WCS's Unique Approach to Foster Parenting
We train foster parents to provide care for children with more troubling emotional and behavioral needs than children in traditional foster care. We provide our foster parents with 37 hours of pre-service training. Parents are also required to undergo a comprehensive certification process, including in-depth interviews with all family members, safety checks of the home environment and FBI/State of Connecticut background checks. Foster parents will also be required to complete 48 hours of in-service training within two years of becoming a licensed foster parent. Our goal is to do everything we can to prepare you for your role as a foster parent and to support you along the way.
Training
You will be well trained to provide care for a child with special emotional and behavioral needs. Foster parents participate in a pre-approval training program consisting of 37 hours of class led by staff trainers. We offer the PRIDE curriculum, a nationally acclaimed model for training foster parents that is used in more than 30 states. The training addresses issues such as grief and loss, natural and logical consequences, development and other areas relevant to the care of children in therapeutic foster care.
Support
Once certified, Therapeutic Foster Parents receive 24/7 family support including:
- weekly visits from a staff professional
- around-the-clock crisis intervention
- ongoing training opportunities
- monthly parent support group meetings
- planned and emergency respite
- assistance with your child’s needs from school advocacy to counseling
- a substantial monthly reimbursement
Networking
We provide our foster parents with the opportunity to meet and create friendships with foster parents facing similar challenges. Annually, we present a Parent Appreciation Dinner, a Holiday Party, Summer Family Picnic and Fall Festival.
WCS foster parents are members of the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents (CAFAP) and eligible for all of their services. We collaborate with the Hearts, Hands & Homes Community Collaborative consisting of DCF, CAFAP and other private agencies to bring you the latest in trainings, news and events for our area.
