource parent? Check out our
How to Become a Resource Parent page for additional information. You may also reach out to your local child welfare office to speak with a staff member and receive information about the assessment process and upcoming preservice Foundations Training classes.
Training registration information for Foundations and Ongoing Training opportunities for resource parents below.
Foundations Training
Individuals who want to continue to learn more about caring for youth in foster care or have been initially certified by ODHS Child Welfare must complete 24 hours of training, called Foundations Training, within 12 months of becoming certified. There are a total of eight sessions, each session is 3 hours in length. Learn more about Foundations training.
Ongoing Training
Each certified adult who is a resource parent or relative resource parent must complete 30 hours of ongoing training during each two year certification cycle. There are several options for training hour completion. ODHS Child Welfare coordinates live/online training each month that count toward the 30 ongoing training hours, available in English and with interpretation. To learn more about the monthly trainings, including how to register, visit the Ongoing Resource Parent Training page.
Training is available in a variety of settings including seminars and workshops, conferences, on-line sessions, webinars and traditional classroom settings. Some trainers are also available to provide specific and targeted training to smaller groups by request.
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Contact a training coordinator to find out the course offerings for a specific county.
- Safe Sleep for Oregon’s
Infants Self-Paced Training for Certified Resource Families – This self-paced course
will provide up to date information on safe sleep practices and the
responsibilities of resource parents who are caring for infants in foster care.
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Foster Parent College - Interactive training courses for resource parents, adoptive parents and relative resource parents.
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Adoption.com - adoption.com offers resource parent training and education including books, newsletters, articles and on-line training.
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Child Trauma Academy (CTA) - CTA works to improve the lives of high-risk children through direct service, research and education.
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Foster Care and Adoptive Community - FCAC Online Training offers hundreds of courses (some interactive) with new topics added continuously. Certificates are immediately generated with the passing of a course test and are either emailed or downloaded directly. Certificates contain your name, course title, hours credited, and date.
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FosterClub Online Training - FosterClub is a national network for young people in foster care. It provides young people in foster care an opportunity to connect and gain support from their peers. The non-profit organization also provides online training and resources for resource parents.
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Foster Parent Lending Library - The Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) has a wonderful online Lending Library that is free to be used by Oregon Resource Parents, Relative Resource Parents, and Pre-Adoptive, Guardianship and Adoptive Parents.
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Foster Parent Orientation Manual - This manual gives practical information and guidance about ODHS Child Welfare, ongoing training, medical care, travel, the role of the court, visitation plans and more.
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FosterParentTraining.com - Online training site for licensed resource parents.
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Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC) - Provides services for Oregon DHS adoptive and assisted guardianship families. Services included information, assistance, referral, in-depth consultation, advocacy and support, parent education and training. Resource parents and relative resource parents are also welcome at ORPARC trainings.