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Contact: Deborah Schow, 360-902-7891, schowdl@dshs.wa.gov
Contact: Carolyn Jones, 360-902-0215, zoca300@dshs.wa.gov

October 29, 2009
Free training resources for foster parents and kinship caregivers of children at DSHS library

  OLYMPIA -- Foster parents and kinship caregivers of children in Washington have a new option for their training needs; the DSHS Resource Family Lending Library.

The Department of Social and Health Services' Children'' Administration created the resource library incollaboration with counterparts in Alaska and Oregon and a non-profit organization, Northwest Resource Associates.

The DSHS Resource Family Lending Library distributes books, DVDs, tapes and all its resource materials free to caregivers in Washington via a free mail-order service, similar to the type used by popular movies-by-mail companies. Materials are mailed out in an eco-friendly reusable pouch with postage prepaid for the return of materials.

Licensed and relative caregivers of children in Washington state can request materials from the DSHS Resource Family Lending Library by calling toll free 1-877-517-0820 or online at the DSHS foster parent Web site at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/index.asp. Catalogs are also available to view at selected DSHS offices. For more information about the lending library or the library materials e-mail zoca300@dshs.wa.gov.

A comprehensive 168-page catalog featuring more than 1,000 titles covering a range of childcare and caregiver issues is available in PDF format at the Web site. The catalog includes a Spanish language section and books written and media produced for children and teens who are adopted or are in foster or kinship care.

Many of the materials found at the lending library can be used toward the training requirements of state-licensed foster parents. Foster parents are required to complete 36 hours of training every three years.

The Department's Foster Parent Training Web site also features videos, workbooks, training and other materials available for free down-load to the public and serves more than 1,000 caregivers each month.

"The Department is committed to providing our dedicated caregivers with as many training options as possible," said Carolyn Jones, a DSHS program manager for Training & Technology. "We know how busy they are caring for the children and this is just one more way they can get valuable information at their convenience. Were it not for them, we couldn’t do what we do."



DSHS does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran’s status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.
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