Required Training for Minnesota Families Fostering or Adopting from Minnesota Foster Care
Regardless of the agency or county you plan to work with, this education is one of the first steps to fostering or adopting children from Minnesota foster care.
Children’s Home is a contracted provider through the State of Minnesota. We provide the required education for families who choose to work with any of the six contracted agencies: Ampersand Families, Children’s Home Society of Minnesota, Evolve Family Services, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Nexus-Kindred Family Healing, or North Homes.
Your Education Options
There are three class options: in-person, hybrid, or online. You may choose whichever best fits your schedule and learning style. Couples may take an education course together or pursue it separately. Either way, each participant must attend the entirety of their chosen track. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate of training which is valid for five years.
Your education will include an overview of the child welfare system, the impact of prenatal drug/alcohol exposure, grief, loss, separation, trauma, abuse, neglect, mental health needs, attachment, cross-cultural and transracial parenting, permanency needs of foster youth, concurrent planning, foster parent experiences, birth parent experiences, foster youth experiences and maintaining connections.
All education options will provide you with access to our online learning management system which includes optional additional learning opportunities and access to a community chat so you can stay connected to other participants.
In-Person Classes
This education option is best suited for individuals who need or desire to complete their education quickly, prefer in-person learning, and/or those who have previously completed education and want a refresher course.
Your education will primarily take place during two in-person consecutive days (Fridays/Saturdays), with minimal use of the online learning management system which includes introductory sessions as well as a pre-and post-test.
Travel stipend available for qualifying families.
View & Register for upcoming IN-PERSON optionsHybrid Classes
This education option is the balance between the in-person and online options. It is best suited for individuals who want to move swiftly and prefer a blended learning style.
Your education will begin with an online pre-test as well as introductory and a guest speaker section of online learning. This can be completed at your convenience prior to the one required live session. The live session is a shorter, in-person day of learning at the St. Paul office. Following the in-person session, you will finish by viewing content from two more guest speakers, closing online material, and a post-test.
Travel stipend available for qualifying families
View & Register for upcoming HYBRID optionsOnline Classes
This education option is best suited for individuals who want flexibility, have limited business hour availability, have geographical barriers, and/or prefer virtual learning.
Your education will be completed over a four-week period. In addition to pre-and post-tests, each week you will participate in a required pre-scheduled live check-in online with our education facilitators. We offer virtual class check-in times of either noon, 5 p.m., or 9 a.m.
View & Register for upcoming ONLINE optionsMeet Our Education Team
Learn about their backgrounds, experiences and connections to foster care/adoption!
Meet Our Education Team
Relative/Kin Education Referral
Agencies working with relative/kin providers may request accommodation on behalf of their clients. This request covers expedited services or education for non-English speakers. If you have questions about other types of accommodations for relative/kin providers, please reach out to [email protected].
Relative/Kin Education Referral RegistrationQuestions? Please email us at [email protected] or call 651.255.2230
