Department of Children's Services
James M. Henry, Commissioner

Home l Introduction l Training Calendars l Course Catalog l Announcements l Training Requirements
Foster Parent College l Conference/Super Saturday Events l Resource Parent PATH Videos
Training Contact Information l Resources

The tables below provide a visual explanation of training requirements based on DCS Policy 16.8.

Pre-Approval Training
Prior to becoming an approved resource parent, applicants must attend and participate in PATH (Parents as Tender Healers) training.

Pre-Service (PATH) for Traditional & Kinship Applicants 23 hours
Orientation	2 hours
Understanding the Child Welfare System	3 hours
Impact of Trauma on Children	3 hours
Cultural Awareness	1 hour
Expert Panel	2 hours
Effective Discipline	3 hours
CPR/First Aid	4 hours
Medication Administration	4 hours
Homework/Support Team Meeting	1 hour

Support Team Meetings – Provided during the pre-approval process – 1 hour. PATH trainers meet with applicants to discuss homework and gather information needed for PATH Participant Assessment Form.

On-Going Training (After Approval)
There are specific class requirements for first and second year resource parents.

For the post-approval training, there are different training tracks depending on the family’s status of either “traditional” or “kinship”:

Traditional Resource Parents must complete the following classes after approval:

First Year – total of 14 hours	Second Year – total of 14 hours
Working with the Education System – 2 hours	Working with the Education System – 2 hours
Helping Children Make Transitions – 3 hours	CPR/First Aid – 4 hours
Fostering Positive Behavior for Resource Parents – 3 hours	Medication Administration – 4 hours
Child Development – 2 hours	Parenting the Sexually Abused Child – 3 hours
Cultural Awareness – 1 hour	Cultural Awareness – 1 hour
Working with Birth Parents – 3 hours

Kinship Resource Parents must complete the following classes after approval:

First Year – total of 17 hours	Second Year – total of 14 hours
Working with the Education System – 2 hours	Working with the Education System – 2 hours
Helping Children Make Transitions – 3 hours	CPR/First Aid – 4 hours
Fostering Positive Behavior for Resource Parents – 3 hours	Medication Administration – 4 hours
Child Development – 2 hours	Parenting the Sexually Abused Child – 3 hours
Cultural Awareness – 1 hour	Cultural Awareness – 1 hour
Family Role Conflict – 3 hours
Family Dynamics – 3 hours

Resource parents in there third year or thereafter are required to receive 15 hours of training annually. These hours may be obtained by completing approved elective courses, attending the annual conference, Super Saturday events, Foster Parent College, or reading and watching approved books and videos.