All About Asthma
2.5 hrs. in-service training
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 prevention relievers, nebulizers, and peak flow meters. This program includes an informational booklet
and review questions. Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Autism Across the Spectrum
3 hrs. in-service training
An insightful look into the developmental disability of autism, focusing on the causes and characteristics of autism,
different treatment strategies, and the educational resources available for children with autism. This program includes an informational booklet
and review questions. Also available online
Beyond the Blues: Adolescent Depression and Suicide
4 hrs. in-service training
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
and review questions. Also available online
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents
3 hrs. in-service training
A detailed look at 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.
The Birds and Bees and Everything in Between
3.5 hrs. in-service training
A look at how to deal with your child's sexuality. You will learn ways to start conversations with
your children on this topic and what you should talk about in those conversations. There are tips for parents who may be uncomfortable talking
about sex with their children and detailed background information that will assist you in answering questions your children may have. This program includes an informational booklet
and review questions.
Building Healthy Relationships
3 hrs. in-service training
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.
Car Safety and Your Child in Foster Care
2 hrs. in-service training
Every day, children sustain either serious injury or death in automobile accidents. The startling facts are
that approximately 700 children will be killed and 400 more injured in just one year alone due to improper restraint 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 and review questions. Also available online
Cerebral Palsy: The Basics
2 hrs. in-service training
Created in collaboration with the United Cerebral Palsy Association, this course covers what cerebral palsy
is, how it affects children, and more. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Chew On This: A Guide to Diet and Nutrition
4 hrs. in-service training
To some, eating healthily 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 overweight 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 and review questions. Also available online
The Child and Sexual Abuse
4 hrs. in-service training
In the past, 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 covers the most common misconceptions about 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. Disponible en espanol .
Childhood Allergies NEW
3 hrs. in-service training
The incidence of allergies in childhood has increased significantly in the last two decades. This course will
look at what allergies are and how a child develops them; it will go through the different types of allergies
and their treatments; it will look at common myths; and it will discuss in detail two of the most common
allergies, allergic rhinitis and food allergies, and how parents can deal with them. In addition, it will answer
questions about whether to take a child to see an allergist or not and how to manage a child's allergies
when he/she is at school, and will provide a list of questions to ask your child's doctor. With proper diagnosis, preventive measures and treatment, most childhood allergies can be kept in check.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Childhood Skin Disorders
3.5 hrs. in-service training
This course focuses on many different skin disorders children in your home may contract. 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. Also available online
Clearing the Air on Tobacco Smoke
3 hrs. in-service training
Information on how secondhand smoke affects your children, as well as an outline of the smoke-free requirements for New Jersey licensed resource homes. The course offers information, suggestions, references, and steps to make your home smoke-free.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Also available online
Communication: A Two Way Street
3.5 hrs. in-service training
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 becoming a more effective communicator. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Also available online
Dare to Discipline
3.5 hrs. in-service training
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 and review questions. Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Dealing with Anemia
2 hrs. in-service training
An overview of the 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. Course materials include 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 and review questions.
Dealing with Dyslexia
2 hrs. in-service training
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 program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Do I Really Have to Talk to the Parents of My Child in Foster Care?
2 hrs. in-service training
This course will help you build a working relationship with the parents of the children who are placed in your home by DCP&P (formerly DYFS). It will explain some of the reasons why having a strong working relationship with the
children's parent(s) is beneficial for the children. In addition, the course will give you some tips on how to work with uncooperative parents, along with ways to prepare the children for visits with their parents. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Eating Disorders
2 hrs. in-service training
"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 disorder 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 and review questions.
The Empty Seat at the Table: Resource Parent Loss and Grief
2 hrs. in-service training
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 has been removed from their home because of
adoption, reunification, or other reasons. It will discuss the different types of loss, as well as what you, or other members of the family, can do to prepare for, and then deal with, grief.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Hard Facts to Swallow
2.25 hrs. in-service training
An examination of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) and Alcohol Related Neuro-developmental Disorder
(ARND). emphasis is given to the characteristics, behaviors, and difficulties you may encounter when caring for a child identified with FAS or ARND.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Also available online
Four Stepping Stones to Maturity
2 hrs. in-service training
"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 disorder 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 and review questions.
Gangs - The Need to Belong
2 hrs. in-service training
An overview of the gang culture, tips on how to recognize if your child is becoming
involved in a gang, and what you can do as a parent to help prevent that involvement from occurring. You will also learn the many reasons some young people join gangs.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Disponible en espanol .
Grasping the Core of DCP&P (formerly DYFS) Policies
2 hrs. in-service training
At times, it can seem impossible to understand all the technical material relating to your child in out-of-home
placement. However, 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.
Hair Care for African-American and Biracial Children and Adolescents NEW
3 hrs. in-service training
An overview of basic hair care for African American/Biracial children, teens and babies. The course discusses
appropriate tools, products, and daily hair care management. It also provides various styling techniques and highlight common hair styles for girls and boys.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Also available online
Handling Hepatitis C
3.5 hrs. in-service training
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 and review questions.
Help! My Child Has Run Away From Home!
2 hrs. in-service training
An exploration of why some young people run away from home and what you can do as a
parent to help prevent it from happening. The course includes parent guidelines on what to do if your child does run away, as well as what to do when he/she returns home.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Helping Children Manage Pain
2 hrs. in-service training
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 and review questions.
The Innocent Victims: Understanding Prenatal Exposure to Cocaine and/or Heroin
3.5 hrs. in-service training
Explanations on how the exposure to cocaine and/or heroin could affect infants, how
older children may exhibit these effects, and some techniques to try to ease or overcome the effects. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Internet Safety and Your Child
2.5 hrs. in-service training
An introduction to the pros and cons of Internet use and the various terms parents should
be familiar with that are used on the Internet and other electronic information systems. You will also be given steps you can take to
protect your children from Internet predators and the scams that frequently appear on the Internet. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
The Invisible Ones: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Children in Care (GLBT)
3 hrs. in-service training
A comprehensive examination of GLBT youth in foster care, The Invisible Ones discusses the issues
surrounding GLBT children in care, as well as what you, the resource parent, can do to make their time spent with you beneficial and rewarding. The Invisible Ones
talks about controversial issues as well as medical, societal, and psychological issues faced by GLBT youths, while offering practical advice for the resource parent. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Also available online
Issues in Kinship Care NEW
3 hrs. in-service training
An overview of issues that are faced by kinship caregivers, including social and emotional
challenges, discipline, self-care, getting help, and legal issues. This course will discuss kinship legal guardianship
and adoption, and will detail the legal and financial differences between the two. It will also provide information about mediation as an option to resolving issues concerning children in the care of DCP&P (formerly DYFS).
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Kids and Money NEW
2 hrs. in-service training
An exploration of the aspects of teaching young children and teens about managing money and finances
responsibly. It examines ways to help children and teens understand responsible earning, saving, spending
and charitable giving of money. The course also explores how to teach the important life lessons of
disciplined behaviors with money, delaying instant gratification, positive financial goal setting, and compassionate charitable giving. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Lead Poisoning: Has Your Child Been Screened?
3 hrs. in-service training
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 and review questions.
Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Managing Pediatric HIV/AIDS
3 hrs. in-service training
An examination of the emotional and social challenges of dealing with pediatric HIV/AIDS. Topics range
from confidentiality issues, dealing with conflict 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 and review questions.
On Solid Ground: Permanency Planning for Children in Care
2.5 hrs. in-service training
This course will not only look at the available methods and procedures used for achieving permanency in
the life of a child in care, but it also explores the critical psychological and social impact on a child when permanency is not achieved within a reasonable time frame. The course also discusses the role of the resource parent as an advocate for permanency and offers insight into the resulting feelings of loss that
may be present when a child achieves a permanent home with someone other than the resource parent(s) who have been involved with the child's care. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Also available online
Oppositional Defiant Disorder NEW
2 hrs. in-service training
Develop a comprehensive understanding of a behavioral disorder known as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) which is prevalent among children
placed in foster care. The information provided will aid resource parents in differentiating typical behaviors associated with different stages of child development versus problematic behaviors that require psychological
intervention. There will be a detailed review of the causes and risk factors associated with ODD. The course will focus on exploring effective treatment options for the disorder and how to access these services.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Paying Attention to AD/HD
3 hrs. in-service training
The difficulties associated with this disorder and the ways it manifests itself in children and adolescents
are covered in this course. In addition, it covers the most effective methods for managing AD/HD. This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: No War Needed
3.25 hrs. in-service training
A discussion of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to children in foster, adoptive and kinship care.
This course will explore the effects of traumatic experiences such as natural disasters, kidnapping, murder of a parent,
shootings, severe burns, motor vehicle accidents, and sexual and physical abuse and the effect they have
on children and adolescents. The causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, criteria for diagnosis, methods
for identifying it, and treatment options will also be explored. In addition to primary symptoms, victims of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder also suffer secondary and associated Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms,
which will be explained. It is important for foster, adoptive and kinship families to learn the difference
between children 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.
Preparing Your Teens in Foster Care for Independence
3.5 hrs. in-service training
An overview of ways to help your teenager become ready to face adulthood and
independence. The course offers resources and helpful hints for parents to assist you in building and maintaining a positive relationship between you and your teen.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Psychotropic Medications and Children in Care NEW
4 hrs. in-service training
An examination of the risks and benefits of the use of psychotropic medications with children in foster
care. It details all aspects of the necessary steps taken in the consideration of the use of such medications
and the various responsibilities of all individuals involved in decision-making. It further examines all
responsibility and accountability of resource parents and others involved in the health and well being of a child before, during, and after the use of such medications.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Safety: A Look at Basic First Aid
2 hrs. in-service training
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. The informational booklet for
this course is First Aid essentials, a Red Cross publication showing how to care for minor cuts, bruises, burns, etc.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Disponible en espanol .
Schizophrenia
3.5 hrs. in-service training
An in-depth look at schizophrenia, a debilitating mental illness. This course examines the
causes, symptoms, and current treatment options. In addition, it includes important information for caregivers on substance abuse, suicide, and violence as they relate to children and adolescents who have schizophrenia.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Self-Injury: That Hurt, and I Did It Myself
2.5 hrs. in-service training
An explanation of 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, adoptive and
kinship care communities detect the warning signs of self-injurious behaviors and discuss appropriate treatment options.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions. Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Sickle Cell Disease and Sickle Cell Trait: It's in the Genes
2.5 hrs. in-service training
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 and review questions.
Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Sleep Disorders in Children
5.5 hrs. in-service training
A discussion of 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.
Also available online
Special Education: Answers to Important Questions
3.25 hrs. in-service training
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 and review questions.
Also available online
Type 1 and 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
3.5 hrs. in-service training
An explanation of the difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. This course discusses the risk
factors, symptoms, treatment options, and issues to consider when caring for a child or adolescent who has
either type of diabetes. In these sedentary times, when children spend much of their time watching
television and on the computer instead of exercising, obesity is more common in youth, and type 2 diabetes
is being diagnosed in children and adolescents. The course will offer suggestions relevant to successful
management of both kinds of diabetes such as exercise programs, healthy nutrition, ongoing contact with a physician and/or a diabetes educator and the importance of support from the patient's family.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Under One Roof: Working to Keep Siblings Together
2.25 hrs. in-service training
A look at the importance and dynamics of sibling relationships and the
impact on siblings in care who are separated from each other. The course discusses the benefits,
challenges, and barriers to placing siblings together from the perspective of the children, the agency, the resource parent, and the child's parents.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Understanding Mental Retardation
2 hrs. in-service training
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.
Understanding Stress
4 hrs. in-service training
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, and 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 your life and your children's lives.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Also available online . Disponible en espanol .
Understanding Trauma and Resilience NEW
4 hrs. in-service training
This first course is designed to offer a sturdy platform of nuts and bolts understanding, which will be
expanded upon next year in Part II of Understanding Trauma and Resilience. The learning goals are to: provide awareness of the "map" of trauma; increase knowledge about themes of trauma and what these can look like in the day to day lives of children, teens and adults, and provide practical information about
resilience, its mindset, and its meaning to support growth after trauma. Action steps, strategies and resources are offered.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Welcome to Your New Home NEW
3 hrs. in-service training
Bringing a child into your home is usually very rewarding. Often there are situations that can arise when
the child first comes into your home that you may not have faced before. This course will offer suggestions on how to make the child feel welcome.
In addition, there is information on how to involve family members in this experience.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
What If My Child Has a Problem With Stealing?
3.5 hrs. in-service training
This course is intended to help resource parents cope with the problem of stealing. Inside, parents will find
the common causes of stealing explained and learn practical ways to prevent future incidents.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Who Am I? Helping Children and Adolescents Develop Positive Identity
3.5 hrs. in-service training
An in-depth look at how children and adolescents develop identity and the importance of
developing a positive identity in order to become healthy, stable adults. It will discuss how self-esteem
and resilience play important roles in the development of positive identity. Strategies for helping children
develop positive identities will be provided. In conjunction with this course, parents will have the opportunity to help the children in their care create their own personal life books.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Why Does Love Hurt?
4 hrs. in-service training
This course expands upon the material presented in the Building Healthy Relationships 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 school settings. 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
friendships 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.
Why Does My Child Say Up When I Say Down? NEW
1.5 hrs. in-service training
We can all get a little frustrated with our children, no matter how much we care for them. But what happens
when you find yourself constantly battling with your child? This course will explore why some children seem to be stubborn, and what you can do to be better prepared to handle them.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
Youth Employment NEW
3 hrs. in-service training
One of the most important things you can teach the young person in your home is self-sufficiency.
Probably the most important part of self-sufficiency is obtaining employment. This course will give
detailed information about finding a job, including where to look for employment, the interview process,
the importance of budgeting money, and career selection.
This program includes an informational booklet and review questions.
The Life Book and You
Informational only/0 hrs. in-service training
This course will take the resource 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 every day. With the child's active participation in the constuction
of the life book, meaningful events in his/her life will be better preserved. In the future, you may receive in-service
training hour credit for life book work. Please check with your Resource Family Support Worker to see if a program is in effect at the time of your home inspection.
This program includes a life book and a guide book.
