Training Schedules

Caregiving Together

Join the monthly support group for resource parents and their children over the age of 6. Come meet other families and network while learning, having fun and eating pizza! Topics and activities vary every month. Resource Parents will receive one hour of training credit.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

Gayla Gibson &
Rocio Garcia, MSW

A Hands-on Approach to Mindfulness

This training will educate on the importance being mindful as a parent and helping children to be mindful. The busyness in our lives often takes our attention away from the present, even in our parenting. Many are multi-tasking even when we are trying to redirect children’s behavior or trying to help them when they are experiencing emotional dysregulation. Being present is such an important part of parenting, and it is important to model to our young people. We will look at mindfulness exercises that you can engage in and mindfulness exercises you can teach children.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

Perla Davis, MFT

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing for foster families will equip caregivers with essential communication strategies to support and empower the children in their care. Participants will learn how to foster trust, encourage self-efficacy, and navigate challenging conversations using empathy-driven responses. foster families will gain practical skills to help children express their needs, build resilience, and develop a sense of autonomy within a compassionate and supportive environment.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW &
Becky Colaw, M.S.

Movie Event

FKCE will be hosting "Summer Movie Events" at the Maya cinemas. Caregivers will watch a film that is relevant to foster care with a debrief at the end. Must RSVP.

Maya Cinemas

FKCE Staff

TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) Series: Part 1 - Introduction and Overview

TBRI is an intervention designed for children from hard places, but it is an approach for all caregivers to use. This session is an introduction to a four-part series that will walk caregivers through the three main principles of connecting, empowering, and correcting. Each of the three sessions to follow the introduction will cover these principles in more detail.”

In-person: Kern County Department of Human Services

Becky Colaw, MS

TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) Series: Part 2 - Connecting Principles

This is the second in a series of four trainings. It can stand alone if you have not attended the other trainings. This training talks about the importance of attachment and strategies you can use to develop an attachment with children who have been harmed. In addition, this training discusses engagement strategies that include touch, eye contact, voice quality, behavior matching, and playful interaction.

In-person: Kern County Department of Human Services

Becky Colaw, MS

TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention): Part 3 - Empowering Principles

This is the third in a series of four trainings. It can stand alone if you have not attended the other trainings. In this training you will learn tools to help children feel safe, such as keeping children properly hydrated, as well as encouraging nutritious food. We will look at understanding sensory processing and some of the challenges children who have experienced trauma have with this as well as how to address it. You will learn how to help children identify what they feel like when they are not self-regulated and specific things they can do or you can do with them to help them regulate.

In-person: Kern County Department of Human Services

Becky Colaw, MS

TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention): Part 4 - Correcting Principles

This is the fourth in a series of four trainings. It can stand alone if you have not attended the other trainings. The main idea behind correcting principles is to teach children social and behavioral competence through proactive strategies and responsive strategies. Correcting principles are guides for changing behavior, but it is important that we remember that even in correcting, we can remain connected to our children.

In-person: Kern County Department of Human Services

Becky Colaw, MS

Harm Reduction Toolkit for Resource Parents

Youth who have experienced abuse and neglect often learn different ways to cope with the impact of their trauma. Some of these behaviors, such as drug use or running away can put children at further risk. What can a resource family do to help build a relationship with a traumatized approach, that helps keep children engaged while they learn safer alternatives to their coping behaviors. This training is especially geared towards parents of commercially sexually exploited youth; however all resource families are welcome and can learn new tools that may be helpful in managing behavior.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW &
Cherilyn Haworth, MSW, LCSW