Training Topics for Licensing

A three hour face-to-face car seat safety training is required if caring for children under the age of eight. Child and Restraint Systems (C.A.R.S.) is a class is offered by Washington County throughout the year, but you may choose to take a class offered in another county. This class must be retaken every five years.

If you are a relative/kinship provider, contact your licensor for more information about a variance option.

Register for a class in Washington County

All classes are held at the Stillwater Government Center located at 14949 62nd St. North, Stillwater, MN 55082. Please arrive on time. If you are late by more than 10 minutes, you will be turned away.

Please note: Washington County foster care applicants are exempt from the $30 fee. If your licensor is not from Washington County, you will be required to pay.

View training calendar and register

Register for a class outside of Washington County

Find C.A.R.S. classes at Developtoolmn.org.

When searching for trainings use keyword: C.A.R.S.

You may register for a class outside of Washington County if it is more convenient for you. Make sure to obtain a receipt so you can prove your attendance and receive reimbursement.

Washington County recognizes the cultural disparities in the child welfare and foster care system. It is the expectation and dedication of the Washington County Foster Care Program to continually work toward increasing our cultural competence.

All licensed child foster care providers are required to complete at least one hour each year of training that increases their cultural competence as it relates to the children in their care.

View some resources for training options via our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion web page.

One hour of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is required after your license has been issued. In your first year as a licensed foster parent, you must complete this training in addition to the 12 hour requirement (making this a 13th hour of training). After your first year, at least one hour of FASD training must be included in your 12 hour annual requirement.

The following training will meet the FASD training requirement:
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the Adoptive/Foster Family (YouTube) video

If you are in need of additional resources to complete this training requirement, please contact your licensor.

Foster parents are designated by law as mandated reporters of known or suspected child abuse. Learn more about what this important responsibility entails by attending a workshop led instructed by Washington County child protection workers. This training counts towards your 12-hour annual requirement.

For more information and to register for training, see the Mandated Reporter section of the Child Protection website.

This video by Deena McMahon is for existing license holders to learn more about the impacts of children’s development. Upon completion of the training, write a paragraph about what you learned. You may submit this online or in-person to your licensor.

Submit verification online

Deena McMahon’s Children’s Mental Health PowerPoint

Topics for Children's Mental Health approved by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS)

• Anxiety Behavior Disorders
• Attachment
• Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Bipolar
• Depression
• Development
• Eating Disorders
• Resiliency
• Trauma Medication (Psychotropic)

Additional trainings approved by the Minnesota DHS

• Children’s Mental Health for Resource Families – Anxiety (YouTube video) CSP9221B 
  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. This course meets the annual training requirement in MN Statute 245A. 
• Children’s Mental Health for Resource Families- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD (YouTube video) CSP9221C
  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. This course meets the annual training requirement in MN Statute 245A.
• Children’s Mental Health for Resource Families – Depression (YouTube video) CSP9221D
  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. This course meets the annual training requirement in MN Statute 245A. 
• Children’s Mental Health for Resource Families – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – OCD (YouTube video) CSP9221E
  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. This course meets the annual training requirement in MN Statute 245A. 
• Children’s Mental Health for Resource Families – Autism (YouTube video) CSP9221F
  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 term of origins, symptoms, behaviors, treatment, interventions and cultural considerations. This course meets the annual training requirement in MN Statute 245A.

Not open to the general public

This is the required, annual review of the Vulnerable Adult Act for all child foster care providers serving people ages 18 - 21 year old.

You must RSVP 

• For virtual training: We need to email you the link to access this training online.
• For in-person training: We need to create a training packet for you.
• RSVP via email only by the Friday before each session.

Training materials

• When the training is virtual: Participants should access the packet forms before the training via the link in the training poster.
• When the training is in-person: Training packets will be available at the training.

Training dates

If you are unable to attend the Washington County Vulnerable Adult Mandated Reporter Training, you may complete the online training:  DHS Vulnerable Adult Act Training.

There are many community resources that can provide additional training resources. Here are a few places to look when seeking hours. If you are interested in obtaining training within a specific topic area, contact your licensor.

• CEED (Center for Early Education and Development).
• Department of Human Services Child Protection, Foster Care, Adoption Training.
• Department of Human Services Child Welfare Training System (PDF).
• Foster Parent College.
• Help Me Grow.
• Minnesota Adopt.
• MACMH (Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health).
• Minnesota Mental Health.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
• PACER Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights).
• Proof Alliance (formerly known as MOFAS - MN Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).
• QPI (Quality Parenting Initiative).