IMPACT Training | IT IS WELL FOSTER CA

IMPACT Description and Requirements

IMPACT is an acronym which stands for Initial Interest, Mutual Selection, Pre-Service Training, Assessment, Continuing Development and Teamwork. IMPACT is a pre-service training program used to prepare prospective foster and adoptive families for their role and to expose them to the basic skills and competencies needed to begin providing foster and adoptive care. IMPACT involves an instructive approach to preparing families. The curriculum includes an assortment of visual aids, audio-visuals, role-play, and vignettes, to support the acquisition of skills and competencies. Woven throughout the training will be applicable references to cultural and disciplinary issues related to caring for children in placement. Upon completion, participants must demonstrate at least minimal mastery and internalization of the skills and competencies presented.

The IMPACT pre-service training addresses several areas that are required in establishing the basic skills and competencies needed to parent children placed in foster or adoptive care. These areas include the following:

The Foster and Adoption Process

including supervision and safety issues for children in care; communication with the agency and other foster care partners; the judicial/legal process; discipline policy requirements and behavior management; cultural, ethnic and religious issues; supports for the resource family; an awareness of personal and family strengths/needs, and resources required to successfully foster/adopt; understanding the role of the resource family in concurrent planning.

Emotional/Cognitive/Behavioral Implications In Fostering/

Loss and attachment issues and techniques for intervention; the impact of placement on the cognitive functioning of children; family’s role in working with professionals in meeting the medical, psychological, educational, etc. needs of children; supporting the agency in moving a child into the appropriate level of care; the immediate and long term effects of placement on the resource family; the agency’s role in supporting collaboration between partners; recognizing and responding to emotional, psychological and bio-chemical disorders.

Sexuality and Sexual Orientation

sexuality as it relates to different age groups; recognizing and supporting children who have been victims of sexual abuse; supporting and responding to children who express sexual identity and sexual orientation issues; learning to recognize and avoid personal vulnerability to sexual maltreatment accusations and alleged overtures for sexual intimacy; expecting, recognizing, and coping with exaggerated sexualized behaviors.

Communication and Partnership

Defining the basics of communication patterns and the dynamics involved in communicating with partners; roles and responsibilities in initiating various types of communication; procedures to follow when communication is problematic; defining partnership and the various partners (e.g., resource families, agency staff, community agencies, faith based groups, biological/extended family members, professional resources, other resource families) involved in communication. and attachment issues and techniques for intervention; the impact of placement on the cognitive functioning of children; family’s role in working with professionals in meeting the medical, psychological, educational, etc. needs of children; supporting the agency in moving a child into the appropriate level of care; the immediate and long term effects of placement on the resource family; the agency’s role in supporting collaboration between partners; recognizing and responding to emotional, psychological and bio-chemical disorders.

Identity and Cultural Issues

an examination of cultural, religious, ethnic and trans-racial factors impacting the placement and care of children, including the importance of cultural and ethnic identity; diversity; practical cultural and identity issues for resource families, including grooming, hygiene, customs, manners, social interaction, and dietary considerations.