The Fostering and Adopting the Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused program has been designed to support experienced foster and adoptive parents who have completed a general program of preparation for their role. This program supports experienced parents by developing specialized insights and skills for working with children and birth families where there has been sexual abuse. This program of 12 meetings has been developed with the help of foster parents, adoptive parents and child welfare staff in the state of Georgia, who participated in the pilot test of the program and provided feedback on the design.
This program is designed to be led by foster parents, adoptive parents and agency staff who have experience leading general preparation training of foster and adoptive parents. CWI recommends a parent co-leader and a staff co-leader to present the program as a team. This co-leadership models for participants the agency's teamwork with foster and adoptive parents, an essential component of the Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting.
The first four meetings (12 hours) form a core foundation training. Parents learn about the basics of child sexual abuse including a family systems perspective, ways to identify possible signs of sexual abuse in children's behaviors, the effects of sexual abuse on children, and ways to handle the double trauma of sexual abuse and placement.
The remaining eight meetings (24-hours) are advanced skills training for foster and adoptive parents. These eight meetings focus on:
CWI trainers are available to provide certification training to new leaders through a 5-day training program. If the agency is interested in developing trainers who will certify leaders for the program, CWI staff can also develop the trainers through a negotiated training, observation and co-training program during which the trainers learn the use of the 5 day certification trainer's guide and learning design.
Who has used CSA MAPP?
Kentucky has the longest history in the use of CSA MAPP. CWI staff developed two state trainers. The state trainers have certified new leaders since 1996 and the program is used statewide.
The State of Kansas, which privatized foster care and adoption services, currently uses CSA MAPP. Kansas Families for Kids invested in the development of two trainers who certify leaders from the private agencies statewide.
The State of Georgia has also invested in the development of two state trainers who provide certification training for new leaders statewide.
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