"At some point in early life, most children will take something that doesn't belong to them," says Dr. Rick Delaney, instructor of the newest course on FosterParentCollege.com®. "While many people use the term 'stealing' when talking about these behaviors, I prefer to use the term, 'taking things,' because for children in care, it really isn't a criminal act, but rather connected to their emotional issues."
This spring FosterParentCollege.com launched the course Taking Things Without Permission. Part of the Advanced Parenting Workshop series, this 6-credit course delves deep into the reasons why children take things. Topics include common reasons children take things, how to teach appropriate replacement behaviors, and how to develop and implement an action plan. With the help of Dr. Delaney and his assistants, participants will exchange ideas on discussion boards and work together to uncover a youth in care's motivation for taking things, and then brainstorm ideas to help the caregiving family.
"This is the BEST course I have ever taken. I especially appreciated learning the different types of trauma children can experience. I have let my case worker know how valuable this course was. It was BETTER than a good book that you can't put down."
- Study participant after completing the Taking Things Without Permission course.
Taking Things Without Permission was made possible through a Small Business Innovation Research Grant (#R44 HD056645) from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to Northwest Media, Inc., parent company of FosterParentCollege.com.
FosterParentCollege.com strives to keep our courses and handouts updated based on the latest research. We have just updated and released Taking Things/Stealing, an introductory 2-credit course which encourages caregivers to explore the underlying causes behind why their child is taking things. This course covers experimentation, intellectual disability, a history of trauma, and a social or psychiatric problem as reasons behind taking things/stealing. It is included within the Advanced Parenting Workshop described above, or can be taken as a stand-alone introductory course.
Coming This Summer! Pre-Service Courses in Spanish
For the past year, we have been working to get our eleven pre-service courses dubbed into Spanish. It has been a huge task and we are glad to see that an end is finally in sight! All audio has been translated and recorded and is now being placed within the courses. At the same time, all handouts are in the process of being translated and reviewed. We will be releasing the courses on FosterParentCollege.com this summer as they become available. Stay tuned!
Summer Conference Schedule
This summer you will find FosterParentCollege.com at these conferences.
National Foster Parent Association (NFPA), June 22-25, Las Vegas, NV
"Better Together: Collaborating for Kids!" it the title for this year's combined conference of the National Foster Parent Association and the National Kinship Alliance for Children. During the conference, our partners at CWLA will be presenting on the "New Generation PRIDE Model of Practice," showing how CWLA and Foster ParentCollege.com are collaborating to strengthen the quality of family foster care and adoption services. For more information about the conference and the Friday workshop visit www.nfpaonline.org/conv2016.
Foster Family-based Treatment Association (FFTA), July 10-13, New Orleans, LA
Lee White, president and founder of FosterParentCollege.com, will be attending the FFTA conference in New Orleans. This year's theme is "Keeping Attuned with Children & Families." Stop by our FPC booth to say hello! For more information about the conference visit www.ffta.org.
CWLA, August 1-3, Orange County, CA
Our partners at CWLA are dedicating their annual conference to the critical topic of substance use and its effects on children, youth, and families. Lee White will be presenting on at this conference. For more information about "What Works for Families Affected by Substance Use" visit www.cwla.org.
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), August 4-6, Nashville, TN
FosterParentCollege.com is pleased to be sponsoring this year's NACAC conference. Co-hosted by Harmony Family Center and the Tennessee Department of Children's Services, the NACAC conference theme is "Building a Community to Support Permanency." Stop by our FPC booth and visit with president and founder of FosterParentCollege.com, Lee White. For more information visit www.nacac.org.
Welcome New Agencies
We extend a warm welcome to these new agencies which have recently joined FosterParentCollege.com.
Ampersand Families in Minnesota
Lutheran Social Services in Minnesota
Mentor Maryland
National Center for Children and Families in Washington DC
State of Wyoming
Tulare County Health & Human Services in California
Now Available! If your agency would like a customized flier to send to parents or agency staff please contact Laurie at Laurie@northwestmedia.com or 800-777-6636.