Have you heard that DHR has classes that are required to become a foster and/or adoptive parent? Have you ever wondered what they’re all about? Have you wondered why you need them if you’ve already raised your birth child(ren)?
Group Preparation and Selection (GPS) is a 30-hour course that allows potential foster/adoptive families an opportunity to understand the strengths & needs of children who have spent time in the foster care system. During GPS sessions and through homework assignments potential foster/adoptive parents are asked questions that allow families to assess their own strengths and allow the social worker to get to know the family and their strengths. The groups usually meet for three (3) hours one evening per week for ten weeks. If you are married, both parents are required to attend all sessions.
The following is an outline of the topics covered during these ten-week sessions:
MEETING ONE: Welcome to the Group Preparation and Selection Program
MEETING TWO: Where the MAPP Leads: A Foster Care & Adoption Experience
MEETING THREE: Losses and Gains: The Need to be a Loss Expert
MEETING FOUR: Helping Children with Attachments
MEETING FIVE: Helping Children Learn to Manage their Behaviors
MEETING SIX: Helping Children with Birth Family Connections
MEETING SEVEN: Gains and Losses: Helping Children Leave Foster Care
MEETING EIGHT: Understanding the Impact of Fostering or Adopting
MEETING NINE: Perspectives in Adoptive Parenting and Foster Parenting
MEETING TEN: Endings and Beginnings
The GPS process is led by two facilitators, one a social worker from the agency and the other a trained foster/adoptive parent.
Do you have questions about GPS? Please use the contact us link on the right and I will be more than glad to provide you with more information.
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