TRAINING
FAMILY CONTACT IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF FOSTER CARE
FAMILY CONTACT TRAINING OVERVIEW
​Beacon Hill provides Family Contact Best Practices training multiple times a year to Mat-Su professionals, foster parents, and community members.
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​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.
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​Participants learn:
• Maintaining and enhancing parent/child attachment
• Recognizing and building on parents' strengths
• Using coaching techniques to strengthen parent and child resiliency
FAMILY CONTACT PROVIDES:
Studies show successful reunification is directly linked to frequent and quality family contact that builds strong families and reduces re-entry into foster care.
HOPE
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.
Maintaining relationships with children after reunification depends on building a positive relationship with their birth parents by supporting and encouraging family contact.
BUILD BRIDGES
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.
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.
BOND
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.
Beacon Hill is a member of the Family Contact Improvement Partnership through R.O.C.K. Mat-Su
Two Training Tracks Available:​
1.Professionals
Professionals spend 3 days in-person training w/ 2 hours independent pre-course work – total of 28 training hours
2.Foster Parents/Community Volunteers
Foster Parents/Community Volunteers spend 2 days in-person training w/ 2 hours independent pre-course work – total of 18 training hours
Learners receive meals and snacks, a completion certificate, and post-training support such as coaching, shadowing, and continued learning opportunities. Foster parents and community volunteers are provided with a stipend for their time, as well as childcare and mileage reimbursement.