The PRIDE Model of Practice has been a cornerstone in enhancing child welfare services for over two decades. Agencies across the United States and in more than 25 countries utilize this standardized framework to recruit, prepare, assess, and train foster and adoptive parents. But Who Made The Pride Foster Care Training Program? This article delves into the origins of this influential model and explores its key components and benefits for both agencies and resource families.
The Genesis of PRIDE: Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
The PRIDE Model of Practice was developed by the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). CWLA, a respected and long-standing national organization, is dedicated to improving the lives of children and families through advocacy, research, and the development of best practices in child welfare. Recognizing the critical need for a consistent and competency-based approach to foster and adoptive parent training, CWLA created the PRIDE model to standardize and elevate the quality of resource family services.
CWLA’s expertise in child welfare is the foundation of the PRIDE program. The organization drew upon decades of experience and research to create a comprehensive model that addresses the multifaceted needs of children in care and the families who support them. The development of PRIDE reflects CWLA’s commitment to ensuring that children in foster care receive trauma-informed care and are placed with well-prepared and supported resource families.
Understanding the PRIDE Model of Practice
The PRIDE Model of Practice is a 14-step framework designed to cultivate and sustain foster and adoptive families as integral members of the child protection team. It emphasizes a team-based approach, recognizing resource families as essential partners with child welfare agencies in ensuring the safety, well-being, and permanency of children.
This model aims to strengthen family foster care and adoption services by:
- Defining Resource Family Roles: Clearly outlining the role of resource families in alignment with an agency’s mission and as vital team members.
- Community Education: Raising public awareness about the crucial role and importance of resource families.
- Strengths-Based Recruitment: Recruiting families based on a comprehensive understanding of their strengths and the needs of children in care.
- Competency-Based Training: Providing both in-person and hybrid pre-service training that focuses on building skills around Five Core Competencies.
- Integrated Assessment and Training: Seamlessly integrating pre-service training into the mutual family assessment (home study) process.
- Competency-Based Selection: Selecting resource families based on their demonstrated mastery of the Five Core Competencies.
- Child-Family Matching: Carefully matching children with licensed and appropriately skilled resource families.
- Family Development Plans: Creating personalized plans to guide the ongoing professional development of foster parents.
- Ongoing Support and In-service Training: Providing continuous training, support, and resources to resource families.
- Strengths-Based Relationship Closure: Utilizing a quality assurance and strengths-based approach when ending relationships with resource families.
By implementing the PRIDE Model of Practice, agencies can foster a collaborative environment where staff and resource families share a commitment to the agency’s values and goals. This shared foundation promotes culturally responsive practices, strengths-based communication, and ultimately, better outcomes for children in care.
Key Components and Benefits of the PRIDE Model
At the heart of the PRIDE Model of Practice are Five Core Competencies, identified through extensive role analysis. These competencies are essential for resource families to effectively care for children with diverse needs:
- Protecting and Nurturing Children: Ensuring the safety and well-being of children in their care.
- Meeting Children’s Developmental Needs and Addressing Their Delays: Understanding and responding to the unique developmental needs of each child, including addressing any delays.
- Supporting Relationships with Birth Families: Facilitating and supporting positive connections between children and their birth families, when safe and appropriate.
- Connecting Children to Safe, Nurturing Relationships Intended to Last a Lifetime (Permanency): Working towards permanency for children, whether through reunification, adoption, or other stable long-term relationships.
- Working as a Member of a Professional Team: Collaborating effectively with agency staff, social workers, and other professionals involved in the child’s care.
The PRIDE Model of Practice offers agencies a structured and proven framework to enhance the quality of their foster care and adoption services. By focusing on these core competencies and implementing the 14-step model, agencies can ensure that resource families are well-prepared, supported, and equipped to provide trauma-informed care. This ultimately leads to improved outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare system.
Resources, Licensing, Training, and Consultation with CWLA
The PRIDE Model of Practice is available in both in-person and hybrid in-person/online formats to accommodate the diverse needs of agencies and families. Agencies interested in implementing PRIDE can access resources and support through CWLA.
CWLA offers various avenues for agencies to adopt and effectively utilize the PRIDE model:
- License Program: CWLA materials are copyrighted, and a license program is available to agencies, granting them permission to make unlimited copies of the PRIDE Model of Practice resource materials produced by CWLA.
- Training and Consultation: CWLA provides expert training and consultation services to assist agencies in implementing the PRIDE model. This can be delivered in two primary ways:
- On-site Training: CWLA staff can come directly to your agency to work with all staff involved in family foster care and adoption services. This comprehensive approach ensures that all team members, from leadership to frontline staff and resource parents, are aligned in values and practice.
- Open Enrollment Training: CWLA offers open enrollment training sessions across the country, designed for agency staff who are new to the PRIDE model or require refresher training.
For agencies seeking to enhance their foster care and adoption programs, the PRIDE Model of Practice, developed by the Child Welfare League of America, offers a robust, competency-based framework. For further information and assistance with implementing the PRIDE Model of Practice, you can contact Marcus Stallworth, LMSW, Director, Training and Implementation at [email protected], or Gaelle Augustin, Training and Administration Associate at [email protected]. By partnering with CWLA and adopting the PRIDE model, agencies can invest in the development of highly skilled resource families and ultimately improve the lives of children in foster care.
