Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 18 - HUMAN SERVICES › Part 6 - Division of Family and Children's Services › Chapter 1 - DFCS Policy Manual › Section 18-6-1-F - Licensure Policy › Section 18-6-1-F-III - TRAINING

Current through June 25, 2024
MISS. CODE ANN. §
										43-15-13(6)
					 instructs "The State Department of Human Services, with the cooperation and
					 assistance of the State Department of Health, shall develop and implement a
					 training program for foster care parents to indoctrinate them as to their
					 proper responsibilities upon a child's entry into their foster care."
A.
Pre-Service Training
DFCS uses a pre-service training curriculum to be
					 completed by the applicant(s). All adults residing in the home who will
					 participate in the care of a foster child are expected to attend pre-service
					 training.
The applicant will be provided with at least three (3)
					 invitations to attend a pre-service training in their area over a period of
					 three (3) months. If the applicant has not begun pre-service training within
					 three (3) months of attending orientation, the inquiry may be closed and the
					 Licensure Specialist will send a notice of such to the applicant.
The required paperwork by the Licensure Specialist and
					 applicant will be completed during the preparation training. The individual
					 family assessment can be initiated at any point in the process based on the
					 specialist's assessment that the applicant may be appropriate for licensure.
If the documentation to be completed by the applicant is
					 not returned to the DFCS within 30 days following the completion of pre-service
					 training, the application will not be processed. The Licensure Specialist will
					 send written notification that the documentation must be submitted within 15
					 days or the application will be denied. A Notice of Action stating such will be
					 mailed to the applicant.
In the event the applicant cannot follow through with the
					 application process, the pre-service training is valid for a period of 24
					 months. Resource Parent training classes shall begin every 60 days in every
					 region with individualized training available as needed and as at times
					 convenient for the foster family.
Experienced licensed Resource Families may function as
					 co-trainers/leaders in the training process when possible and as appropriate.
					 Trainers will conduct only one 3-hour session of the MISSISSIPPI PATH
(Parents as Tender Healers)
pre-service training per week.
					 Exceptions can be made for relatives allowing a faster track with the current
					 curriculum.
All caretakers in the home are expected to complete 27
					 hours of pre service training which consists of:
* Mississippi PATH (15 hours)
* Universal blood borne pathogens (1 hour video)
* Car Seat Safety (up to 3 Hours)
* First Aid and CPR Training (up to 5 hours)
* Resource Parents who have a swimming pool or body of
					 water on their property must be CPR certified.
* Travel/Finance Training (up to 3 hours)
Applicants are issued a "Mississippi PATH Participant's
					 Handbook" that focuses on the following areas
:
1.
Team Work and the Children
				  Served.
(The importance of ensuring Resource Families and kinship
				  caregivers are active members of the team working with birth parents toward
				  reunification and fostering permanent connections. Orientation to DFCS is also
				  included.)
2.
Separation
				  and Attachment
(Sibling issues and connection to culture and long term
				  need for connection to relatives is addressed.)
3.
Developmental Stages
(Understanding of the different stages of development of a child and the impact
				  sexual abuse has on development.)
4.
Behavior Management
(Discussion of different behavior problems the Resource Family will encounter
				  with children and how to handle them).
5.
Permanent Connections
(Woven into this module is support of kinship caregivers and the TPR process).