Foster Parent Training
Resource Families
Prospective foster care families will start the training process by contacting the foster care licensor at their local county human services agency or tribe. The Training Academy will work with licensors to provide those individuals with access to Foster Parent College self-paced modules, as well as the option to register for Foster Parent Pre-Service Training.
Agencies and Tribes
If you need access to Foster Parent College and the instructions for parents to register for the Pre-Service Training, please let us know at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com and we will get that info to you.
Agency Licensors: Complete this form if you would like the Training Academy to work with your prospective and licensed foster families in registering and enrolling them in Foster Parent College (FPC) and/or instructor-led Pre-Service Training.
Here are the steps to becoming a foster parent in Minnesota.
Foster Parent training includes:
Foster Parent Pre-Service Training: participants will attend four instructor-led (virtual) meetings and will be asked to complete three self-paced modules prior to the first meeting (these modules are not part of Foster Parent College)
Foster Parent College (FPC): participants will also be asked to complete self-paced FPC training modules:
After first Pre-Service Meeting
(16-Credit Hours):
- The Child Welfare Team
- Child Abuse & Neglect
- Parent-Child Attachment
- Understanding Behavior in Foster Children
After second Pre-Service Meeting
(12-Credit Hours):
- Child Development
- Cultural Issues in Parenting
- Working Together with Primary Families
After third Pre-Service Meeting
(12-Credit Hours):
- Caring for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused
- Reducing Family Stress
- Foster Care to Adoption
Licensors: If you have questions about Foster Parent College, email fpc@northwestmedia.com or call 800-777-6636.
Upcoming Training Cohorts
All of the following instructor-led, virtual trainings are from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Central Time.
Cohort 26
- Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Thursday, April 24, 2025
- Thursday, May 8, 2025
- Thursday, May 22, 2025
Cohort 27
- Thursday, June 5, 2025
- Tuesday, June 17, 2025
- Tuesday, July 1, 2025
- Thursday, July 17, 2025
Cohort 28
- Thursday, July 31, 2025
- Thursday, August 14, 2025
- Thursday, August 28, 2025
- Thursday, September 11, 2025
Cohort 29
- Thursday, September 25, 2025
- Thursday, October 9, 2025
- Thursday, October 23, 2025
- Thursday, November 6, 2025
Agencies and tribes that wish to offer Foster Parent Training by a member of their own team, or who want to learn more about this program, should contact us at info@mnchildwelfaretraining.com.
Resources
- Children’s Mental Health for Resource Families (DHS)
- Foster Adopt Minnesota (formerly MN Adopt)
- Child Foster Care Licensing Guidelines (DHS, Dec. 2023)
- Minnesota Legislature Rule 2960.3070 Foster Parent Training
Notes
- FPC content is CASA approved, endorsed by the National Foster Parent Association, and developed by experts in the fields of parenting, social work, pediatrics, psychology, psychiatry, and education.