
Upcoming Training
Expand your skills and knowledge with our comprehensive training programs designed for resource parents.
Training Registration
How and where to sign up
Child Welfare Academy
Majority of trainings provided here. No county registration needed.
Register NowInformation Sessions
Register directly with the Recruiter/Trainer.
2026 Training Calendar
Child Welfare Academy
Official CWA resource parent training calendar for May through August 2026. Use it to plan certification hours; register at theinstitute.ce21.com.
Download PDF Calendar (2026)Training Calendar
Child Welfare Academy schedule for May–August 2026 (same as the downloadable calendar). Register at theinstitute.ce21.com.
June 2026
Building Safety and Trust: Supporting Youth with Diverse SOGIE
Do you want to learn more about LGBTQ youth? Are you unsure how to support gay and lesbian youth? This training will explore the broad range of gender identity and sexual orientation. This course will review inclusive terms and definitions. In addition to discussion and other interactive activities, local resources for children and families will be identified.
July 2026
Reunification – The Primary Permanency Planning Goal
This workshop will help caregivers understand the permanency options and the role of parents who are fostering in permanency planning- including reunification. Participants will view permanency from the child's perspective and understand their role in caring for children while at the same time preparing them to return home. Partnering with birth families to achieve reunification will also be explored.
Conflict Resolution and Strengthening Families
BEHAVIOR (meets Discipline/Behavior requirement per calendar key). This training will review the impact of trauma on family dynamics, communications, and styles of conflict resolution and family functioning. The training will highlight trauma-informed principles that support the development of family resiliency.
Adolescence and Trauma
This workshop outlines the developmental tasks of adolescence, including separation and individuation, and explores how each are severely impacted by trauma and the foster care experience. This workshop also offers tools and strategies to parents for understanding behavior and responding in a trauma-informed way that promotes healing and preserves the parent/child relationship.
Examining Healthy Sleep Foundations Through the Lens of Trauma
In this workshop, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and an adoptive mom will be covering the foundations of healthy sleep in children who have experienced trauma.
August 2026
Medication Management – Children’s Mental Health Defined
MEDICATION (meets Medication Management requirement per calendar key). Gain essential knowledge about the causes and diagnosis of mental health conditions in children, along with treatment options and medication management. This training covers diagnostic evaluations, informed consent, treatment adherence, common medication side effects, and trauma-informed care.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: How Prenatal Exposure Impacts the Child in Your Care and How You Parent
BEHAVIOR (meets Discipline/Behavior requirement per calendar key). This training offers an opportunity to better understand the impact of substance use on a child’s brain development and why alcohol in particular is most damaging. Participants will discover the common challenges children with FASD experience and why some of their behaviors are confusing and frustrating. The training will show caregivers how to adjust their parenting strategies and expectations to best meet the child’s needs.
A Constellation of Caregivers- Understanding Kin First
This session will highlight how kin caregivers and non-kin resource parents form a vital network of support and healing. These caregivers are key partners in Maryland’s continuum of care, supporting children through transitions and helping to preserve connections to family, culture, and community. This training will deepen your understanding of how Maryland is reimagining care— family matters, with every caregiver shining as part of the constellation.
Improving Communication with Your Teen
Adolescence is a trying time for both teenagers and their families. While all teens struggle with issues related to identity formation, these concerns are often compounded for teens in foster care or who have been adopted. This can make parenting a foster/adopted teen a challenging and complex endeavor, requiring a unique set of skills and strategies. This interactive workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of typical vs. atypical teen development. Resource and adoptive parents will learn skills to support their teens and establish a more peaceful and cooperative relationship.