Licensed foster parents are required to complete 30 hours of in-service training per licensure period (every two years). As of January 2015, the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition began hosting Foster/Adopt Parent Workshops.  These workshops will allow you to:

• Connect with other parents to share resources
• Learn how a child’s prior experiences can impact their behaviors
• Explore ways to enhance your strengths as a parent
• Share and learn new skills to influence your child’s behaviors and attitudes
• Discover ways to reduce the stress of parenting

What Parents Have Said

“Going through this [workshop] has really helped me to realize that the strong behaviors [my adopted son] had were not his fault, but also that they were not my fault!”

“It gives the opportunity for….real change and healing for the kids.”

All opportunities will be held at the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, located at 1750 S. Brentwood Blvd., Suite 260, St. Louis, MO 63144. Individuals must register to attend.

Carleen Goddard-Mazur Training Institute

The Carleen Goddard-Mazur Training Institute was launched in 2012 with a bequest from the estate of Carleen Goddard-Mazur. The purpose of the Institute is two-fold:

The Institute provides instruction to child welfare agencies on the groundbreaking adoption and foster care programs developed by the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition.

The Institute provides professional training to child welfare workers and resource parents in the St. Louis community by bringing in cutting edge researchers and clinicians from around the country to offer skill building seminars with the purpose of providing the very best services to youth who are, or who have been, in foster care.

About Carleen Goddard-Mazur

Carleen grew up with her foster parents, “Ma and Pa.”

Carleen had an indomitable spirit, living life to its fullest. Bright and gifted, she was an accomplished Licensed Practical Nurse. Determined and progressive, she was both a maritime and an aerial pilot. Graceful and beautiful, she was a model and socialite. Kind and compassionate, she cared for Ma and Pa in her own home, until their deaths.

Carleen had an eclectic and varied career as an accomplished equestrian, licensed pilot, licensed boat captain, professional model, and nurse. (photograph, 1979)

Carleen’s philosophy was that there is nothing in life that cannot be accomplished, and she wanted youth in foster care to know that–no matter what–you can succeed.

Her legacy lives on in the Carleen Goddard-Mazur Training Institute, and it is our honor to carry out this work in her memory.

Created by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) in 2009, The Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) is a comprehensive, evidence-informed post-Master’s training program for mental health professionals that is available nationwide.

TAC is the most rigorously evaluated competency-based training curriculum available; it earns consistently high ratings of quality and relevance.

TAC students master knowledge, values and skills in 18 domains critical to adoption-competent mental health services.

Learn more about TAC and the benefits of Adoption Competency.

For additional information, contact Nickie Steinhoff, nickiesteinhoff@foster-adopt.org.