FosterParentCollege.com® online courses can be combined with in-person pre-service training curriculums to reduce the number of classroom meetings. Currently, these courses are available in two standardized blended curriculums, the FPC-IHS Blended Pre-Service Training (described below) and within the CWLA New Generation PRIDE Model of Practice (for more information click here). Additionally, to learn how the FPC Series feature allows agencies to create or modify their own curriculums, please contact us.
FPC-IHS (Institute for Human Services) Blended In-Person and Online Pre-Service Training for Resource Parents
FPC-IHS Blended Pre-Service Training combines classroom sessions and FPC online courses. This innovative approach significantly reduces the cost and inconvenience of entirely in-person approaches without reducing the quality or quantity of the training. The blended program design offers flexibility to meet the needs of individual agencies and their parents.
The 10 self-paced online courses cover the core parenting topics addressed in pre-service training. Each course is written and presented by a national expert and includes interactive exercises, handouts, and a review questionnaire.
The FPC-IHS curriculum is written with four in-person training sessions, and is is easily modified to meet local needs. The in-person meetings provide opportunities for staff to review online courses, answer questions, and present regulations, as well as opportunities for staff and parents to mutually assess the parents' willingness and ability to care for a child.
A research study of the effectiveness of this training was conducted jointly by Northwest Media, Inc. and the State of Oregon Department of Human Services. The study found, among other things, a significant improvement in parent retention through to completion of pre-service training when using this blended training approach. The final report on the study can be found on our website. An article in the journal Child Welfare (Vol.93, #6, pp. 45-72), titled Efficacy of Blended Preservice Training for Resource Parents, reports on the results of this study. The FPC-IHS Blended Pre-Service Training has also been recognized by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), which gave it a "Promising Research Evidence" rating with "High" relevance to child welfare. view CEBC report »
The FPC-IHS Blended Pre-Service Training curriculum manual is available free to agencies that purchase training units on FosterParentCollege.com. You can sample a preview and contact FPC for the full PDF.
Organization of Blended Training
Introduce parents to online pre-service training schedule; explain how to use online classes; lead group activities. The curriculum for the meeting is flexible and offers the opportunity to observe parents in a group setting. There is the opportunity to provide unique state/agency information or required training that is not covered in the online training.
Assign Course Cluster 1:
The Child Welfare Team Online
Child Abuse & Neglect Online
Parent-Child Attachment Online
Understanding Behavior in Foster Children Online
Review of Online Course Cluster 1; group activities that complement the online training; disseminate local information.
Assign Course Cluster 2:
Child Development Online
Cultural Issues in Parenting Online
Working Together with Primary Families Online
Review of Online Course Cluster 2; group activities; disseminate local information.
Assign Course Cluster 3:
Caring for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused Online
Reducing Family Stress Online
Foster Care to Adoption Online
Review of Online Course Cluster 3; wrap-up; distribute certificates of completion.
Online courses were originally developed with funding from a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (Grant #HD054032). Entitled Web-Enhanced Pre-Service Training for Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Parents, this grant also provided funding for a study of the blended training program.
