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Home Correspondence Course Guidelines
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To register for FAFS Home Correspondence courses:
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- Register below by clicking on the link next to the course you would like to take.
- Call FAFS toll-free Hotline 1/800/222-0047
- Tell us which course you would like to take
- You will receive your course through the mail
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NOTE: Some Home Correspondence Courses may have waiting lists. In addition, if you do not return the course within two weeks time frame, it will delay your receiving another course.
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Take a Course at Anytime, at your Convenience!
Home Correspondence Courses will be available Online!
If you are interested in taking courses online please click here!
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1. Paying Attention to AD / HD
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Covered are the difficulties associated with this disorder and the ways it manifests itself in children and adolescents. In addition, it covers the most effective methods for managing AD/HD. This program includes an informational booklet, and 27-minute video, The Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder in Children, and review questions. 2 hrs SHSP continuing education
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The booklet covers causes, symptoms, and treatments for a blood disorder that often go unrecognized. The primary focus is on iron deficient anemia, a common problem in foster/adoptive children. It also contains a very useful appendix to help identify which of the 400 types of anemia your child may have and specific resources for each type. This program includes an informational booklet, sources for support, and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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Asthma is a lung condition that affects many foster children. This home correspondence course is an introduction to this disease and will explain childhood asthma, what causes it, possible ways to alleviate some of the symptoms, and much more. This program includes an informational booklet, a 47-minute video, Asthma: Fighting to Breathe, and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education and review questions.
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This home correspondence course is an advanced course recommended for people who have already taken the Childhood Asthma course or who have some knowledge of the condition. Emphasis is given to recognizing and treating asthma attacks, including technical information on preventers, relievers, nebulizers, and peak flowmeters. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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5. Autism Across the Spectrum
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This course offers an insightful look into the developmental disability, autism. It focuses on the causes and characteristics of autism, different treatment strategies, and educational philosophies from two private schools for children with autism. This program includes an informational booklet, a 47-minute video, "Autism: The Child who Couldn't Play", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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6. Bipolar Disorder in Children & Adolescents
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This is an advanced course, recommended for people who already. It explains in some detail the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of this disorder. In addition, the course conveys information on suicide prevention. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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7. Car Safety and Your Foster Child
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Every day children sustain either serious injury or death in automobile accidents. The startling facts are that some 700 children will be killed and 400 more injured in just one year alone due to being improperly restrained while in a motor vehicle. This course provides up-to-date information on car seats, seatbelts, school bus travel, and teenage driving. This program includes an informational booklet, a 4 1/2-minute video, "Kids and Airbags", children's coloring and activity books, pamphlets, and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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8. Cerebral Palsy: The Basics
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This course was created in collaboration with the United Cerebral Palsy Association of NJ. What cerebral palsy is and how it affects children are just some of the areas this course will cover. This program includes an informational booklet, a 19-minute video, "Cerebral Palsy: What Every Parent Should Know", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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9. The Innocent Victims: Understanding PrenatalExposure to Cocaine and/or Heroin
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The course includes explanations on how the exposure to these types of drugs could effect infants, and how older children may exhibit these effects, and some techniques you can use to try to overcome the effects. This program includes an informational booklet, a 47-minute video,"Unborn Addicts", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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10. Communication: A Two Way Street
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This course will help you improve your communication skills, both as a speaker and as a listener. As a communicator, you send and receive messages verbally and non-verbally. Learning how to interpret these messages will help you on the road to being a more effective communicator. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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11. Beyond the Blues: Adolescent
Depression and Suicide
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This course takes a look into adolescent depression and its causes. This course will cover various treatment options and what to do when depression turns to thoughts of suicide. This program includes an informational booklet, a 25-minute video or DVD, "From Depression to Discovery: A Teenager's Guidebook" and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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12. Type 1 and 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
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This course examines Type 1 Diabetes, the most common form of diabetes experienced by children and young adults in America today. Specific attention is given to the symptoms, treatments, and challenges of living with Type 1 diabetes and how to help your foster/adoptive child manage his/her condition. Equal treatment is given to medical and emotional concerns. This program includes an informational booklet, a 28-minute video, "Pediatric Diabetes", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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13. Chew on This: A Guide to Diet and Nutrition
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To some, eating healthy can be enjoyable and rewarding, but to others it can be a chore to get a sensible diet on track. This course will offer you suggestions on how to deal with an over or underweight child, inappropriate weight control methods such as eating disorders and diet pills, and how to handle them. It will also offer insight on the value and benefits of eating together, and what to do when eating on the run is unavoidable This program includes an informational booklet, a 28-minute video, Childhood Obesity: Reversing the Trend, and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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Learning the difference between discipline and punishment will be explained in detail. Different methods of discipline and the reasons for choosing them will also be covered. Read how and why other foster parents dare to discipline. This program includes an informational booklet, a 30-minute video, "Positive Discipline", and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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Are you aware of the signs of stress you may be exhibiting? Do you know how to effectively deal with the stress in your life? This course will examine what stress is, the causes, warning signs, and symptoms that adults, teenagers, and children may experience. In particular, it will look at how stress affects the foster/adoptive home. It will also offer useful and practical techniques on how to relieve the stress present in you and your children's lives. This program includes an informational booklet, a 45-minute video, "The Science of Stress", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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16. Dealing with Dyslexia
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This language-based disorder occurs in approximately eight percent of the population, affecting a person's ability to read. The course focuses on the symptoms of dyslexia as well as its diagnosis and treatment. It also offers special tips for caregivers on the all-important cooperation between home and school. This progam includes an informational booklet, a 26-minute video, Dyslexia: Disabled or Different",and review questions. 2hrs. SHSP continuing education
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17. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome:
Hard Facts to Swallow
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This course examines Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAE). Emphasis is given to the characteristics, behaviors, and difficulties you may encounter when caring for a child identified with FAS or FAE. This program includes an informational booklet, a 49-minute video, "Worth the Trip: Raising Children With Fetal Alcohol Syndrome", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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18. Safety: A Look At Basic First Aid
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This course reinforces and builds on your basic knowledge of first aid. It covers child safety in the home, putting together a basic first aid kit, and what to do in case of an emergency. Also included is First Aid Fast, a Red Cross publication showing how to care for minor cuts, bruises, burns, etc. This program includes an informational booklet, a 19-minute video, "The First Aid Test", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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19. The Invisible Ones: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
and Transgender Youth (GLBT) in Care
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A comprehensive examination of GLBT youth in foster care, The Invisible Ones discusses the issues surrounding GLBT youth in care as well as what you as a foster parent can do to make their time spent with you beneficial and rewarding. The Invisible One talks about controversial issues as well as medical, societal, and psychological issues faced by GLBT youth, while offering advice for the foster parent. This program includes an informational booklet, a 25-minute video,"Being Gay, Coming Out in the 21st Century", and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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20. The Empty Seat at the Dinner Table:
Foster Parent Loss and Grief
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There is much discussion on the separation and loss experienced by the children who are in foster care, but what about the loss felt by the foster parent? This home correspondence course will focus on the grief experienced by foster parents after a child in their care is removed from their home because of adoption, reunification, or other reasons. It will discuss the different types of loss, as well as what you can do to prepare for and then deal with grief either by yourself or with other members of the family. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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This is a very technical course on Hepatitis C. It focuses on the ways Hepatitis C is transmitted, who should be tested and the treatment options currently available. Information on how the disease progresses in the body is provided. Suggestions on dealing with stress related to caring for someone with a chronic disease are also covered. This program includes an informational booklet, a 23-minute video,"Hepatitis C, The Silent Scourge",and review questions. 2hrs. SHSP continuing education
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22. Managing Pediatric HIV / AIDS
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This course examines the emotional and social challenges of dealing with pediatric HIV/AIDS. Topics range from confidentiality issues, dealing with conflicting and difficult emotions, and maintaining a sense of stability and normalcy in the midst of personal crisis. Also provided is a brief overview of related medical issues such as the progression of the disease in the human body, its transmission from person to person, and current treatments used to help patients in their fight against the disease. This program includes an informational booklet, a 10-minute video,AIDS: no-nonsense Answers, and review questions. 2 hrs SHSP continuing education
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23. Lead Poisoning: Has Your
Child Been Screened?
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Lead poisoning is one of the most serious environmental threats to our children, but it is also 100 percent preventable. This course examines the sources and symptoms of lead poisoning. Emphasis is also given to testing for and treating lead poisoning, as well as additional precautions you can take to safeguard your family. A resource contact list is included for local and state agencies dealing in lead abatement and treatment. This program includes an informational booklet, a 28-minute video, "Lead Poisoning: The Effect on Children's Health", and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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24. Special Education: Answers to Important Questions
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This course provides useful information on the complex maze known as the special education system. We will help you find your way by providing information concerning the Child Study Team, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), current laws, and the various classifications of learning disabilities. This program includes an informational booklet, a 19-minute video, "Learning Disabilities", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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25. Understanding Mental Retardation
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This course provides an introduction to the various types and causes of mental retardation. Emphasis is given to useful techniques and suggestions for managing daily living skills and seeking the appropriate special education programs for your child. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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26. Helping Children Manage Pain
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Pain and its debilitating effects on children are explained. The difference between acute and chronic pain, and how to help children cope with their pain, are some of the topics covered. This program includes an informational booklet, a 28-minute video, "Caring for Sick Children", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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This course provides an in-depth look at schizophrenia, a debilitating mental illness. It examines the causes, symptoms and current treatment options. In addition, this course includes important information for caregivers about substance abuse, suicide, and violence as they relate to children and adolescents who have schizophrenia. This program includes an informational booklet, a 21-minute video, "Understanding Schizophrenia",and review questions. 2hrs. SHSP continuing education
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28. Clearing the Air of Tobacco Smoke
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This home correspondence course contains information on how secondhand smoke affects your children. In addition, it outlines the smoke-free requirements for New Jersey licensed foster homes. The course offers information, suggestions, references, and steps to make your home smoke-free. This program includes an informational booklet, a 24-minute video, Smoking Out the Truth: Teens and Tobacco, and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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29. The Child and Sexual Abuse
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As children, we had the image of a stranger hanging around the schoolyard preying on innocent children. We now know that child sex offenders can be much more difficult to recognize. They can be a friend, family member, or respected member of the community. This course will cover the most common misconceptions of sexual abuse, some possible behaviors associated with it, the law and how it affects those foster families who report abuse, and some possible tools for prevention. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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30. Handle with Care:
The Shaken Baby Syndrome
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In the last few years, the medical community has identified and described a newly recognized form of child abuse. It is called "Shaken Baby Syndrome". The injuries resulting from this syndrome are often serious and entirely preventable. This course will define, describe, and offer practical measures for dealing with this problem. The course also includes a section on "Coping with a Crying Baby". This program includes an informational booklet, a 18-minute video, "Never Shake a Baby!", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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31. Sickle Cell Disease and
Sickle Cell Trait: It's in the Genes
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As a hereditary disease, sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait continue to afflict children every year. Learn the differences between sickle cell anemia and sickle cell trait, who is at risk, signs and symptoms, treatments, and more. This program includes an informational booklet, a 47-minute video or DVD, "Sickle Cell: The Forgotten Disease", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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32. Childhood Skin Disorders
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This course focuses on many different skin disorders children in your home may have. The course looks at some of the more complex disorders such as impetigo, eczema and psoriasis, while touching on some of the more common but less severe skin conditions, including acne, diaper rash, and cradle cap. It will look at symptoms, treatment options and the prognosis of each disorder. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
2 hrs. SHSP continuing education 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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33. Sleep Disorders in Children
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This course discusses the most commonly experienced sleep disorders in children and the phenomenon of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Symptoms, treatments and guidelines for treatments, and effects of these disorders, on both the child and parent, are discussed in detail. Disorders covered are: apnea, snoring, bedwetting; soiling, sleepwalking, nightmares, night terrors, and Rhythmic Movement Disorder. Support resource organizations are given in the appendix of the course, as well as in the reference list. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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"What started out as a simple diet last year has turned into the single biggest struggle of my life." These are true words spoken by an eating disorders survivor. This Course will explain what an eating disorder is, warning signs, and symptoms often exhibited by those with eating disorders, and some possible causes as to why so many young people suffer from this terrible problem. In addition, a variety of treatment options will be covered. This program includes an informational booklet, a 26-minute video, "Eating Disorders", and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education.
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35. Self Injury: That Hurt, and I Did It Myself
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This course will explain self-injurious behaviors with a specific focus on cutting, which is self-mutilation with sharp objects like razors. The psychologically addictive nature of using self-injurious behaviors as coping mechanisms will be explored. What triggers this social taboo that is becoming more and more common? In addition to being associated with general mental illness, self-injurious behaviors are also associated with trauma and abuse, eating disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder. At what age do these behaviors start? Groups at risk for self-injurious behaviors will be identified. The course will help the foster and adoptive care communities detect the warning signs of self-injurious behaviors and discuss appropriate treatment options. This program includes an informational booklet, a 21-minute video, Skin Deep: Understanding Self-Injury, and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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36. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: No War Needed
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This course will discuss Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to children in foster and adoptive care. It will explore the effects traumatic experiences such as natural disasters, kidnapping, murder of a parent, shootings, severe burns, motor vehicle accidents and, sexual and physical abuse have on children and adolescents. The causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, criteria for diagnosis, methods for identifying it and treatment options will be explored. In addition to primary symptoms, victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder also suffer secondary and associated Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder symptoms, and these will be explained. It is important for foster and adoptive care families to learn the difference between children’s acting out and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The course will make a distinction between the two. Finally, the course will offer ways to help children cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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37. Building Healthy Relationships
New!
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This course will explore the importance of children developing healthy personal relationships. Children who currently are or were in out-of-home placement may have experienced or witnessed abusive relationships. The warning signs that a relationship may be abusive will be discussed. Strategies to help children cope when they must continue in a relationship or when they are reconnecting with biological families after they have aged out of the system, as well as methods for discontinuing the relationship will be discussed. The course will explain the many forms of abuse such as physical, verbal and emotional, and will discuss which individuals may be at greatest risk and which groups may be targets for abuse. The course will emphasize the importance of positive relationships and present approaches for helping children develop healthy relationships built on honesty and respect. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. SHSP continuing education
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38. Why Does Love Hurt?
New!
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This course expands upon the material presented in the Abusive Relationships between Children and Adults course. General information on abusive relationships presented in the previous course will be reviewed. This course will specifically focus on friendships and dating relationships both of which occur outside of the home and usually develop in a school setting. The warning signs that a friendship or dating relationship may be abusive will be discussed. The course will explain the different forms abuse may take in a friendship or dating relationship and who may be at greatest risk for having a relationship turn abusive. It will explore characteristics found in the abuser and the abused. Methods for discontinuing the relationship including developing a safety plan will be explained. The course will emphasize the importance of positive friendship and dating relationships, and present approaches for helping adolescents develop healthy relationships built on honesty and trust. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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39. Grasping the Core of DYFS Policies
New!
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At times, it can seem impossible to understand all the technical material relating to your child in out-of-home placement. Nevertheless as a resource parent, it is important for you to have a good grasp of such issues as understanding health care and medical treatment requirements for the child, what records to keep, how to renew a license, visitation and a variety of other policies. This course will give examples of these policies and define related items. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. 2 hrs. continuing education
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IMPORTANT:
No Credit will be Given for the Following Home Correspondence Courses:
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40. Playing it Smart: Staying Safe from Drugs
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This course is for you and your child. Geared for children ages 4-6, entertaining video helps to open the door for parents and children to discuss the dangers of drugs and alcohol. The principle objective of this course is prevention. It maintains the premise that every person who is able to avoid direct encounters with drugs and alcohol abuse is in a strengthened position. The clear message to children is do not ever experiment with or use illicit drugs, nor abuse prescription drugs." This program includes a coloring book, a 27-minute video, Play it Smart, and additional resources.
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41. Learning About Me: A Family Affair
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This home correspondence course is designed for you to interact with your foster children to identify likes, dislikes, feelings, and much more. The recommended ages for this course are five to twelve years. This program consists of a coloring activity book for children, a 25-minute video, "Dealing with Feelings", and an activity list for parents.
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42. The Life Book and You
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This course will take the foster parent through a step-by-step process on the construction of a life book. The pages will capture the milestones your child reaches as he/she grows each day. With the child's active participation in the construction of this life book it will help to preserve the meaningful events in his/her life. There is a limited quantity of these books available. There is a limit of five per family. The life books are given on a first come first serve basis.
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43. Hair & Skin Care for African American & Biracial Children
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This booklet will assist resource parents in meeting the unique hair and skin care needs of African American and Biracial children by answering some of the questions caregivers may have. As an adult in your child's life, this is an important way you can support the child's cultural identity and encourage his or her well-being. This program consists of a 97-minute video, "African American and Biracial Hair Care".
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