Pre-Service Training
All Partnership Parents complete IMPACT training prior to being approved. IMPACT training is designed to give Parentship Parents the tools they need to get started in the program and to understand their role along the parenting continuum. IMPACT was developed by the Georgia Department of Human Services / Division of Family and Children Services to prepare families for the work they will do as Partnership, Resource or Adoptive parents. There are ten classes or modules.
CONNECTIONS
Prospective parents begin to develop relationships with other participants as they establish guidelines for group participation. They are introduced to the DFCS Family Centered Practice Model. They begin to understand the importance of connections in the life of a child in care and how connections impact the birth family as well as prospective parents.
PARTNERSHIP PARENTING
Prospective parents discuss partnership parenting and ways to develop and maintain positive interactions with birth families. They review the primary goals and principles for Partnership Parenting. They learn about parenting opportunities and ways to support birth families maintaining connection to the child in care. They discuss partnership parenting roles and responsibilities. They learn what to expect in the parent to parent meeting and review a parenting plan.
CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING
Prospective parents will become familiar with the core elements of well-being: physical, psychosocial, moral and educational. They become aware of their role and responsibilities in helping children to achieve and maintain well-being. They discuss how to partner with birth parents to meet well-being goals. Prospective parents reflect on parenting time requirements and consider how to manage their time.
GRIEF, LOSS AND ATTACHMENT
Prospective parents gain an understanding of the impact of separation, grief, and loss in their lives and the lives of children in care and their families. They review experiences of separation, grief,and loss in their lives. Prospective parents explore ways to support children and engage their birth parents to help them develop strong trusting relationships with caregivers.
SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPACT OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Prospective parents become familiar with appropriate sexual development and can identify typical sexual behavior for a child’s age and developmental level. They reflect on their personal experiences and become aware of how their perspective may impact their interactions with a child who wassexually abused. Prospective parents discuss their perceptions of child sexual abuse and explore ways to help children.
DISCIPLINE: RESPONDING TO CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR
Prospective parents gain understanding of three primary reasons for children’s behavior. They discuss their personal values related to discipline and punishment. They explore their parenting styles and discuss it affects children’s behavior. They discuss the DFCS Discipline policy to gain understanding of acceptable and prohibited discipline techniques. They discuss their commitment to complying with the DFCS Discipline policy. Prospective families discuss ways they can model, for birth parents,appropriate responses to their child’s behavior.
PERMANENCY PLANNING: REASONS, SEASONS AND LIFETIMES
Prospective partnership families review the definitions and statistical data related to child abuse. They learn about the types of placement options available to children in care. They learn about placement for children. They discuss permanency goals for children in care. They review Concurrent Planning and responsibilities and expectations for birth parents. They are provided an overview of the Foster Parent Bill of Rights’ Right to Be Heard.
FOREVER FAMILIES
Prospective parents become familiar with “waiting children.” They gain understanding of their expectations as they discuss adoption realities and myths. They discuss adoption considerations and learn about the adoptive process. They learn about Life Books and review a Life Book resource bibliography.
PLANNING FOR CHANGE:
Prospective partnership families develop an understanding of the changes inherently created in their family system as they begin to engage in Partnership Parenting. Prospective families evaluate their family system exploring potential changes to their family system that may be related to partnership parenting. Prospective partnership families explore with their family the influence of diversity on their decision to be a Partnership Parent. They will be encouraged to explore local community services.
THE WRAP UP
Prospective parents review their pre-service training experience, explore any remaining concerns, discuss questions related to fostering or adopting, learn about next steps and participate in the IMPACT: PARTNERSHIP PARENTING panel presentation.
UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: SHARING THE EXPERIENCE
Prospective parents have an opportunity to learn more about partnership parenting, mentoring, concurrent planning, children in care, resources and services, and adoption from people experienced in these programs, and from agencies and service providers that provide support for these programs.nting and nurturing children; and clarifies the resource parent’s role in the social service continuum.
