Training Requirements
Training Requirements for Foster Parents
In Iowa, foster parents need six hours of training annually to renew their foster care license. At least three training hours must be done in a group setting. Foster parents must complete all of their training requirements prior to the date listed in the table below.
Please remember to plan ahead for the training. In the event of a last minute crisis or emergency, a weather cancellation, or if IFAPA has less than 10 people enrolled and has to cancel the class, you might not be able to attend the class you planned to attend. Please schedule your training far enough in advance of your renewal date that if you have to cancel and reschedule, you have the ability to do so.
| Licensing Deadline for Training Requirements | |
|---|---|
If you were licensed in the following month: |
All of your training requirements must be completed by the following date: |
February 2011 |
November 30, 2011 |
March 2011 |
December 31, 2011 |
April 2011 |
January 31, 2012 |
May 2011 |
February 29, 2012 |
June 2011 |
March 31, 2012 |
July 2011 |
April 30, 2012 |
August 2011 |
May 31, 2012 |
September 2011 |
June 30, 2012 |
October 2011 |
July 31, 2012 |
November 2011 |
August 31, 2012 |
In order to maintain your foster parent license, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) requires foster parents to complete the following:
- Medication Management Training
- CPR Training
- First Aid Training
- Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND - With the exception of CPR, First Aid and Mandatory Reporter classes, foster parents CANNOT receive training credit for any class that they have previously attended and used for re-licensing. Please see the table below and click on the appropriate link to learn more about each of the available training classes.
Training Requirements for Adoptive Parents
Adoptive parents are not required to participate in training hours. However, adoptive parents report that children's issues do not go away and sometimes issues surface after adoption finalization. IFAPA provides training that meets adoptive parents' challenges. Please see the table below and click on the appropriate link to learn more about each of the available training classes.
Upcoming Training Opportunities
| Training Opportunities for Parents |
|---|
| Click on one of the following options to view upcoming training opportunities. |
| Current IFAPA Training Schedule IFAPA offers a variety of free six-hour and three-hour classes that were created to help foster, adoptive and kinship parents. View IFAPA Training Schedule |
IFAPA Conference |
| Support Group Trainings There are many foster/adoptive parent support groups located throughout the state that offer training during their meeting. View Upcoming Support Group Trainings |
Mandatory Reporter Trainings |
| CPR & First Aid Trainings Foster parents are required to complete CPR and First Aid classes within the first year of licensure and every three years thereafter. View CPR & First Aid Training Opportunities |
Medication Management Training |
| Caring for Children with HIV Training When placement of an HIV-infected child occurs, foster parents are required to complete the course “Caring for Children with HIV”. Read more |
Online Training Courses Offered Through FosterParents.com and FosterParentCollege.com |
| Training Credit for Books or Movies DHS has compiled a list of movies and books that have been approved for foster parent in-service training. Foster parents can obtain a maximum of three hours of foster parent credit per training cycle; the other three hours must be obtained through a face-to-face group training setting. Read more |
| Other Trainings & Conferences IFAPA also promotes other upcoming non-IFAPA conferences and trainings that may be of interest to foster, adoptive and kinship parents. Read more |
How to Register for an IFAPA Class
Registration is required to attend one of IFAPA's training classes.
REGISTER VIA PHONE
Call 800-277-8145 ext. 1 or 515-289-4567 ext. 1
REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE
To register for a training
through our website, click here.
Foster Parent Training Forms
You must make an application for renewal of your license by contacting your licensing worker by phone or e-mail at least 30 days and no more than 90 days before your expiration date. It is important to keep your certificates of attendance in a safe place during the year. You will submit these certificates as proof of credit to your licensing worker. For license renewal, foster parents need to provide the licensing worker with a copy of the training certificate and the Foster Parent Training Report form (470-2540). Please be sure to read more about training requirements in the DHS Foster Parent Handbook. IFAPA has created a training guide sheet to use for your records only, not for submission to your licensing worker.
Inclement Weather – Class Cancellations
During the winter months, bad weather can happen. We try our best to avoid cancelling trainings. If the trainer is able to make it to the training location, IFAPA will still hold the class for those families that need to get their training hours completed. If you feel the weather is too dangerous to travel, please stay home and you can register for a different upcoming class. If a class needs to be cancelled, we will make every effort to notify all attendees of the cancellation via phone or e-mail. IFAPA will also list all class cancellations on our Training Coordinator’s voicemail. If you would like to find out if any classes have been cancelled due to weather, call 800-277-8145 ext. 2.
Want to become a foster or adoptive parent?
If you are not a licensed foster/adoptive parent and would like to get started with the approval process, please contact Iowa KidsNet at 800-243-0756 or visit their website www.iowakidsnet.com. Iowa KidsNet coordinates orientations & the PS-MAPP training schedule for prospective foster/adoptive parents.
