Training
Module 1: The Foundation for Meeting the Developmental Needs of Children at Risk
The knowledge and skills developed during the four sessions of this module are critical to successfully fulfilling the foster parent role. The foundation competencies addressed pertain to assessing and building children's self-esteem, understanding behavior, and developing effective interpersonal skills. These sessions are designed to illustrate how to connect one's understanding of self-esteem and the meaning of behavior to the use of effective communication skills and the disciplinary process.
| Course Duration | 12 hours |
| Course Delivery | Self-Directed, Online |
| Course Provider | Governors State University, Chicago IL |
| Course Type | Self-Directed, Online |
Session One examines the meanings of self-concept and self-esteem and the factors that affect their development. The reasons why children in need of family foster care are at risk in the area of self-esteem and the importance of assessing children's self-esteem in order to be competent in meeting their developmental needs are discussed. Participants engage in an activity designed to enhance their ability to assess the self-esteem of children in their care.
The second session explores ways to build a child's self-esteem and examines the meaning of behavior. Participants become aware of the conditions essential for positive self-esteem and learn how to create these conditions for children in their care. The relationship between self-esteem and behavior is described and an activity illustrates how behavior is a means to meeting specific needs.
The Taking PRIDE Activity provides an opportunity for foster parents to practice building the four conditions for positive self-esteem and identifying the needs a child in their care is attempting to meet through his/her behavior.
Sessions Three and Four are devoted to building participants’ interpersonal and communication skills. Because effective communication is so vital to carrying ‘out the tasks of protecting and nurturing children, meeting their developmental needs, supporting their relationships with their families, promoting permanency outcomes, and working as a member of a professional team, foster parents engage in many activities related to building their communication skills.
In Session Three participants reflect upon their personal experiences with communication, identify roadblocks to effective communication, and explore ways to promote effective communication.
Session Four examines nonverbal communication, demonstrates attending behaviors as a way of being an involved listener, identifies ways to encourage children to talk with them, and provides an opportunity for foster parents to practice the skills of reflective listening and questioning.
Course Details
Upcoming Events: Module 1: The Foundation for Meeting the Developmental Needs of Children at Risk
No upcoming course events at this time.
Related Courses
Module 5: Supporting Relationships Between Children and Their Families
The goals of the three sessions in this module are to help foster parents understand the importance of the child's family relationships, to develop their skills to support these relationships, and to provide ways for participants to share the parenting role and to help birth parents.
Module 7: Promoting Children's Personal And Cultural Identity
Session One provides participants with an understanding of the importance of valuing and making a commitment to cultural competence and ways to work with the family foster care team to promote positive self-esteem through respecting, advancing and sharing children’s cultural norms and traditions.
Module 6: Working As A Professional Team Member
The purpose of this module is to provide foster parents with an understanding of the professional team in working on behalf of children and families. The three sessions include information and skill development related to teamwork, the tasks of foster parents as professional team members, and conflict management.
Module 3: Addressing Developmental Issues Related To Sexuality
This module, consisting of one three-hour session, provides information on normal sexual development and behavior in children and youth, identifies factors that indicate problematic sexual behavior, and outlines techniques for educating children about sexuality.
