Foster Parent Preparedness Program

Understanding Behavioral Formation Causes

Why does your foster child act the way they do? This module explores how trauma, adversity, and displacement shape their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You’ll learn to see beyond surface actions—like defiance or withdrawal—and recognize them as responses to a turbulent past. With this empathetic lens, you’ll approach challenges with clarity and care, turning moments of struggle into opportunities for understanding and support.

Creating a Welcoming Environment

First impressions matter—especially for a child entering your home. This module guides you in crafting a space that radiates security, stability, and belonging. You’ll explore:

Cultural Sensitivity: Honoring the child’s background and identity.

Personal Space: Designing a comforting, individualized area they can call their own.

Emotional Safety: Building trust through warmth and consistency.

This foundation sets the tone for a placement where your foster youth can begin to feel at home.

Establishing Rapport with Your Foster Youth

Trust doesn’t come easy for kids who’ve been let down, but it’s the heartbeat of fostering. Here, you’ll master relationship-building techniques—from open communication to gentle presence—to create an emotionally safe space. Learn how to listen deeply, validate their experiences, and show them they’re seen and heard, laying the groundwork for a bond that can weather any storm.

Understanding Support Plans & Collaborative Care

Fostering isn’t a solo mission—it’s a team effort. This module demystifies Individualized Support Plans (ISPs) and trauma-informed strategies, teaching you how to align your care with the child’s broader goals. You’ll gain skills to partner effectively with caseworkers, therapists, and educators, ensuring consistency and progress across every aspect of their life.

The A.I.M. Model: Behavioral Analysis & Intervention

Meet the Action, Intention, Motivation (A.I.M.) Model—a structured, evidence-based tool to decode and address behaviors with precision:

Action: What’s happening right now?

Intention: What’s the child trying to express or achieve?

Motivation: What deeper need or emotion is at play?

This method moves you beyond knee-jerk reactions, helping you craft interventions that build trust, promote emotional regulation, and encourage long-term growth. It’s about responding with purpose, not just putting out fires.

Therapeutic Investigation: Uncovering the Why

Become a compassionate investigator of your foster child’s world. This module introduces simple investigative techniques—like spotting distress signals (e.g., shutdowns or outbursts) and asking thoughtful questions—to uncover the emotional and psychological roots of their behaviors. You’ll learn to collaborate with mental health professionals, weaving their insights into a support plan tailored to your child’s needs.

The Three S's of Successful Intervention: Stabilize, Scaffold, Supersede:

Learn this proven intervention strategy to guide children from immediate crisis to long-term independence. Discover how to stabilize emotional upheavals, scaffold developmental progress, and ultimately supersede the need for external control by fostering genuine self-reliance.

Understanding-Driven Support Approaches

Every foster child is unique, and this module is about meeting them where they are with compassion and care. It’s about creating a space where they feel secure, empowered, and truly understood.

Documentation & Reporting: Telling Their Story Right

Paperwork isn’t just a chore—it’s a vital part of advocating for your foster child. This module covers:

Daily Logs: Tracking progress, behaviors, and meaningful moments.

Behavioral Tracking: Spotting patterns in emotions and responses.

Incident Reports: Documenting escalations or safety concerns with clarity and care.

Communication Logs: Keeping a record of key conversations with the care team.

You’ll learn to document with accuracy and purpose, ensuring your foster child’s journey is well-represented.