“We are thrilled to offer other organizations access to a quality, evidenced-based training that best prepares people to take this journey of becoming foster parents, while giving them the tools to improve the lives of children until they can return home or become adopted,” said Cole.
PITTSBURGH (PRWEB)
May 20, 2020
Pressley Ridge, a leading social impact organization serving children and families with complex needs, announced today that its Treatment Foster Care Pre-Service Training Curriculum recently received designation as evidence-based through the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare. With more than 150 foster care agencies trained in this competency-based curriculum built on decades of research and experience, Pressley Ridge now has formal affirmation on the transformative impact that this treatment parent training has on the youth within their care.
“We are extremely proud that our training curriculum is now recognized by the California Clearinghouse as evidence-based,” said Susanne Cole, Pressley Ridge President and CEO. “Pressley Ridge has always taken its role seriously as a partner in the community, with a responsibility to make improvements in the field when necessary and share our knowledge to better support children and families through best practices. Our expertise in Treatment Foster Care, combined with the knowledge of what it takes to be a foster parent to support children who have experienced trauma, as well as other challenges, is what led us to develop this curriculum and share it with others.”
Pressley Ridge’s Treatment Parent Training is rooted in an understanding of how to change behavior, the importance of a strong relationship between the treatment parents and youth in their home (“working alliance”), and trauma-informed care. Treatment Foster Parents with Pressley Ridge serve as change agents for youth in their homes. Utilizing these competencies, Treatment Foster Parents are taught that youth’s behavior can change and the youth can learn skills necessary for effective living. The Pressley Ridge Parent Pre-Service training is now the only evidence-based Pre-Service developed specifically for treatment parents.
The goals of the Pre-Service Curriculum are to:
- Increase knowledge, empathy, and insight regarding treatment foster care, child development, trauma-informed care, and effective behavior management techniques
- Improve parenting skills for working with youth with behavioral and emotional issues
- Improve ability and commitment to succeed in their professional role as a treatment foster care parent
In 2010, Pressley Ridge began a collaborative research project with Easter Seals, collecting impact data on training effectiveness. A few years later, a similar study was completed with organizations in Michigan. Based on these and additional internal research projects, Pressley Ridge published numerous research articles, journals and studies that were submitted to the California Clearinghouse for review.
The mission of the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse is to advance the effective implementation of evidenced-based practices for children and families involved with the child welfare system. Due to increasing pressure from states and funding entities to use evidenced-based practices for treatment foster care – where few actually exist, this designation affirms Pressley Ridge’s commitment, capability, and depth of sound research to deliver services that produce positive outcomes for youth and families.
“We are thrilled to offer other organizations access to a quality, evidenced-based training that best prepares people to take this journey of becoming foster parents, while giving them the tools to improve the lives of children until they can return home or become adopted,” said Cole.
For more information on Pressley Ridge’s Treatment Foster Care Pre-Service Curriculum, visit http://www.pressleyridge.org/tfc or on the California Clearinghouse at https://www.cebc4cw.org/program/pressley-ridge-s-treatment-foster-care-pr-tfc-pre-service-curriculum/.
ABOUT PRESSLEY RIDGE
With a mission to do “whatever it takes,” Pressley Ridge provides individuals and families with hope and support through life’s challenges. We pride ourselves on partnering with families and meeting them where they are, when they need it the most. Each year, 10,000 children and families are strengthened through community-based mental health services, foster care and adoption, specialized education and supportive services for transition-age youth. Our more than 70 programs all share a common goal of establishing stable, healthy families and life-long connections that result in a successful, happy life. Pressley Ridge was founded in 1832 and remains headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A legacy of successful outcomes has allowed the organization to expand services to communities in Central Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware.
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