An evidence-based approach distinguishes LSSI’s Families Together foster care pilot (see cover story), nurturing all parts of the family unit—children, birth parents, and foster parents—with individualized training and support.

Specifically for foster parents, including kinship foster parents who are relatives of children in foster care, the training Keeping Foster and Kin Parents Supported and Trained (KEEP™) provides support and skill enhancement. KEEP™ training teaches a preventative approach, providing parenting practices and behavior management skills. Its group approach also provides peer support among foster parents.

More than 20 years of research has shown KEEP™ training provides positive outcomes for all involved. For children in care, this includes more frequent reunifications with family and lower rates of emotional and behavioral challenges. For foster parents, KEEP™ has shown reduced stress and higher rates of positive parenting.

Additionally, youth average fewer days in foster care, and the training has resulted in a longer tenure for foster parents, who are a critical resource.

“KEEP is invaluable,” said Donna McKenzie, a Child Welfare Resource Specialist in LSSI’s Chicago office, who completed the training. “It gives foster parents and relative foster parents valuable tools to address specific needs of children in foster care. When foster parents finish the KEEP training, they’ve made connections they can use for another time.”

For more information, visit LSSI.org/families.