How Many Preservice Sessions Do You Need to Be a Foster Parent in Alabama?

Becoming a foster parent in Alabama (or anywhere in the world) means preparing yourself the best way that you can.

In every state, the need for preservice sessions is different — some may have strict needs and several hours worth of sessions, while others may not have such strict requirements.

For foster parents in Alabama, we have the answer to your question. Let’s look at preservice sessions in Alabama and what you can expect. 

Only One Preservice Session is a Requirement in Alabama

Foster parents in the state of Alabama need to complete a preservice session called Trauma Informed Partnering for Permanence and Safety — or TIPPS for short. 

This session guides foster parents providing care for children in need, covering topics such as:

• Meeting safety needs
• Developmental and well-being needs
• Working with birth parents, if needed
• Planning and supporting permanency
• And other relevant topics

The TIPPS preservice session is broken into 10 different meetings for a total of 30 hours:

1. Introduction
2. A Foster Care and Adoption Experience
3. The Need to Be a Loss Expert
4. Helping Children With Attachments
5. Helping Children Learn Healthy Behaviors
6. Helping Children With Birth Family Connections
7. Helping Children Leave Foster Care
8. Understanding the Impact of Fostering and Adopting
9. Perspectives in Adoptive Parenting and Foster Parenting Teamwork and Partnership
10. Endings and Beginnings

Once you’ve completed these 10 meetings, you’ll be ready to continue the process of becoming a foster parent in Alabama! However, there are 10 additional preservice session hours required to become a therapeutic foster parent.

It Doesn’t Hurt to Learn as Much as Possible

Although there’s only one required preservice session for the state of Alabama, it’s never a bad idea to prepare yourself in other ways.

After all, you’re providing care to a child in need — it’s a big deal!

Finding other preservice sessions and support online is a great way to learn as much as you can about becoming a foster parent. For example, the Alabama Foster & Adoptive Parent Association has a training resources section where they post upcoming events and preservice sessions for potential foster parents. 

There are also a number of great foster care books that you can read to learn more about foster care through the eyes of adults who were in it, and more.

This is especially important if you will be caring for a child living with trauma or disabilities — the level of care you’ll need to give them may require more education and knowledge. 

Learn All About Becoming a Foster Parent in Our Upcoming Webinar 

Looking to learn more about becoming a foster parent? Ready to become a foster parent? 

If so, our upcoming webinar can help point you in the right direction.

By attending a free Foster Parent Information Session Webinar and learning more about the fostering process, you can take the first step toward becoming a foster parent and providing a safe, loving, and supportive home for a child in need. 

Sign up for our webinar today or call our local office to get started!