What is Family Development Training?
Family Development prepares families for the realities of foster care, adoption, and kinship caregiving, and supports kinship caregivers with training and readiness support.
Many families begin the foster care journey with good intentions, but they may not yet know what to expect emotionally, practically, or relationally. Family Development helps families understand the needs of children who have experienced trauma, ask honest questions, and prepare for the responsibilities ahead.
When families are not emotionally, practically, or relationally ready, children are more likely to face disruption and instability. Family Development helps families move through the process thoughtfully and at the right pace, with clarity and care, so they can make informed decisions and build greater stability for children before placement occurs.
Who qualifies?
Family Development is for adults in central Missouri who want to foster, adopt, provide kinship care, or become respite providers, and are ready to learn what the journey involves.
Not sure where to start? Join us for Caring Connections: Foster Parenting 101, a one-hour information session offering an honest look at foster parenting in Missouri. We address stereotypes, debunk misconceptions, and help you consider whether this is the right time to open your home.
Already licensed? Explore the in-service trainings below.
How does the process work?
Family Development happens in three phases: intake and guidance, assessment and readiness, and training and skill-building.
-
Intake & Guidance
The starting point for families who are curious, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next. We help families:
- Understand the foster, adoptive, and kinship landscape
- Ask honest questions
- Clarify capacity, motivations, and expectations
- Understand the difference between fostering, adoption, and reunification
- Navigate next steps without pressure
-
Assessment & Readiness
Required steps toward licensing. CMFCAA partners with Children's Division and licensed agencies to help families prepare, focusing on:
- Home safety and readiness
- Organization and preparedness, including insurance, logistics, and daily life
- Honest conversations about trauma, including the child's experiences and the family's own history
- Identifying strengths, tools, and areas where additional support may be needed
- Setting realistic expectations before placement
-
Training & Skill-Building
CMFCAA's trainers offer state-approved, trauma-informed training to prepare families to care for foster children with complex needs. Many of these trainings are required as part of the licensing process.
Which trainings are offered?
CMFCAA offers state-mandated pre-licensure trainings for new caregivers and in-service trainings for licensed families.
| Training | Who it's for | Length | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MO C.A.R.E. Missouri Caregiver and Adoption Resource Education, with a lived-experience panel | Prospective foster parents | 30 hours | Pre-licensure |
| STARS Caregiver | Kinship and relative caregivers | 9 hours | Pre-licensure |
| CPR / First Aid / AED | All caregivers | 8 hours | Pre-licensure |
| Spaulding | Prospective adoptive parents; advanced track for families caring for children with higher needs | 12 hours 21 hours (advanced) | In-service |
| TBRI Trust-Based Relational Intervention | Licensed families | 21 hours | In-service |
| Sibling Bond Training | Licensed families | 7 hours | In-service |
| Ready, Set, Fly | Caregivers of youth ages 14+ | 7 hours | In-service |
Does CMFCAA issue foster care licenses?
No. Licenses are granted by the state or licensed agencies.
Our role is to prepare, train, and guide families through the process, providing required training and steady support.
Common questions
How do I get started?
Join Caring Connections: Foster Parenting 101, a one-hour information session, or call (573) 298-0258 to learn about upcoming trainings and info sessions.
What training do kinship or relative caregivers need?
STARS Caregiver is a 9-hour state-mandated training for kinship and relative caregivers.
How long is MO C.A.R.E. training?
MO C.A.R.E. is a state-mandated 30-hour trauma-informed pre-licensure curriculum for prospective foster parents, including a lived-experience panel.
I'm already a licensed foster parent. Can I take training with CMFCAA?
Yes. In-service options include TBRI, Sibling Bond Training, Spaulding, and Ready, Set, Fly.
What's the difference between pre-licensure and in-service training?
Pre-licensure trainings are required before a family can be licensed. In-service trainings are continuing education for families who are already licensed.