Resources
A variety of resources that may be helpful to your family are included on this page. Our downloadable community resource guide can connect you to services, programs, and individuals of assistance in your county. It also includes select state and national resources. If you would like a mailed copy of the guide, please contact us; we'd be happy to send it to you.
We've also included a variety of websites. They may feature articles or training opportunities for families. While some of the sites may have adoption, guardianship, kinship, or foster care related items, there is also a section devoted specifically to foster care and adoption.
Remember to also review our newsletters if you'd like additional articles, partenting strategies, and tips.
Helpful Websites
Foster or Adoption-Specific
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Families Rising (Formerly NACAC)
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Creating a Family
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National Training and Development Curriculum
Parenting
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Raising Children (Australian)
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NetSmartz, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Trauma
Trauma-related articles are also on many of the foster and adoption-specific sites.
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Belonging Network (Canada) - Trauma-Informed Parenting Guide
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Trauma and Toxic Stress (MDHHS)
Physical & Mental Health
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Association for Children's Mental Health (Michigan)
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American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Facts for Families Guide
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Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
Education
Training Opportunities
In addition to the training opportunities PARC offers and posts on our Events & Calendar page, the following websites offer free online training.
We also suggest checking the calendar at the Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange, which posts statewide training and events for families.
MSU’s School of Social Work offers free child welfare webinars for parents and caregivers, including ones on trauma and behaviors to help families strengthen their knowledge and support children’s needs.
Creating a Family (Jockey Being Family Program)
Site offers a variety of courses for foster, adoptive, and kinship families. They also have many additional resources on their site. Through the support of the Jockey Being Family program, families can access select courses for free by clicking the code link on the course's page or entering a coupon code (JBFStrong) at checkout.
Center for Adoption and Support Education (CASE)
Each month, CASE offers a Strengthening Your Family webinar with free registration sponsored by the Jockey Being Family program, using a coupon code posted on the webinar’s sign-up page. Jockey also provides a separate coupon code (JOCKEY25) to access multiple in-demand webinars.
Children's Home Society of Minnesota (CHLSS)
CHLSS offers a wide selection of webinars for foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Topics include Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), emotional regulation, behavioral issues, sibling relationships, hair care, and more. Certificates are available upon completion, making these sessions especially beneficial for families.
Site offers an extensive on-demand learning library of more than 170 webinars. Topics span the Seven Core Issues of Adoption, trauma, attachment, behavior, and more. While certificates are not provided, these sessions are a valuable resource for families.
National Foster Parent Association Training Institute (NFPA)
NFPA offers several free webinars for foster parents through its Training Institute. Be sure to click to the next page at the bottom to view them all.