FAMILY CONTACT
BEST PRACTICES TRAINING
FAMILY CONTACT IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF FOSTER CARE
TRAINING OVERVIEW
​
Beacon Hill provides Family Contact Best Practices training to Mat-Su professionals, foster parents, and community members.
​
This training equips participants to provide meaningful, safe, and culturally centered family contact for foster children and families in Mat-Su. Follow-up coaching, consulting, and ongoing learning opportunities are available.
​
Participants learn how to support:
-
Maintaining and enhancing parent/child attachment
-
Recognizing and building on parents' strengths
-
Using coaching techniques to strengthen parent and child resiliency
​
There are two tracks available: Professionals Track and Foster Parent/Community Member Track.
​
Training is offered seasonally. Visit our events page to register for the next training.
HOPE
BUILD BRIDGES
Studies show successful reunification is directly linked to frequent and quality family contact that builds strong families and reduces re-entry into foster care.
Maintaining relationships with children after reunification depends on building a positive relationship with their birth parents by supporting and encouraging family contact.
BOND
It is essential for children's emotional well being to maintain a relationship with their parents and family ties. Sometimes it takes months or years for a parent to develop new healthy patterns or break addictions. Family Contact Facilitators provide safety for children when the parent is in the healing process.
ROOTS
Even when reunification is not possible, research shows that youth want contact with their birth family including siblings, extended family and more. Family Contact equips youth with tools to navigate their birth family relationships, setting them up for success as an adult.
PARENTING OPPORTUNITY
Children have specific social, emotional, and developmental needs. When their parents are given the opportunity to practice new parenting skills in a safe, supportive setting, it sets the family up for success.
NORMALCY
Family contact reduces a child's worries
about their parent and provides opportunities for the child to participate in their family's normal cultural activities such as favorite meals, games, or songs.
TRAINING INFORMATION
PROFESSIONALS TRACK
FOSTER PARENT/ COMMUNITY MEMBER TRACK
Total Training Hours: 28
​
Online Pre-Course Work: 4 hours
​
In-Person Training: 3 days
(Lunch & snacks are provided)
​
Completion Certificate
​
Post-Training Support
Includes in-person coaching & family contact shadowing
​
Total Training Hours: 18
​
Online Pre-Course Work: 2 hours
​
In-Person Training: 2 days
(Lunch & snacks are provided)
​
Stipends Available​
(toward training hours, childcare, & mileage)
​
Post-Training Support
Includes family contact shadowing & support
provided by Best Practice Coaches
Completion of the Strengthening Families training is recommended prior to attending the Family Contact Best Practices training.