Training Courses Have Begun!

A couple of weeks after the orientation meeting we still hadn't heard back.  I guess with the excitement of the process it was hard to wait.  I wondered if they didn't like something we wrote on the forms or if they just somehow misplaced them.  (It's funny what we will come up with!)  Finally my husband received a call.  

We were signed up to take the 10 week MAPP training course.  (MAPP stands for Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting.)  The classes would begin Monday, February 27th from 6:00-9:00.  My husband's first response was that we wouldn't be able to make it in time.  Since I direct an after school program and usually leave around 4:30, I would be stuck in traffic and probably wouldn't be able to be there by 6:00.  (It's pretty far away.)  

I decided I would make a sacrifice.  I spoke with my assistant and hired an additional worker to take over the Monday after school classes for the 10 weeks.  This way I could drive with my husband to his job early Monday mornings.  He is the music teacher at Keys Gate Charter School...and it really is at the "gate" of the Florida Keys!  I could drop him off, have a relaxing day in the Keys, pick him up around 4:00, have an early dinner, and drive to the MAPP training courses that happen to be close by.  We have already completed four weeks of the training (one month down!) and so far things are working out wonderfully.  

Since this blog's main purpose is to give a detailed account of the process for those interested, I thought I would give a quick summary of each week's class.  When I was initially looking into the adoption process, I was hoping to find a website with all of the info.  I'm doing this for everyone else who likes to know as much as possible in advance. :)  (Although the teacher did inform us that we are one of the last groups taking the MAPP training...a new course has been created known as PRIDE.)

Meeting One:  Welcome to the Program

-Every family receives a copy of a Family Profile allowing them to describe themselves in their own words.  It asks for information regarding employment, salaries, medical situations, family members, and personal references.  Other things will be added to the Family Profile throughout the course.  

-12 Skills for Successful Fostering and Adopting:

1) Know Your Own Family (Strengths and Needs)

2) Communicate Effectively

3) Know the Children

4) Build Strengths; Meet Needs

5) Work in Partnership (with Biological Parents)

6) Be Loss and Attachment Experts

7) Manage Behaviors

8) Build Connections

9) Build Self-Esteem

10) Assure Health and Safety

11) Assess Impact (How will it affect your family?)

12) Make an Informed Decision (to Foster or Adopt) 

Lesson #3:  "Partnership in Parenting" influences foster parents and adoptive parents.  When fostering, expect regular interactions with the biological parents (who will usually intend to take the appropriate steps to have their children returned to them).  When adopting, expect to maintain some interactions with the biological parents and consider the process as an "open adoption".