Foster Parent Training Worker Information All foster parents are given a Level of Care certification during the foster care licensing process based on meeting the following: Qualifications Training Foster parent references Foster parent experience There are five Levels of Care. Each Level of Care certification has a specific number of training hours, personal references, and experience requirements. Training is necessary to prepare foster parents and help them to continue to develop as a foster parent. Being a successful foster parent means continuing to learn through: Classes and other training methods Reading books or magazines Talking with other foster parents Continually developing new skills Each foster parent is required to complete: Pre-placement training, Initial licensing training, and Ongoing training required for their foster home’s Level of Care certification. Pre-placement training Provides an overview of the child welfare system and the foster care program, such as: Expectations of foster parents Caring for children in foster care Developing and maintaining family connections Foster family self-care Level of Care 1 Pre-Placement training can be completed before or after the placement of a child but no later than 6 months after the date of initial licensure. Level of Care 2, 3, or 4 Pre-Placement training may be completed before or after initial licensure but prior to the placement of any child in the home. If the license is child-specific, the foster parent must complete the training no later than 6 months after the date of initial licensure. Level of Care 5 The program manager must complete the Pre-Placement training before or after initial licensure, but prior to the placement of any child in the home. Each program staff person must complete the Pre-Placement training before working independently with a child. Initial licensing training Next step in foster parent training. Completed in the initial licensing period. Provides a solid foundation of education on foster care and child welfare issues. Foster parents learn more information about: Permanence Culture Child development Family connections Abuse and neglect Attachment Discipline Effects of fostering on the foster family Ongoing training Offered on a continual basis. Completed in each 12-month period of licensure subsequent to the initial licensing period. Provides education topics specific to the children placed in a foster home. Opportunity to explore areas of interest. Learn more about how to meet the needs of children placed in a foster home. Completed in many ways. Foster parents should talk with their licensing worker about this training. Foster Parent Training Forms Foster Care Forms & Publications for Workers - is a comprehensive list of forms and publications for use by Wisconsin Foster Care Workers. Training Resources WCWPDS - Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System For more information about books, videos, and other trainings available, talk with the foster home licensor or contact the Wisconsin Family Connections Center (WiFCC). Staff at the WiFCC can also be reached by telephone at 1-800-762-8063. Foster Parent Training Contact Information Out-of-Home Care Specialist Bureau of Permanence and Out-of-Home Care Division of Safety and Permanence DCFDSPGeneralFosterCare@wisconsin.gov Complete foster parent training requirements are listed in Chapter DCF 56. If a foster parent has completed adoption training as part of the adoption requirements, some of the Initial Licensing training can be met by the adoption training The Pre-Adoptive Training and Foundation Training Crosswalk provides more information. For more information about books, videos, and other trainings available, talk with the foster home licensor or the Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center (FCARC). Staff at the FCARC can also be reached by telephone at 1-800-762-8063. Each Level of Care certification has a specific number of required foster parent training hours, which are outlined in the below table:
