LOCAL
FOSTER CARE AGENCY
PSI FAMILY SERVICES, INC.
“Family Perspectives - Keys to Successful Parenting: Curfews and Whereabouts - Parties and Concerts”
LANHAM,
February 12, 2003 -- Leading foster care agency PSI Family Services, Inc.
sponsored a full-day refresher training course for over 100 active and licensed
foster parents in the Washington, DC area on January 25, 2003. The course,
located at St. Mathis Church and School in Lanham, Maryland, was part of PSI’s
organized training program that includes quarterly training sessions, supplemented by ongoing internet courses
available to the parents at no charge.
The day-long course, for which foster parents earn valuable
training credits necessary for re-licensure, was entitled “Family Perspectives
- Keys to Successful Parenting: Curfews and Whereabouts - Parties and
Concerts.” It offered an agenda which included open discussions about child,
and parent, behaviors as they relate to child-rearing. The day began with the sharing of coffee, juice, fruit and pastries
amongst the attendees, which included PSI staff – case managers, supervisors,
team coordinators and support staff. The
general session covered “housekeeping” issues such as introductions, phone
numbers and training requirements. On
this particular day, much of the discussion focused on PSI’s most recent
training benefit – on-line training offered on the Internet via PSI eCollege (www.psiecollge.com). 
The courses, covering issues
like substance abuse, discipline, and
preventing abuse and neglect are timely. And
new courses are added throughout the year – many in response to what parents
and staff say are the most pressing issues of raising children. In the few months since the courses became available for foster parents,
over 50 courses have been successfully completed by PSI’s Washington, DC and
Maryland foster parents.
After the general session, the foster parents broke out into two groups which discussed the emotional needs of children, trust and responsibility and levels of supervision.
As is always the case when these parents get together to
discuss issues surrounding the techniques of raising children in today’s
world, the “veteran” foster parents are very open about their own
experiences, and the not-so-veteran are glad for the opportunity to know that
they aren’t the only ones going
through the trials and tribulations. Even more importantly, the parents are all quick to say “if
you need any help, give me a call.” This
sentiment was expressed best by one of the veterans, Robert Valentine. “My wife, Teresa, and I remember well what it was like when we started
out in foster care. You feel overwhelmed until you meet other parents that have
been through it all, in some cases, many times. Everyone is so quick to share lessons learned, sometimes just the phone
number of a good pediatrician in the area can be of great help. When we remember those times, all we want to do is offer the same kind of
assistance. When we get together
like this, it feels like one very big family.” The Valentines have been PSI foster parents for five years, and their
passion for the work they do seems to grow each year.
“PSI understands the importance of continued support and training for foster parents,” said Renee Williams-Thomas, PSI Family Services Program Director for District of Columbia Children. “Not only do these courses offer clinically-based discussion about some of the most challenging issues facing foster parents, but they also provide an invaluable networking opportunity for the parents. Through all the years of working closely with foster parents, PSI has come to recognize the supreme significance of friendships and support groups among the parents. No doubt that this personal process offers solutions that the administrative process could never handle.”
Foster
parents look forward to learning new skills. PSI staff provide
babysitting for the children while the adults get new training.