Training Requirements

Training Requirements for Foster Parents

In Iowa, foster parents need six hours of training annually to renew their foster care license. At least three training hours must be done in a group setting. Foster parents must complete all of their training requirements prior to the date listed in the table below.

Licensing Deadline for Training Requirements
If you were licensed in the following month:	All of your trainings classes must be completed by the following date:
October 2009	July 31, 2010
November 2009	August 31, 2010
December 2009	September 30, 2010
January 2010	October 31, 2010
February 2010	November 30, 2010
March 2010	December 2010
April 2010	January 31, 2011
May 2010	February 28, 2011
June 2010	March 31, 2011
July 2010	April 30, 2011
August 2010	May 31, 2011
September 2010	June 30, 2011

 

In order to maintain your foster parent license, the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) requires foster parents to complete the following:

• Medication Management Training
• CPR Training
• First Aid Training
• Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training

PLEASE NOTE: As of October 2009, with the exception of CPR, First Aid and Mandatory Reporter classes, foster parents cannot receive training credit for any class that they have previously attended and used for re-licensing. Mandt System training cannot be used toward foster parent credit. Please see the table below and click on the appropriate link to learn more about each of the available training classes.

 

Training Requirements for Adoptive Parents

Adoptive parents are not required to participate in training hours. However, adoptive parents report that children's issues do not go away and sometimes issues surface after adoption finalization. IFAPA provides training that meets adoptive parents' challenges. Please see the table below and click on the appropriate link to learn more about each of the available training classes.

 

Upcoming Training Opportunities
Click on one of the following options to view upcoming training opportunities.
Current IFAPA Training Schedule IFAPA offers a variety of free six-hour and three-hour classes that were created to help foster, adoptive and kinship parents. View IFAPA Training Schedule
IFAPA Conference IFAPA hosts a two-day conference every March. The 2011 Spring Conference will be held on March 4 & 5 at the Ramada Tropics Resort and Conference Center in Des Moines. Read more
Support Group Trainings There are many foster/adoptive parent support groups located throughout the state that offer training during their meeting. View Upcoming Support Group Trainings
Mandatory Reporter Trainings Foster parents are required to complete Mandatory Child Abuse Reporter Training within one year of being licensed and then every five years thereafter. View Training Opportunities
CPR & First Aid Trainings Beginning October 1, 2009, foster parents will be required to complete CPR and First Aid classes. View CPR & First Aid Training Opportunities
Medication Management Training Beginning October 1, 2009, foster parents will be required to complete Medication Management training. Read more.
Caring for Children with HIV Training When placement of an HIV-infected child occurs, foster parents are required to complete the course “Caring for Children with HIV”. Read more
Online Training Courses Offered Through FosterParents.com Foster parents in Iowa can obtain a maximum of three hours of their training through approved online courses offered by FosterParents.com. Read more
Other Trainings & Conferences IFAPA also promotes other upcoming non-IFAPA conferences and trainings that may be of interest to foster, adoptive and kinship parents. Read more

 

How to Register for an IFAPA Class

Registration is required to attend one of IFAPA's training classes.

REGISTER VIA PHONE
Call 800-277-8145 ext. 1 or 515-289-4567 ext. 1

REGISTER ON OUR WEBSITE
To register for a training through our website, click here.

 

Foster Parent Training Forms

You must make an application for renewal of your license by contacting your licensing worker by phone or e-mail at least 30 days and no more than 90 days before your expiration date. It is important to keep your certificates of attendance in a safe place during the year. You will submit these certificates as proof of credit to your licensing worker. For license renewal, foster parents need to provide the licensing worker with a copy of the training certificate and the Foster Parent Training Report form (470-2540). Please be sure to read more about training requirements in the DHS Foster Parent Handbook. IFAPA has created a training guide sheet to use for your records only, not for submission to your licensing worker.

 

Inclement Weather – Class Cancellations

During the winter months, bad weather can happen. We try our best to avoid cancelling trainings. If the trainer is able to make it to the training location, IFAPA will still hold the class for those families that need to get their training hours completed. If you feel the weather is too dangerous to travel, please stay home and you can register for a different upcoming class. If a class needs to be cancelled, we will make every effort to notify all attendees of the cancellation via phone and on the home page of our website. IFAPA will also list all class cancellations on our Training Coordinator’s voicemail. If you would like to find out if any classes have been cancelled due to weather, call 800-277-8145 ext. 2.

 

Want to become a foster or adoptive parent?

If you are not a licensed foster/adoptive parent and would like to get started with the approval process, please contact Iowa KidsNet at 800-243-0756 or visit their website www.iowakidsnet.com. Iowa KidsNet coordinates orientations & the PS-MAPP training schedule for prospective foster/adoptive parents.