Before you take placement of a child, for either foster care or adoption, you must attend training classes to help you prepare for situations you might face. There is no way these classes cam completely prepare you, but they are a start.

There are several different classes, and the classes required vary by state. Your worker will tell you where the classes are held, how many hours you are required to attend and other pertinent information.

Some of the class names are:

Parents as Tender Healers (PATH)

Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAPP)

Partners in Alternative Care Education (PACE)

Parent's Resource for Information, Development and Education (PRIDE)

Not all education classes have names, but if your worker tells you that you need to take one of the classes listed above, you are taking a series of pre-placement classes.

What can you expect from the classes? Each class is geared toward a different topic. The topics vary but will usually include:

Role of the Parent/Caregiver on the Child Welfare
Team
Effects of Abuse/Neglect of Child Development
Attachment, Separation and Placement
Discipline and Behavior Management
Cultural Issues in Placement
Primary Families
Child Sexual Abuse
The Effects of Caregiving on the Family
Permanency Issues for Children
Permanency Issues for Families

Some of these classes may seem like they’re not very applicable at the time of the class, but they may come in handy once you actually have your child in your home.

You may also be in classes with parents who are already living with foster or foster/adoptive children. If my husband and I were to adopt again, we’d have to take the classes. They were not required when we first adopted Sammy or when we took custody of Kory and Mackenzie.

If you are a first time adoptive parent, take the time to talk to the “experienced” parents and find out the issues they are dealing with. You will get an honest account of things that you need to prepare for. They will be able to tell you how long you can expect to wait for your placement, rules that are specific to your state, and other things that only people who are experienced in foster care adoption can tell you. They may also prove to be great resources after your placement and can help to guide you through things like finding a good therapist or psychiatrist or trading respite care.

The contacts you make in your classes can become your most valuable resources.

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