FKCE Class Schedule
2024 Spring
Foster and Kinship Care Education Trainings
Spring Office Hours
MONDAY - THURSDAY 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
FRIDAY 8:00 am - 2:30 pm
Registration for trainings!
Please call 909-384-4457 or email fkce@valleycollege.edu
San Bernardino Valley College, as well as the entire community college community, continues to work tirelessly to help students, their families, resource parents, and kinship families get through this crisis as they play a critical role in our state's recovery. Working together and following safety guidelines and procedures, we can help keep our community healthy.
- vThe FKCE program will only be providing trainings online, with a few in-person classes, to resource parents and kinship caregivers through ZOOM and will require each participant to use a computer and/or phone and to have an email address to participate. (If you don't hae an email, please create one using yahoo.com or gmail.com) Each participant will need to download the ZOOM app on their computer and/or phone.
- Participants can register by calling 909-384-4457 or email fkce@valleycollege.edu confirmation will be sent to emails when done in a timely manner, weekdays 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Please only register for two (2) trainings at a time.
- Participants will be required to complete a registration form online, unless you have taken trainings in the last 90 days; EVERYONE needs to have an email address.
- Participants will receive certificates for attendance only when evaluations are completed, and attendance verified by the trainer; certificates will be emailed to participants by the Senior Student Services Technician.
- Participants not physically involved in the training or leaving early or joining the
meeting more than 10 minutes late (without specific approval by the trainer) will
NOT receive a certificate.
NO CHILDREN or PETS or other distractions are allowed in the training which should take place in a private area to maintain confidentiality. - Thanks for your patience during this challenging time.
Lucy Razo, FKCE Instructional Specialist
For general information regarding trainings, please call (909) 384-4457. All of the trainings listed in this schedule meet the criteria for San Bernardino County’s training for RFA (Resource Family Approval) pre and post trainings and for Los Angeles County’s Special Care Increment rate pre and post training. All training must be selected based on the individual needs of the foster/kinship child. Please discuss any additional training issues with your Children and Family Services (CFS) worker or the Specialized Care Facilitator as needed.
For Specialized Care Rate information for San Bernardino County, contact
TERRA DUNN at 909-891-3537
PLEASE CALL 909-384-4457 TO REGISTER FOR TRAININGS OR EMAIL fkce@valleycollege.edu
DISABILITY SERVICES: For disability-related reasonable accommodations, please contact the FKCE Program
office at (909) 384-4457 no later than two weeks prior to the date services are needed.
QUESTIONS: For further information, contact the
SBVC Foster & Kinship Care Education Program office:
San Bernardino Valley College - ADSS 202
701 South Mount Vernon Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92410
909-384-4457
CLASES VIRTUALES EN ESPAÑOL
SABADO, 25 DE MAYO, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
AYUDAR CON LA AUTOADMINISTRACIÓN DE MEDICAMENTOS PSICOTRÓPICOS
Entrenador: Lucy Razo
Padres de crienza aprenderan información importante para ayudar a los jóvenes en cuidado de crianza a tomar decisiones relacionadas con su salud mental, sus opciones de medicamentos importantes para su salud. Los participantes podrán nombrar al menos tres puntos clave en las leyes y regulaciones que rigen administración de medicamentos psicotrópicos a niños y jóvenes en hogares de guarda en California. Participantes podrán nombrar al menos uno de los principios básicos de la atención basada en el trauma como se relacionan con el uso de medicamentos psicotrópicos en hogares de acogida.
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CLASSES IN ENGLISH ON ZOOM UNLESS MARKED OTHERWISE
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
All children have needs. Child Development refers to the biological, psychological, and emotional changes that take place between birth, the end of adolescence, and through adulthood. In this class, we will take a look at child development and its stages to understand the social, cognitive, emotional, and educational development of children like skills.
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
TRANSFORMING THEIR STORIES WITH OUR EARS
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
Perhaps the stories are just too gory, or there is a lot of sexual content that we just don’t want to hear. Maybe we cannot believe that their parents or family members would treat them so abusively, so we end up protecting these folks by keeping the stories off the record. Maybe we haven’t told our own story yet, so listening to theirs, triggers too much emotion for us. Whatever the reason, come to this training to learn how to leap over these hurdles and LISTEN! Participants will fearlessly explore their resistance to listening to their stories. Participants will fearlessly imagine what will happen to them when they begin listening with both ears and heart.
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
IDENTITY AND INCLUSION
TRAINER: Eric Thornton
Foster-age children and youth (especially LGTBQ+ have a hard time finding their true identity. In some instances, these children run away from their placements, only to turn to drugs, prostitution, and other means; just to survive. Participants will learn skills that will help develop empathetic thought patterns, as well as "language and terminology" that will assist children in "feeling included."
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WHY ARE WE AFRAID TO SPOIL A CHILD?
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
We might want to ask yet another question or two, like when is it possible to spoil a child and is there a time that it is okay to “spoil” a child? These are all critical questions, and we must know the answers to do a “bang-up” job walking our kids through the various developmental stages. This training will set up some roadmaps for ourselves. Participants will learn the needs associated with the four stages of development from birth to 12 years old. Participants will explore their childhood to discover if there are any roadblocks to meeting children’s needs during these developmental stages.
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
DO YOU HAVE A SECRET? - FOSTER CHILDREN AND CHILD ABUSE
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
This class will focus on how to help parents and children in transracial homes learn how to thrive in and celebrate their bicultural family; and for children to gain a strong sense of racial identity and cultural connections. All foster children whether in a transracial placement or not worry, “Will I be accepted in this home, even if I am from a different (“biological family?”) Children in transracial homes also worry, “Will I be accepted even if I’m from a different Race?” Are you doing enough to help the child in your home of a different race to feel a sense of belonging? Are you helping them to feel connected with his/her culture, and racial roots? How can you prepare them for impending racial discrimination? What can you do to make this happen? Participants will learn ways to help children communicate regarding good secrets and those necessary to disclose.
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
MY MOUTH IS A VOLCANO!
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
Teaching children how to manage their thoughts and words without interrupting can be quite challenging. We will discuss how to take an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and how to teach children a witty technique to help them manage their rambunctious thoughts and words. We will read and discuss the children’s book, “My Mouth Is a Volcano” by Carrie Hartmen. Caregivers will leave this class with a clear understanding of Panic Dis Orders, Separation Disorders, and Agoraphobia in Children and Adolescents.
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
WE MUST LOOK AT OURSELVES FIRST BEFORE WE CAN WALK THEM THROUGH THEIR ADDICTIONS
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
It is painful for us to look at our addictions. Much easier to focus on the kids’ addictions. But we have to dig up the courage and humility to do so. And for one reason, so that we will know the road to recovery, the same road down which we want to take our kids. Participants will have an opportunity to assess and explore their addictive behaviors. Participants will have an opportunity to explore options for addressing and healing their addictive behaviors.
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
FAMILY THERAPY BEGINS A POWERFUL HEALING
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
When your kids are referred to therapy, insist that the therapist provide family therapy for the entire foster family with whom the foster kids live twenty-four hours a day. The family then becomes a powerful resource for ALL including ourselves and any other foster children under our care. And always remember that our role is not that of the tattler. We are a participant working on our healing. Participants will learn the function of family therapy and its advantages over individual therapy.
TUESDAY, MAY 28, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
HELPING CAREGIVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN COPE WITH BIO-PARENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
Many children who are in foster placement have experienced living with parents who have substance abuse issues. These issues do not go away just because they have been removed from the home. These experiences are often very traumatic for the children as they have witnessed their parents’ substance abuse. How should this be discussed with the children? Should it be discussed? How much information should we disclose about their parent’s substance abuse? How should this be done effectively? The participant will learn ways to help their children to cope with bio-parents who have substance abuse issues.
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
MELTDOWNS & TANTRUMS
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
Many children have temper tantrums and meltdowns? Is there a difference? What are the causes? What should a parent do when this happens? In this class we will look at the difference between a temper tantrum and a meltdown. We will also discuss the causes, how to understand them, and how to manage them. how to manage them.
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
OUR BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK: OUR NEED FOR RESPECT AND APPRECIATION
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
Yes, our need for respect and appreciation is our biggest stumbling block. Do you know what it is? Yes, our need for respect and appreciation. Why do we come to the relationship with the kids we love and serve needing respect and appreciation when our common sense tells us that they don’t have it to give to us? Why is our need for respect and appreciation not fully met when we observe ourselves talk to ourselves or in our relationships with adults? Questions for a lively discussion and exploration in this training! Participants will explore their expectations of receiving respect and appreciation from their foster kids, why respect and appreciation for themselves are not enough, and look at options for getting them met in adult relationships.
MONDAY, JUNE 3, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
CULTURAL DIVERSITY
TRAINER: Dan Crain
Our society comprises a multitude of ethnicities, religions, races, and sexual orientations. This diversity extends into the system of care for foster children and the many varied resource families in which these children reside. Caregivers need to be ever vigilant they are aware of how their children fit into their family, school, and community. Churchgoing, food interests, dress/attire, and music all play a part in how children interact with their resource families. This class makes caregivers aware of an evolving foster child culture and how caregivers need to become more competent and sensitive to that culture.
TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
LISTENING IS OUR BEST TOOL
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
Why, when a crisis begins to calm down, do we feel compelled to throw in two more cents and get in the last word? And the crisis will escalate once again. In this training, we will look at specific ways to listen, and then we will practice those tools. It’s fun to do! And powerful! Participants will learn and practice simple but powerful listening tools. Participants will practice via role play typical scenarios where we do not listen.
TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
KIDS NEED TO BE SAFE
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
Children need safe places to live, and safe places to play. Especially in foster care. In this class, we will discuss how to help children to prepare for, understand and accept foster care. We will read and discuss the children’s book, “Kids Need To Be Safe” by Julie Nelson. Participants will learn to help children to accept foster care and how to be safe.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
HOW THE SYSTEM OF CARE WORKS FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
TRAINER: Dan Crain
Many social service, educational, and behavioral intervention agencies deal with assisting foster care, adopted, kinship care, and group home children and their families. Social workers, teachers, counselors, and the courts all have roles in working with children. These children who have been exposed to abuse and neglect are exceedingly needy. Resource families, an integral part of this system, may sometimes DOUBT that it WORKS for the children. This class explores how these entities constitute the 'system of care' whose sole purpose is to make these battered children as 'whole' as possible.
THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
SEPARATION DISORDERS AND AGORAPHOBIA IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
TRAINER: Wanda Cooper
This class defines panic disorders, separation anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia. Caregivers gain knowledge of the signs and symptoms, causes, behavior interventions, treatment, and medications. We will discuss what to expect and how to work with children and adolescents who are diagnosed with one of these disorders. Caregivers will leave this class with a clear understanding of these disorders.
FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
SEEING MYSELF AS A TEAM PLAYER EVEN WHEN I AM NOT ACKNOWLEDGED AS ONE
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
We must see ourselves as equally intelligent, equally competent, and even as equally educated as the other professionals with whom we interact. For example, when a doctor prescribes medication for us or one of our kids, we ask what the side effects are, and when we get home, we go online and search for ourselves. When we attend an IEP meeting, we want to ask lots of questions about what is on that educational plan. It is no longer acceptable to see ourselves as followers. We are members of a team and have LOTS to contribute. Participants will learn to see themselves as intelligent competent and educated. Participants will explore what it is that keeps them from seeing themselves in this manner.
TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
CHANGE BEGINS WHERE? IN OUR IMAGINATION
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
The kids (or adults) whom we want to change are defenseless against our imagination! Our imagining change, then looking for the change, and then recognizing the change we want, are all steps in a powerful process known as ENVISIONING. Come to training to learn to ENVISION. Envisioning also works to change our own lives. It is how athletes become successful! Participants will learn to imagine in detail the change they want to see in both themselves and others. Participants will explore the barriers to using their imagination to bring about change.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
THE BIGGIES: RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
We can argue and fight over a thousand different ways to parent. But here is the bottom line: are we holding our kids responsible and accountable for their lives and their behavior? Well, one more question. Are we models of accountability and responsibility? Or do our kids hear us blaming everyone and everything? Participants will work together to come to a consensus about what responsibility and accountability look like. Participants will then explore whether or not their particular parent style is accomplishing that goal.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
A POWERFUL AND SIMPLE MEDICINE
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
AVOID saying things like: “I am sure your parents loved you....she/he is your mom/dad no matter how badly they treated you....” It is not our job to protect their families or to attack them. Our kids need US to JUST LISTEN. In the training, we will brainstorm very specific sentences and words to use to support our kids in making some sense of their emotionally and often physically painful experiences with family. Participants will learn to identify and sort out their need to be loyal to their foster kids’ birth parents. Participants will learn very specific dialogues that will allow their foster kids to say whatever it is they need to say about their experience with family.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
THEIR LIVES, LIKE OURS, HAVE ENDINGS
TRAINER: Vern Bradley
Endings occur every day! Maybe that’s why we have difficulty going to sleep at times! The kids we serve have experienced endings ad infinitum. As human beings, when we do not learn how to weave the experience of an ending into the fabric of our lives, we tend to stop living in the present moment, and we remain stuck in the past. So come to this “ending” and learn for ourselves how to incorporate endings so we can pass that important skill on to the kids we serve. Participants will assess to the extent they dismiss or deal with endings in their own lives, have the opportunity to reassess their style of dealing with endings, and brainstorm ways to support kids weaving endings into their lives.
