KVC provides foster parent training in conjunction with West Virginia Child Placing Regulations and Joint Commission requirements. We provide the following trainings as part of becoming a foster parent:

• PRIDE, or Parent Resource Information Development and Education. A 30 hour course created by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) to learn about being a foster parent
• MANDT or crisis de-escalation. This course teaches potential foster parents about safe and effective ways to diffuse potential crisis situations.
• CPR/First Aid. KVC provides American Red Cross classes for adult, child and infant CPR and First Aid.
• Universal Precautions
• Healthy Sexual Development in Children
• Pregnancy Prevention and STD information

KVC also provides monthly CEU classes once families are certified. Each foster parent must have 12 hours of CEUs each year to remain foster parents. New foster parents must have 15 hours of CEUs within the first year of certification. Six of these CEUs must be face to face. KVC provides useful and informative CEU opportunities that are relevant to caring for foster children.

All KVC foster and adoptive parents receive support through Permanency Case Managers, who visit the children in the home at least twice monthly. Home Finders are also good support persons for the foster families. The Home Finders visit the homes at least quarterly. KVC also offers 24 hour crisis support through their on call system.

KVC is also in the process of starting a Foster Parent Advisory Board to provide internal support for other foster parents. This group will also work as client and foster parent advocates in the community as well as to organize community KVC events.