All child foster care applicants need to complete one of these training options prior to becoming licensed.

Option 1: Watch the McMahon Children's Mental Health video and complete the self test to get credit for the training. 

Option 2: Introduction to Mental Health for Resource Families. This training provides an introduction to a number of common mental health diagnoses that foster and adoptive children often present within the child welfare system. Each diagnosis is discussed in terms of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions, and cultural considerations. It also includes information and helpful tips about common co-occurring or dual diagnoses.

Watch the 20 minute Smoke-Free Video published by the Department of Human Services (DHS).  

Training on SUID/AHT needs to be completed if you are caring for children age 5 years or younger. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) approves the below trainings. You need to watch all 6 videos and give the completed the post tests to your licensor to get credit.

SUID Videos
Safe Sleep  Produced by Hennepin County (4:17)
Safe Sleep Practices  Produced by Eastern Virginia Medical School  (5:50)
Sleep On It-Preventing Unsafe Sleep Practices  Produced by Dakota County (6:28)

SUID Post Test

AHT Videos
Never Shake: Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome  Produced by Missouri Children's Trust Fund (7:48)
the Doctors- shaken baby syndrome by the The Doctors talk show (1:48)
Forever Shaken Produced by Brain Injury Nebraska (33:16)

AHT Post Test

Child passenger safety C.A.R.S. training needs to be completed prior to becoming licensed, and at least once every 5 years when licensed and caring for children under age 9 with intentions to transport them. This training must be completed in-person.  Options for obtaining this training:

Public Health Training in Chaska

Basic Education for Safe Travel (B.E.S.T.) This training option is available at no cost, only to Carver County residents. The training is a hybrid training with online training and assessment and in-person review at the Government Center Administration Building, 600 E. 4th St., Chaska MN 55318. Contact Tami LaGow at Carver County Public Health to get started. Call (952) 361-1329 or e-mail public-health@carvercountymn.gov to register. 

Mandated Reporter Training

This Minnesota Department of Human Services training is for individuals mandated to report child maltreatment. This training is designed to help you understand the mandated reporter laws and requirements, including the actions you need to take if you know or suspect a child is being maltreated. 

All child foster care providers need to complete one of these training options each year. Here are some pre-approved options to meet this training requirement. 

Option 1: Anxiety This training provides a 1.5 hours overview of a common mental health diagnosis that foster and adoptive children often present within the child welfare system.  Anxiety will be discussed in terms of main origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions, and cultural considerations.

Option 2: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder -ADHD This training provides a 1.5 hours overview of a common mental health diagnosis that foster and adoptive children often present within the child welfare system.  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder will be discussed in terms of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions, and cultural considerations.

Option 3: Depression This training provides 1.5 hours of overview of a common mental health diagnosis that foster and adoptive children often present within the child welfare system.  Depression will be discussed in terms of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions and cultural considerations.  

Option 4: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – OCD This training provides 1.5 hours of overview of a common mental health diagnosis that foster and adoptive children may present within the child welfare system.  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will be discussed in terms of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions and cultural considerations.

Option 5: Autism This training provides 1.5 hours of overview of a common mental health diagnosis that foster and adoptive children may present within the child welfare system.  Autism will be discussed in terms of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions and cultural considerations.

Additional Children's Mental Health trainings meet this requirement as long the training addresses the causes, symptoms, and key warning signs of mental health disorders; cultural considerations; and effective approaches for dealing with child behaviors. Consider trainings that focus on: 

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder training is required annually.

Option 1: Watch the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Video and tell your licensor what you learned from the video to get credit.

Option 2: PROOF Alliance - "What Foster, Prospective and Post Adoptive Caregivers Need to Know about FASD"

Check out additional training resources below for additional FASD trainings. 

This Pre-Service Training blends on-line learning with Virtual Training using Foster Parent College and the MN Child Welfare Training Academy. Participants will be guided through an interactive and informative training series filled with activities and learning opportunities. Sessions will provide answers to many important questions.

This training requires registered participants to complete on-line tasks prior to Virtual Training.

Meeting One Virtual Training

No Foster Parent College modules are required prior to Meeting 1; however, this is some activities through MN Child Welfare Training Academy need to be completed prior to Meeting 1. 

Meeting Two Virtual Training

Cluster One Foster Parent College On-line Modules
Complete prior to Virtual Training
1. The Child Welfare Team
2. Child Abuse and Neglect
3. Parent Child Attachment 
4. Understanding Behavior in Foster Children

Meeting Three Virtual Training

Cluster Two Foster Parent College Online-Modules
Complete prior to Virtual Training
1. Child Development 
2. Cultural Issues in Parenting 
3. Working Together with Primary Families 

Meeting Four Virtual Training

Cluster Three Foster Parent College On-line Modules
Complete prior to Virtual Training
1. Caring for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused 
2. Reducing Family Stress 
3. Foster to Adoption

Who Should Attend?

- Foster Parents who have not completed pre-service training.

- Experienced foster parents who want a refresher 

Register by contacting:

Angie Lunow

612-710-0412 or alunow@cavercountymn.gov

Mandated Reporter Training

This Minnesota Department of Human Services training is for individuals mandated to report child maltreatment. This training is designed to help you understand the mandated reporter laws and requirements, including the actions you need to take if you know or suspect a child is being maltreated. 

MN Adopt provides a wide variety of training opportunities to include Pre-Adoptive Classes, Workshops, Webinars & Podcasts and additional educational opportunities and resources. Visit their Education site to see all of their options. 

Carver County staff will also email out other trainings as they come available through MN Adopt. Many of these trainings are free of charge. 

Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health (MACMH)

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)

National Alliance on Mental Health - Minnesota (NAMI-MN)

MN Mental Health

PACER Center