In Process Families & Parents

At this point in your journey, you have attended an information/orientation session and are ready to begin training to become a resource family or parent.

Or perhaps you've completed your training and are waiting for a child or youth to join you and your family. 

In either case, we express our deep appreciation that you have taken this important step. The children and youths who long for family thank you as well!

We have developed this section of our website specifically for you and have included various resources you may need, including frequently asked questions, a home safety assessment video and a list of important documents and forms.

If you find, however, that there are additional resources that you believe would be helpful to you, please contact your case manager directly or use our contact form. 

In the meantime...

Who are the children and youths who wait?

Visit our gallery of children and youths who wait for the gift of permanence and family.

Resource Family Training

Diakon Adoption and Foster Care utilizes a combination of Zoom trainings and self-guided trainings to assist in meeting the busy schedules of families. Training to become a licensed foster and/or adoptive family consists of 27 hours of training, 12 of which are held via Zoom and 15 self-guided modules. Zoom trainings are held evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. weekly. Arrangements can be made for an alternative training schedule, if needed.

  • Day 1: Foster Care 101 and Foster Parent Panel
  • Day 2: Attachment and Separation, Grief, and Loss (Part 1)
  • Day 3: Separation, Grief, and Loss (Part 2) and Trauma Informed Parenting
  • Day 4: Trauma Related Behaviors and The Impact of Substance Abuse

Self-guided modules include the following topics:

  • Overview of the Child Welfare System
  • Expanding the Parenting Paradigm
  • Child Development
  • Cultural Humility
  • Effective Communication
  • First Aid
  • Human Trafficking 101
  • Maintaining Children’s Connections
  • Mandated and Permissive Reporting
  • Mental Health Considerations
  • Parenting a Child with a History of Sexual Trauma
  • Parenting in Racially and Culturally Diverse Families
  • Reasonable and Prudent Parenting 

In addition to these trainings, Diakon offers a variety of on-going trainings for families to meet their annual training requirements as well as offering support to families who feel they could benefit from additional training opportunities.

Diakon Adoption and Foster Care also provides kinship foster care and adoption trainings to families through county referrals.

In partnership with:

Wendy's Wonderful Kids
LGBTQ+ Community
SWAN Older Child Matching Initiative