ETP’s programs for the foster community provide foster parents and foster youth with the tools, training and skills to create a healthy foundation for families.

Foster Youth (ages 13 to 21)

From Foster Families to Future Families
This program provides youth with the information and decision making skills to create a healthy foundation for a future family. It is typically delivered to foster youth together with their caregivers/mentors. Tailored to the unique risks and strengths of foster youth, it supports connections with caring adults. Program length is 7-10 hours – usually conducted in two sessions of 4-5 hours. All students complete workbooks and receive a Certificate of Completion. All attending teens are invited to continue their ETP connection through Generation Next, ETP’s volunteer youth group with increases awareness and support for pre-parenting education through creative expressions, event planning, and fund-raising. Click for more information about Generation Next.

Foster Parents & Caregivers

Mapping the Future with Our Kids
This program is for adult care givers of current and former foster youth (foster parents, kinship caregivers, adoptive parents, group home staff, CASAs/GALs). Nearly 50% of foster youth become parents before they turn 20. During this 2-hour workshop, ETP provides attendees with communication strategies that encourage postponement of parenting, as well as information about adolescent development. The unique perspectives, risks and assets of foster youth are discussed, as well as the challenges of bonding with foster youth during adolescence.

Professionals & Instructors

New Frontiers for Healthy Families
For professionals who work with adolescents (e.g., SWs, psychologists, RNs), ETP’s 1-2 hour workshop describes new conceptual framework that can enhance assessment and communication, and help all professionals work more effectively with at-risk adolescents.

Train-the-Trainer for “Foster Families to Future Families”
Educators and youth leaders can directly implement the ETP’s Healthy Foundations program. Instructor Kits include a notebook and flash drive containing the Power Point slides and videos. Train-the-trainer workshops are 8-hour programs led by the founder, with additional insights into teen perspectives and responses.

Please visit our page for health education and teen wellness professionals to learn more about these two programs.