| December | Cultural Continuity Agreements | Date: 12/13/2022 Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: As resource or adoptive parents, celebrating and exploring a child’s cultural identity is essential in one’s strengths, resiliency, and sense of pride. Learn more about Cultural Continuity Agreements in relation to caring for American Indian/Alaskan Native youth, how these agreements are developed, and the importance of ongoing cultural connection.
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| December | Understanding and Supporting Foster Youth Who Identify as LGBTQIA+ | Date: 12/13/2022 Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Gain a basic understanding of what it means to be an LGBTQIA+ youth in today’s society, the impacts of parental/caregiver support, and how to provide supportive and affirmative care to LGBTQIA+ youth.
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| December | Youth Thrive: Social Connection and Cognitive and Social Emotional Competencies | Date: 12/14/2022 Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST Course Description: This Youth Thrive training is intended to provide resource parents, relative resource parents and adoptive parents with an increase awareness of the importance of young people forming social connections and the knowledge needed to understand young people and promote long-term well-being. Gain a better understanding of how the relationship process is different for young people who have experienced trauma or come from challenging backgrounds. Participants will leave this training with a better understanding of how cognitive and social emotional competencies are a essential developmental task in adolescence because they lay the foundation for forming an independent identity and having a productive, responsible, and satisfying adulthood. Registration |
| December | Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Training | Date: 12/14/2022
Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: This course is specific to currently certified ODHS Child Welfare resource families. Learn about the purpose of Adoption and Guardianship assistance, the application process, and determination of Adoption/Guardianship assistance benefits. Registration |
| December | Mental Health Considerations | Date: 12/14/2022 Time: 9 – 11 a.m. PST
Course Description: Have a basic understanding of mental health disorders and conditions that commonly occur in childhood; recognize that not all ‘survival’ behaviors, or symptoms of grief are connected with mental health disorders; know about commonly administered psychotropic medications; know how to obtain consistent, adequate and appropriate access to mental health services.
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| December | Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. | Date: 12/20/2022 Time: 6 – 8 p.m. PST
Course Description: Understand the short and long-term impact on children exposed to substances prenatally including FASD*; recognize issues that may be present if parents use(d) substances; aware of medical issues that can arise due to substance exposure including higher risk of later addiction; understand the genetic component of addiction and addiction as a chronic disease; aware of parenting strategies for children exposed to substances prenatally.
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| December | Relative Resource Parenting | Date: 12/22/2022
Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST Course Description: Understand the complexities associated with caring for children who are related including: - divided loyalties
- redefining roles and relationships
- setting boundaries with birth parents and other relatives, and,
- range of emotions including anger, resentment, guilt and/or embarrassment.
Understand how to manage family dynamics and conflicts, identify triggers and effectively manage stress
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| December | Parents and Resource (Foster) Parents: Trauma-Informed Co-Parenting for Success | Date: 12/29/2022 Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Resource Parents: Have you ever wished you could have talked to family members about how to support children in your home? You may have wondered about their favorite food or stuffed animal, sleep schedules, or school struggles. Join a panel discussion of Oregon Parents and Resource (Foster) Parents as they answer your questions and share their lived experiences of relationship building, establishing healthy communication and partnering together for trauma-informed co-parenting to best support resilience for children in care and their families.
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| January | Parenting Ages 0-3: High Risk Infants | Date: 1/5/2023
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. PST
Course Description: Spend the day with Sarah Faulkner, a long-time resource parent for
infants in the ODHS Child Welfare foster care system. Debbie will share their
experiences and the hard-won knowledge they have gained through their work.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear about the many
challenges that resource parents face when caring for children between birth to
age three. Some example topics will include preemies and low birth weight;
genetic or developmental disorders; attachment; effects related to explore to
drug, alcohol and smoking; medically fragile infants and risk factors; and
self-care for resource parents. |
| January | Trauma-Informed Responding and Answering the Tough Questions | Date: 1/10/2023
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Gain practical information about responding to disclosures of sexual abuse and ways to support youth in your care who have been sexually abused. This presentation is being facilitated by CARES NW.
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| January | Healthy Relationships for Teens | Date: 1/10/2023 Time: 6 – 8 p.m. PST
Course Description: Healthy relationships are healing for youth who have lived through trauma. How can adults help support youth in seeking healthy relationships? How can you support youth as they navigate their personal boundaries as well as those of others? We will look at the foundations of healthy relationships, as well as consider the signs of unhealthy relationships.
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| January | Domestic Violence (DV) 101 | Date: 1/11/2023
Time: 9:30 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: Presented by Sarah Greenwood, CPS Coordinator, Domestic Violence (DV) 101 is a foundational course that offers insights into the world of a survivor of DV. Participants will learn about the dynamics of domestic violence, different types of abuse, warning signs of abusive behaviors, deconstructing myths, examining barriers to leaving an abusive partner, impacts to children, ways to support survivors and their family, community services and supports available, including domestic and sexual violence (DSV) advocates and advocacy programs.
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| January | Supporting Youth Who’ve Experienced Domestic Violence | Date: 1/11/2023 Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: Understand the effects of Domestic Violence on children and youth, as well as examine some proven ways to support their healing journey. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| January | Supporting Children with Sexual Behaviors | Date: 1/11/2023
Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Many children engage in sexual behaviors. Most of the time, this behavior falls into the “common” or “healthy” range. Sometimes, children engage in “concerning,” “problematic,” or “harmful” sexual behaviors. This is a sign that they are off-track developmentally and need their caretakers and possibly a professional to help them change their behaviors and get back on track. Learn user-friendly methods to identify if the behavior is common/concerning/harmful and tips to respond. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| January | Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder | Date: 1/12/2023 Time: 6 – 8 p.m. PST
Course Distraction: Understand the short and long-term impact on children exposed to substances prenatally including FASD*; recognize issues that may be present if parents use(d) substances; aware of medical issues that can arise due to substance exposure including higher risk of later addiction; understand the genetic component of addiction and addiction as a chronic disease; aware of parenting strategies for children exposed to substances prenatally.
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| January | The Impact of Trauma on the Mind and Body | Date: 1/17/2023
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: During this training, participants will learn and discuss ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and their impact on health outcomes; understanding how trauma rewires the brain; the stress responses of fight, flight, freeze or fawn; and the window of tolerance concept. Participants will also learn tips and tools for assisting children in regulating their nervous system to minimize the body’s stress response.
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| January | Youth Transition Planning 101 | Date: 1/19/2023 Time: 9 – 11 a.m. PST
Course Description: Are you caring for a youth age 14 and up? This training will focus on the preparation for transitioning youth to adulthood and out of foster care utilizing various supports and services that are accessible.
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| January | Parents and Resource (Foster) Parents: Trauma-Informed Co-Parenting for Success | Date: 1/26/2023 Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Resource Parents: Have you ever wished you could have talked to family members about how to support children in your home? You may have wondered about their favorite food or stuffed animal, sleep schedules, or school struggles. Join a panel discussion of Oregon Parents and Resource (Foster) Parents as they answer your questions and share their lived experiences of relationship building, establishing healthy communication and partnering together for trauma-informed co-parenting to best support resilience for children in care and their families.
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| January | Mental Health Considerations | Date: 1/26/23
Time: 6 – 8 p.m. PST
Course Description: Have a basic understanding of mental health disorders and conditions that commonly occur in childhood; recognize that not all ‘survival’ behaviors, or symptoms of grief are connected with mental health disorders; know about commonly administered psychotropic medications; know how to obtain consistent, adequate and appropriate access to mental health services.
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| January | All About Me Books | Date: 1/31/2023
Time: 9 – 11 a.m. PST
Course Description: Marvel at the potential of the All About Me Books! These are engaging tools that help children and young adults make sense of their lives, create a snapshot of their lives at a moment in time, enhance their self-worth, and express their thoughts and feelings productively. |
| February | Trauma-Informed Responding and Answering the Tough Questions | Date: 2/7/2023
Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Gain practical information about responding to disclosures of sexual abuse and ways to support youth in your care who have been sexually abused. This presentation is being facilitated by CARES NW.
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| February | Healthy Relationships for Teens | Date: 2/8/2023
Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: Healthy relationships are healing for youth who have lived through trauma. How can adults help support youth in seeking healthy relationships? How can you support youth as they navigate their personal boundaries as well as those of others? We will look at the foundations of healthy relationships, as well as consider the signs of unhealthy relationships.
|
| February | Supporting Youth Who’ve Experienced Domestic Violence | Date: 2/8/2023 Time: 6 –8 p.m. PST
Course Description: Understand the effects of Domestic Violence on children and youth, as well as examine some proven ways to support their healing journey. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| February | Resource Family Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Training |
Date: 2/8/2023
Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: This course is specific to currently certified ODHS Child Welfare resource families. Learn about the purpose of Adoption and Guardianship assistance, the application process, and determination of Adoption/Guardianship assistance benefits.
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| February | Oregon Adoption Overview | Date: 2/9/2023
Time: 9 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: Understand the ODHS adoption process in more detail in terms of process and what to expect. This training is coordinated by the Oregon Child Welfare Permanency and Adoption program.
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| February | Overview of ODHS Child Welfare Independent Living Program (ILP) Services |
Date: 2/9/2023
Time: 9 – 11:30 a.m. PST
Course Description: Learn about the variety of skill development options that youth in foster care can access when connected to the Independent Living Program and your role as a resource parent in advocating for youth in your care.
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| February | Supporting Children with Sexual Behaviors | Date: 2/9/2023
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Many children engage in sexual behaviors. Most of the time, this behavior falls into the “common” or “healthy” range. Sometimes, children engage in “concerning,” “problematic,” or “harmful” sexual behaviors. This is a sign that they are off-track developmentally and need their caretakers and possibly a professional to help them change their behaviors and get back on track. Learn user-friendly methods to identify if the behavior is common/concerning/harmful and tips to respond. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| February | Connection with Birth Families after Adoption | Date: 2/15/2023 Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Recognize the benefits for children being aware of their adoption story and maintaining connection with their birth families; aware of strategies for maintaining and promoting connections; understand the continuum that exists for connection; know how to negotiate relationships with birth families; recognize the impact on children's loyalty and identity toward birth parents and parents who are adopting.
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| February | Court Hearings: The What and the Why | Date: 2/21/2023
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: As a resource parent, have you wanted to better understand the different court hearings associated with ODHS Child Welfare cases? Attend this course and learn more specifics. Note: This training will be specific to the court processes in Multnomah County – other counties may not have the same process.
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| February | Citizen Review Board Hearings: What Resource Parents Need to Know |
Date: 2/22/2023 Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: The Oregon Judicial Department’s Citizen Review Board (CRB) program is Oregon’s unique solution to getting community and citizen input on sensitive and confidential foster care cases and the state foster care system. In Oregon, the CRB and judges share the responsibility for conducting periodic reviews every six months for all foster care cases in the state. Join trainers Tricia Swallow and Kristina Elliott from the CRB to learn all about this unique court program, how it functions to review cases of youth in foster care, and how you as resource parents can participate and best utilize CRB reviews to the benefit of your family and the youth in your care. Informational handouts will be provided and there will be plenty of time for questions and answers as well.
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