Foster-to-Adopt
Wednesdays, February 18 and 25, 2026
6:30-9 p.m.
Virtual (2 sessions)
Foster to Adopt training will help resource parents to identify adoption challenges that may affect your child’s life. We’ll define the unique roles of foster parenting and adoptive parenting. Other topics will include the impact of adoption, and levels of openness. There is also a presentation to prepare parents for the financial side of adoption (i.e., adoption subsidy).
Participants will receive training credit. If you have questions, then please email Wilmer Ramirez or call 703-324-7202.
Mental Health First Aid presented by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board
Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11, 2026
5 – 8:30 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom
During this training, resource parents will learn the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of mental health problems in youth and how to effectively help a youth in crisis. There is required pre- and post-work to complete this course.
Participants will receive over 10 hours of training credit and fulfill the annual family training requirement. If you have questions, then please email Dr. Patricia Aviles-Cubillos or call 703-324-7919. Preregister online by Tuesday, February 10.
Special Education
April 2026 (Date and Time TBD)
This training will explain the basics of special education rights and responsibilities as well as some very practical strategies for maximizing educational benefits for children in your care. Resource parents will get concrete strategies for improving delivery of their children’s individualized education program.
Foster Parent Appreciation Event/Raising Resilient Children Training
May 2026 (Date and Time TBD)
This is a celebration of our foster parents as well as a training that will provide an overview of biopsychosocial impacts upon children, adolescents, and their families while growing up in a time of societal challenges including the current pandemic and social justice concerns. The presenter will take a developmental approach examining how children and adolescents process information and then help the audience develop skills to help children and adolescents cope and reenter a world that has been unpredictable and scary. It will also facilitate understanding of screening, assessment, and identification methods to assist social workers and their families. There will be a discussion of how trauma may present in children and adolescents.
Parent Opportunities to Build Your Knowledge & Understanding
Each year, our partner the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, provides thousands of hours of skill-building sessions and trainings to foster, kinship, adoptive, and guardianship caregivers. They are hosted by their programmatic staff, primarily The Institute for Child Welfare Innovation. Sessions are free, and most are held virtually. Some upcoming topics include Mental Health Considerations, Know Your Rights, Know Your Role, The Importance of Sibling Bonds, Separation, Loss & Grief, and many more. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the meeting link and a follow-up email with information about joining the meeting and obtaining training materials. Please note that some sessions do not count for training credit hours, so email Jennifer Woods and Neda Ghodsi with questions regarding whether in-service credit may be provided for attending.
Foster Parent College Available for Online In-Service Training!
Recently, the Virginia Department of Social Services renewed its contract with Foster Parent College which offers training on a variety of key topics. FPC is self-paced and can be accessed online from anywhere at your convenience 24/7. You may choose to take any class you believe will be helpful for your own personal growth and development. All classes are free to approved foster parents with Fairfax County, and you will receive in-service training hours for completing FPC courses. If you would like to receive a list of courses for review or if you have any questions about registering or assistance with login, please reach out to one of the in-service trainers; Neda Ghodsi and Jennifer Woods.
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