[takingtheplunge]

Hello. To maintain status, we were told we had to do so many hours of continuing edu/training each year or every other year. I forget which it is and how many hours. I am sure I wrote that down in the PRIDE book somewhere. Anyway, does anyone know an easy video or book way to fulfill this w/o sitting through more classes? I believe in class, they said that the continuing ed did not have to be with the county workers directly.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

[DannieAS]

You know they gave us a number to call (in my county Riverside) during PRIDE classes, but i don't have my notebook in front of me. Do you have the number of the people that taught the classes? I would call and just ask for that information.

Because I just finished classes in March, they said we were covered for this year and next...but I'll have to refresh my memory.

[mamachell]

Hi,

It should be 15 hours for B-basis. (general foster care)

I did the bulk of mine on-line and my agency told me they give us 3 hours for home visits. Then I did one book review and one video review for the 15 hours. I was rushed because it seems like, due to the economy, there were a lot less in-person ways to get your hours in. Also, a lot of community colleges have free classes throught their foster-kinship programs (I only found out about these later).

Here are two on-line courses:
Foster Parents Community and Online Training (this one is a lot cheaper)
Adoption Education (this one is $100 but I didn't know about the cheaper class until after I had paid for this one.)

Hope this helps

[takingtheplunge]

Thanks. I think I will try mamachell's suggestion w/ one line classes.

I also called the community college. I vaguely remember the SW saying that while I can do some video courses, they also prefer to get hours in person, too. I don't know if it's a wish or requirement.

Anyway, I found out in my county that I need 20 hours on cont. edu. Yikes. The community college classes are FREE to foster parents, but aren't offered all the time. I will have to go three separate classes and days just to get 8 hours. Then, I will have to wait for the Fall schedule to come out. I went ahead and signed up, although some of the titles of the class don't apply to me. For example, one is about gangs. Well, I am sure by the timeby ds is old enough to be recruited by a gang, things will change.

I will call the SW about how many hours can be done on line. I'd rather pay the 5 to 8 dollars and get it done at home. Granted, sometimes face to face with people in beneficial, but i don't need face to face to discuss gangs -- an issue that doesn't even impact me now.

[Jenzebelle]

What?? On-line classes... Has anyone in L.A. County done this? I'm going to check with my cw. We were told that we both (dh & I) had to go through our agency every other month for the classes that they put on to get our hours in. On-line would be such a nice option to have.

At least with all the hours of training we did to get our foster cert and start our adopt cert, I had about 8x's more hours of training than required for my homeschool association for this year

[kayb]

WOW - 20 hours??

Jen - Call your licensing worker and they should tell you the easiest course.

My experience has been online, community classes, dvds - just about anything child related counts

Mamachell - I wish my home visits would count! that's pretty cool.

I'd sign up for an 8 hour course at a day spa??? How come no one thinks of that???????