Foster and Adoptive Parent Training

30 hours of training is provided for all prospective foster and adoptive families in the State of South Dakota.

Training is facilitated through a combination of online and classroom sessions to provide added flexibility for families.

Training is based on the philosophy that the value of family life for children, however family is defined, is compelling. Because of this, knowledgeable and skilled foster and adoptive parents are integral to providing quality services.

Foster and adoptive parent training goals are to help:

1. Meet the protective, developmental, cultural and permanency needs of children placed with foster and adoptive families.
   
   
2. Strengthen families, whether they are families of origin, blended families, extended or kinship families, foster families, adoptive families, or tribal members.
   
   
3. Strengthen the quality of family foster parenting and adoption services by providing a standardized, structured framework for pre-service training and mutual assessment.

UNITY

Extending Our Families Though UNITY

UNITY is a curriculum based on traditions and cultures of Indian people. It is designed to address issues Native American foster parents have identified as important and prepare current and potential foster parents for their critical role as care giver for Indian children.

UNITY is a 30 hour training curriculum with the following components:

• Foster Parent Orientation
• Human Growth and Development
• Attachment and Loss
• Protecting, Nurturing and Meeting Needs through Discipline
• Historical Trauma and Intergenerational Grief
• Effects of Addiction on Children
• Child Abuse/Neglect and Sexual Abuse
• Promoting Permanency Outcomes
• Kinship Care and Self-Esteem

Contact information is listed below to learn more about the upcoming training classes in your area.

Region 1
Counties: Pennington
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Region 2
Counties: Lawrence, Butte , Harding, Meade, Custer, Fall River
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Region 3
Counties: Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Jones, Stanley, Sully, Campbell, Corson, Perkins, Potter, Walworth, Dewey, Ziebach
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Region 4
Counties: Mellette, Todd, Gregory, Tripp, Brule, Buffalo, Lyman, Bennett, Jackson
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Region 5
Counties: Beadle, Faulk, Hand, Jerauld, Sanborn, Spink, Clark, Codington, Day, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Roberts, Brown, Edmunds, Marshall, McPherson, Brookings, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner, Moody
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Region 6
Counties: Minnehaha and Lincoln
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Region 7
Counties: Aurora, Davison, Douglas, Hanson, McCook, Charles Mix, Bon Homme, Hutchinson, Yankton, Clay, Southern Lincoln, Turner, Union
Contact: 605.221.2390 or toll-free 844.344.9482
Email: RFS@LssSD.org

Sicangu Child and Family Services, Mission
Contact: 605.856.4855.
Email: kblackbear@rstscfs.org