Foster Parent In-Service Trainings
NFAPA In-Service Trainings
Mark you calendars! We have set-up several virtual in-service trainings!
9:00 am-11:00 am CT
Register: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NFAPA_In-Service_Oct_2025-Sept_2026
June 13, 2026 VIRTUAL
Permanency Planning 101: Navigating All Things Permanency
By Cydney Volker, Adoption/Permanency Program Specialist with Division of Children & Family Services
This training provides an overview of permanency options, including adoption, guardianship, APPLA and B2i.
Participants will learn key timelines, and requirements!
July 18, 2026 VIRTUAL
When Everything Feels Like an Emergency: What to Do When Your Child Is in Crisis
By Barb Clark, FASD/Behavior Consultant with FASD Mosaic, LLC
When your child is melting down, escalating, or doing something that feels unsafe, it can be terrifying and overwhelming. Aggression, self-harm, property destruction, or running away aren’t just “behaviors”, they’re moments when everyone’s safety matters and caregivers are often left asking, What do I do right now?
This session offers practical, real-world guidance for foster and adoptive parents navigating behavioral crises. You’ll learn how to assess risk, de-escalate intense situations, and respond in ways that protect safety without making things worse. Grounded in trauma- and brain-based understanding, this session helps caregivers respond with calm, clarity, and compassion, even in the hardest moments.
Additional Training Opportunities for Relative, Kinship, Foster and Adoptive Parents
NFAPA Support Groups: In-Person & Virtually
Kearney (In-person): May 1, 2026 & July 3, 2026
Relative & Kinship Families
7:00 pm-8:30 pm (CT)
Support and 1-hour of training
RSVP to Vicki: 308-352-6079 or Vicki@nfapa.org
Scottsbluff (In-person): June 5, 2026 & August 7, 2026
Relative & Kinship Families
7:00 pm-8:30 pm (MT)
Support and 1-hour of training
RSVP to Vicki: 308-352-6079 or Vicki@nfapa.org
Virtual (Zoom): Second Thursday in May, June, July, & August
6:30 pm-8:00 pm (CT)
Support and 1-hour of training
RSVP to Vicki: 308-352-6079 or Vicki@nfapa.org
Lincoln (In-Person): Usually the fourth Tuesday of the month unless an event is planned
6:15 pm-8:00 pm (CT)
Support Only (Potluck dinner from 6:15 pm-6:45 pm)
RSVP to Jessica: Jessica@nfapa.org
FACEBOOK: FACES: Tuesdays at 9:00 pm (CT)
9:00 pm
Support, must have Facebook Account
Contact Robbi for link: Robbi@nfapa.org
Children and Family Services and Creating a Family, a national adoption and foster care education and support non-profit organization, has expanded their partnership to enhance training opportunities for all foster homes across the State of Nebraska. All contracted Child Placing Agencies can now offer all of their foster and adoptive families access to an extensive and diverse training curriculum
Foster parents can create an account by going to: https://www.creatingafamilyed.org/users/sign_up
Click on the following website to browse training courses: https://www.creatingafamilyed.org/pages/adoption-courses
To access training:
1. Click on a training course
2. Sign in to your Creating a Family account
3. Contact NFAPA for the coupon code. 402-476-2273 or Felicia@nfapa.org
4. This coupon code provides FREE trainings for foster and adoptive parents
• The training courses are audio based with no visual slide presentation that can be downloaded and listened to on the go, computers are not needed to complete these courses.
• A ten (10) question quiz is required to be completed at the end of each course and an 80% score is required to pass the course to show completion.
• Completion certificates are emailed directly to the training participants.
• 16 hours of adoption training is required prior to an adoption occurring Nebraska Additional Training for Children over 12 months or medical fragile (this training is for 12 months and above) or Nebraska Domestic Infant Adoption Package (this training is for adoptions of infant to 12 months of age only)
Two new trainings available at Creating a Family.
Call NFAPA to get code! 402-476-2273
SPAULDING In-Service Training Opportunities
Spaulding/In-service Training: Virtual
We are working on dates. Stay tuned!
The Spaulding program is offered to prospective adoptive families and you will earn 12 CEU’s by completing the training. Spaulding training offers families the tools and information that they need to:
Explain how adoptive families are different
Importance of separation, loss, and grief in adoption
Understand attachment and its importance in adoption
Anticipate challenges and be able to identify strategies for managing challenges as an adoptive family
Explore the lifelong commitment to a child that adoption bring
When registering, please know this virtual 12-hour training is conducted over two days.
Friday Evening
6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Exploring Expectations—Defining adoption, the process, and the key players. Participant’s hopes and fears about the adoption process are recognized and empowerment strategies are identified to assist them in the process. Participant’s explore their fantasies about children they might adopt to become aware of the possible influence on their decision about adoption.
Meeting the Needs of Waiting Children—Assist prospective adoptive parents in focusing on the needs of children awaiting adoption. Explore the issues of separation, loss, grief and attachment. Plus the unique issues related to parenting a child who has been sexually abused.
Saturday
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Lunch on your own)
Exploring Adoption Issues—Identify supports within their family and introduce them to common issues that all adoptive families face. Help develop strategies for dealing with these issues; explore crisis periods in adoption; explore their own strengths, needs and challenges as they consider adoption.
Making the Commitment—Assist prospective adoptive parents in considering resources they may need, what they need to know, what they need to do, and what they need to explore about themselves as they consider adopting a particular child or children.
Centene Foster Care EDU
Centene Foster Care EDU is a comprehensive educational training initiative offered as a community service that targets all stakeholders of the foster care system. These online trainings are offered free of charge, interactive and facilitated using a ‘conference to you’ approach. These training events are hosted live by national experts and other trainers (open to all foster care stakeholders). Click HERE for more information.
NFPA Training Institute
The Nebraska Foster & Adoptive Parent Association is excited to announce a partnership with the National Foster Parent Association's Training Institute to bring you FREE training opportunities. Combining the child welfare expertise of the NFPA and Centene allows the NFPAti to disseminate training to caregivers more broadly, which will further support and empower caregivers in providing the best possible care to children and youth.
C.A.S.E.
C.A.S.E. offers educational webinar options for families and professionals:
- Live Stream: The first 600 registrations are FREE each month thanks to Jockey Being Family and Jockey International. Extended access is included. Certificates of Attendance and CEUs are available.
- In-Demand: They have 20+ in-demand webinars available when it's most convenient for you! Topics include emotional regulation, trauma, loss & grief, transracial families and more. Note: They only process CEs for the live-stream webinar series.
