In collaboration with Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz County provides Fostering Foundations, a required pre-service training for prospective foster and adoptive parents. Foundations classes are comprised of six, two-hour sessions, and offered throughout the year. Participants are introduced to the knowledge and skills needed to become effective foster and adoptive parents. They also are provided with the information to make an informed decision about fostering or adopting. Classes are free and must be completed before placement of children into your home can be considered.
Training topics include:
Santa Cruz County also offers SPARK training, which addresses the unique needs of children born with alcohol or drug exposure, or with substance abuse issues in their family of origin.
SPARK sessions cover the following topics:
These classes are free.
The La Manzana Community Resource Center in Watsonville provides parent education classes including the "Triple P" Positive Parenting Program, which teaches parenting strategies and tools. Classes may be one-on-one or in a group setting. Other training's including family, nutrition and leadership are available.
The Live Oak Family Resource Center offers continuing education classes on such topics as parent/child classes, positive discipline, and mentoring youth - just to name a few. For more information about training opportunities offered through La Manzana or the Live Oak Family Resource Center, contact the Resource Family Liaison at: (831) 476-7284, ext. 102 or (831) 724-2997, ext. 213.