PACE Class - Part 1, 2, 3, and 6

So our 6 hour training only lasted 3 1/2 hours! We got there and our instructor said, "It's a nice day, so let's get done early!"

We went through PACE classes 1, 2, 3 and 6. PACE stands for "Partners in Alternative Care Education." It's a course (or set of 12 courses) that are put on by the state designed to inform Foster Caregivers of their roles, responsibilities, and the challenges they might face as they foster.

There are 12 classes. We went to 4.

1. Orientation and overview of Foster Care, Kinship, and Adoption.
2. Team building
3. Family Systems and Abuse and Neglect.
4. Impact of Abuse and Neglect on Child Development.
5. Attachment, Separation and Placement.
6. Discipline and Behavior Management.
7. Cultural Issues in Placement.
8. Primary Families
9. Sexual Abuse.
10. Effects of Care giving on the Family.
11. Permanency Issues for Children.
12. Permanency Issues for Families.

Since we've completed these four courses, we're now eligible to take Foster care placements. Of course, we're not licensed yet, so it's all irrelevant.

Here's the big kicker. State rules regarding requirements for adoption education are changing. We may (or may not) have met the requirements by attending these classes. It'll be up to the individual caseworker as to whether or not they want to accept these classes. We're praying that they will.