Training Schedules

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW; Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW; Gayla Gibson

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW; Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW; Barbara Reifel, LCSW

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.

Virtual (Zoom)

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                      1000 California Ave              Bakersfield CA 93304

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

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 trauma-informed 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, Psy.D., L.C.S.W.

Families with Complex Care Needs

This training empowers caregivers and professionals to support families more effectively—including foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers—who are caring for youth with complex needs. Grounded in the Hope Center approach, participants will gain trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strength-based strategies that directly enhance the stability, resilience, and emotional well-being of caregivers. Attendees will better understand family dynamics, communicate with empathy, and co-navigate care plans that honor the voices and values of caregivers and children alike.

Valerie Tovar, MSW

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                      1000 California Ave              Bakersfield CA 93304

FKCE Staff

A Walk through Grief & Loss for a Resource Parent

Grief is a natural response to a loss.  It is the emotional suffering that you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. Many talk about grief and loss for the foster child.  Many talk about grief and loss for the birth parents.  Do Resource Parents suffer from grief and loss when a child leaves their home?  What do you do with this grief and loss when you are the Resource Parent?

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Rocio Garcia. MSW

A Volcano in my Tummy

This training will be based on the book A Volcano in my Tummy. It is about helping 6-15 year old handle their anger so that they can live successfully, healthily, happily and non-violently. The book has stories, easy to use games and exercises designed to encourage children to see their anger and to deal constructively with it. Participants will receive a free copy of the book.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Family Communication

Effective communication is the basic building blocks of healthy families. We often feel we are communicating effectively; however, there can be a lot of barriers to getting our messages across. Communication also includes listening and understanding, an area we all struggle in from time to time. This training focuses on how to build effective communication in your family so that everyone feels heard and understood, which is the first step in successful problem solving!

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Barbara Reifel, LCSW 

In the Trenches: Managing Your Secondary Traumatic Stress

The condition has numerous names: secondary traumatic stress (STS), vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue. The symptoms are similar in some ways to post-traumatic stress disorder: withdrawing from friends and family, feeling unexplainably irritable, having difficulty focusing, always feeling pressured to get things completed, and feeling hopeless and isolated. Many foster parents recognize the cumulative stressors that they faced in raising traumatized children, but often do not realize that the symptoms they may experience are a common reaction to working with traumatized children — and that these symptoms have a name. This training will focus on recognizing how STS affects you and your family, ways to mitigate the effects of STS, and developing a plan to deal with burnout.

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Bonnie Holt, MSW

Educational Advocacy 

Educational advocacy is crucial for foster youth as it ensures they receive the individualized support and resources they need to succeed academically, even when facing the challenges of foster care. This support is vital for building a foundation for future success and stability. In this class, the following topics will be reviewed: What is Educational Advocacy, and why is this important, Understanding Education Laws in California- Rights specific to foster youth, and Transition Planning beyond high school.

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Becky Colaw, M.S. 

Film Screening & Discussion "The Disruptors"

This training will provide information about Attention Deficit Disorder (with and without hyperactivity), including what it looks like and how to provide positive parenting to children with this disorder. Sometimes it can be very challenging to parent a child who appears to be inattentive and unable to follow directions. These children can struggle in school, yet they are often very intelligent. If they are hyperactive, they may be constantly on the go and have difficulty sleeping. We will discuss how ADHD impacts children at home, at school, and in other areas of their lives and the types of treatment available for children with ADHD, but most importantly we will provide tips for parenting a child with this diagnosis.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW

Perla Davis, MFT

Learning Disabilities & How to Advocate for your Child

Learning disabilities affect both a child's success in school and in daily living. This workshop covers a variety of learning disabilities and the treatment/services that Resource Parents can use to help a child be more successful in school and at home. IEPs and school resources are also discussed.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW

Perla Davis, MFT

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Rocio Garcia, MSW 

Advocating for Foster Youth Rights

This training will empower resource families with knowledge, sensitivity, and actionable skills through the following objectives:
1. Understand foster youth Legal Rights: Participants will identify and explain key rights of foster youth in California, including education, placement, visitation, and access to services under state law and the Foster Youth Bill of Rights.
2. Recognize Common Barriers: Participants will evaluate systemic challenges foster youth face—such as school stability, mental health access, and stigma—and learn strategies to advocate effectively.
3. Apply Trauma-Informed Practices: Participants will demonstrate an understanding of trauma-informed approaches when supporting foster youth, emphasizing dignity, safety, and trust-building."

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Bonnie Holt, MSW

Dealing with Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress in Children

In this training we will talk about helping children who suffer from anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms, which is a lot of our children. They have all experienced trauma, and usually the trauma has been chronic and complex, lasting a long time. They have developed many fears and unhealthy coping mechanisms. We will talk about what anxiety my look like in terms of behavior and then talk about things you can do to help your child manage the anxiety they are experiencing.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW 

Reclaim Compassion Overcoming Blocked Care

Oftentimes, new resource parents have well meaning intentions of what it will be like when they first bring a foster youth into their home, but then realize how quickly their fostering journey turns out differently then they imagined. Many times, resource parents feel ashamed and worried about their lack of compassion when in reality they are experiencing “Blocked Care”. Blocked Care is a self-protective mechanism in our nervous system that makes it difficult to connect with a child and maintain compassion due to various factors. In this course, we will discuss what causes Blocked Care, and how to heal accordingly with compassion again, utilizing a holistic brain, body, and spirit approach.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Becky Colaw, M.S.

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Rocio Garcia, MSW 

Understanding the Federal & State Indian Child Welfare Act 

In this training we will discuss the purpose of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) from a historical perspective, how ICWA impacts child welfare cases throughout a child’s dependency case,  and specifically, tribal foster children’s placements.  We will talk about the historical background which was the catalyst for the ICWA and this federal law’s  effort to remedy historical policies that led to disproportionate removal of Indian children from their families and communities.  ICWA has made tremendous impacts on placement preferences, cultural and social preservation, the type of efforts that social workers must provide to tribal children and families, so it is important to understand the resource parent’s role in this process.  This training is an opportunity as a resource parent to become empowered with the knowledge, skills, and support needed for caring for tribal children and youth.

Virtual (Zoom)

Bonnie Holt, MSW

Film Screening & Discussion "The Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot" 

In this training participants will watch and discuss 'The Sound of Hope"  film. The true story of Donna and Reverend Martin and their tiny church in East Texas. 22 families adopted 77 children from the local foster system, igniting a movement for vulnerable children everywhere.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson & Barbara Reifel, LCSW

The Effects of Adoption/Legal Guardianship on the Whole Family

Two of our trainers, Barbara and Gayla, will each share their story of adoption and legal guardianship in their own families. Barbara has an adopted grandson in her family. Gayla has adopted four children out of foster care. Gayla also had to take legal guardianship of one of her adopted daughter's children. They each have a unique story to share with those of you that are interested in permanent placements.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Barbara Reifel, LCSW 

Expressing and Supporting Emotions in a Positive Way

Help teens manage technology successfully and how to have conversations about technology and setting limits. Also understand the dangers and damage.

Virtual (Zoom)

Perla Davis, MFT

Human Trafficking: Commercial Sexual Exploited Children (CSEC)

This is an introductory training to commercial sexual exploitation. We will define it and describe how children in foster care are impacted by CSEC. We will share statistics and information from our own community, and talk about things to look for in
order to prevent children from being trafficked and to support those who may have been affected by it already. We will look at the importance of a supportive relationship between you and the youth in your care. We will also discuss and define harm reduction, a practice that has shown success in helping individuals who have been addicted to substances. We will talk about how harm reduction can be helpful in working with youth who have been trafficked.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Becky Colaw, M.S.

California Car Seat Laws & Regulation's

Foster families often receive children with little notice and must be prepared to transport them safely and legally. However, studies show that a large percentage of car seats are incorrectly installed, which can significantly increase the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash. This training will be provided by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) and will include hands-on demonstrations, individual instruction, and educational materials. seats are used incorrectly! Attend this training to get information about safe transportation for children and how to properly install your child’s safety seat in your vehicle.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Yolanda Covian, MSW

Sibling Bonds

In this training we will be covering sibling relationships and the importance of maintaining and fostering siblings’ connections during the court dependency process. This includes keeping siblings together in placement when feasible and abiding by sibling court-ordered visitations. We will discuss ideas for maintaining sibling connections when siblings are not able to be placed together. In addition, we will be discussing the importance of continuing to support sibling bonds after a permanency plan has been established with a child. 

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Yolanda Covian, MSW

Perla Davis, MFT 

Dealing with Holiday Triggers & Embracing Holiday Traditions

Holidays can be difficult on children; they can’t be with their families to celebrate, or the holidays can further be a trauma trigger for them. What can you do as a resource parent to support children through the holidays? Learn of ways you can make the holidays easier to get through by incorporating traditions (the child’s and even some of yours), and some mindfulness activities to help destress during this sometimes-hectic time.

Virtual (Zoom)

Becky Colaw, M.S.

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Rocio Garcia, MSW 

Dealing with Difficult Relationships 

Often times as resource families you will deal with others that you might find challenging to work well with. In this training we will go over ways to deal with others in an effective way.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Becky Colaw, M.S.

Building Resilience in Teens

This training focuses on ways resource parents can help to develop resilience in teenagers. We will look at what resilience is and at the risk and protective factors and then talk about what caregivers can do to help teenagers during the time they are in their home.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Bonnie Holy, MSW

Helping Children be in a Happy Place-Promoting Positive Self Esteem 

Many times children who come from a history of trauma have great difficulty seeing the goodness they possess. A positive self-esteem has not been supported, and when children do not feel good about themselves, it is hard for them to feel happy. This training will define self-esteem and provide ideas for how to build self-esteem in children. As a result of better self-esteem, children will experience more happiness and be better able to regulate their emotions when they are not happy.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Becky Colaw MS

Film Screening & Discussion: The Unbreakable Boy 

In this training participants will watch the film that follows the life of Austin, a young boy who faces the challenges of both autism and a rare brittle bone disease. The narrative focuses on the impact of Austin's joyful and optimistic outlook on life, transforming the lives of his family and those around him. The story emphasizes themes of resilience, love, and the importance of family support in overcoming life's difficulties.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

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

3711 Columbus St.
Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson & Rocio Garcia, MSW 

Somebody's Someone: A Memoir Book Discussion

Oftentimes, new resource parents have well meaning intentions of what it will be like when they first bring a foster youth into their home, but then realize how quickly their fostering journey turns out differently then they imagined. Many times, resource parents feel ashamed and worried about their lack of compassion when in reality they are experiencing “Blocked Care”. Blocked Care is a self-protective mechanism in our nervous system that makes it difficult to connect with a child and maintain compassion due to various factors. In this course, we will discuss what causes Blocked Care, and how to heal accordingly with compassion again, utilizing a holistic brain, body, and spirit approach.

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Perla Davis, MFT 

Grandparents as Parents 

If you’re among the millions of grandparents raising your grandchildren today, you need information, support, and practical guidance you can count on to keep your family strong.  Learn effective strategies to help you cope with the stresses of parenting the second time around, care for vulnerable grandkids, set boundaries with the often-troubled parents, navigate the maze of government aid, court proceedings and special education.  Wise, honest, moving stories show how numerous other grandparents are surviving and thriving in their new roles.

Virtual (Zoom)

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson