Frequently Asked Questions

What kinds of classes/trainings do you offer?

Through the CDHS training grant, the Education Center offers 14 classes each fiscal year, July 1 through June 30.  The trainings are scheduled based on requests from County Departments of Human Services on an as needed basis. County DHS agencies are asked to provide the location for the training or identify a local training site at low to no cost.  We will provide food, materials and handle all of the registration requirements. 

These three hour classes include:

Promoting Placement Stability
Guided by the Law: ICWA, MEPA, ADA and ASFA
Helping Children Cope: How to help Reduce Trauma during Placement Moves (also have a version for foster and adoptive parents).
Transitioning from Foster to Adoptive Parenting
Effective Matching Practices: Matching Practices that Promote Permanency

Click here to learn more or to request a class contact Denise Leffingwell, Senior Director of Education at (303) 755-4756 ext. 264.

Through COPARC (Colorado Post Adoption Resource Center), some of the current classes for parents and professionals are:

Supporting Your Grieving Adopted Child
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders:  When Good Parenting Doesn’t Work
Parenting the Traumatized Adopted Child
Navigating the Public School System: Advocating for your Adopted Child with Special Educational Needs
Helping Adopted Children with Attachment Needs
Techniques to Enhance Adoptive Family Attachment   
Will I Survive?  Parenting Adopted Teens
Do I Belong Here?  Transracial Adoption
Developmental Repair
The Brain…and Trauma
Sexual Behavior in Children: Common behaviors, worrisome behaviors,
and intervention strategies
The Nuts and Bolts of Attachment
Heart to Heart Respite Connection: Respite Care Training for Adoptive
Families and those who support them

All classes are 3 hours.

Click here to for class descriptions or contact Tanya Hammar at 303-755-4756.

In addition, COPARC offer classes for professionals that include:

Family Diversity in Education: Foster Care, Kinship Care and Adoption in Schools

AdoptCare: Understanding and Meeting the Unique Needs ofFoster and Adoptive Families and Their Children

There may be additional classes scheduled based on requests from Counties or States. Some of these may include:

Permanent Connections for Teens, Placement Stability for Teens, Love and Logic Parent Series or Adoption trainings in collaboration with the Adoptive Families Program. Classes include Infant Adoption, Trauma, Transracial Adoption, and Post Adoption Resources.

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Where do I go to find out what classes/ trainings are currently scheduled?

The first place to look for current or upcoming classes is our website http://www.adoptex.org/. The classes will be posted on the Education Center or home web pages under Class Calendar.  You can also check for classes in each of the state links. Trainings that fall under the Colorado Training grant will be posted at the State training website at http://www.cocwtraining.com/.  You will need to register on this website for these trainings. If you have difficulty you can contact Metro State or Denise Leffingwell.

Trainings and classes that are affiliated with COPARC will be listed at http://www.adoptex.org/ in their education section. 

You can contact Tanya Hammar at (303) 755-4756 for more information or to register.

For any questions on classes or trainings sponsored by The Adoption Exchange, contact Denise Leffingwell by calling (303) 755-4756.

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Where are the classes/trainings located?

Trainings that are sponsored by the Colorado Training grant are scheduled based on requests from County Department of Human Services all over the state of Colorado.

If you are interested in having a class scheduled in your area, contact Denise Leffingwell at (303)755-4756.

Colorado Post Adoption Resource Center (COPARC) covers the entire state of Colorado. We have 4 specific regions: Metro Denver, Northeast Colorado, Southern Colorado, and Western Slope. Each year we schedule 12 classes for families who have adopted children from child welfare; each region gets three classes.  Classes are decided by considering the requests we get from local County Department of Social Services staff, Resource Coordinators, and direct e-mails or inquiries from families.

If there is a class you would like to see in your town, please contact your Resource Coordinators or e-mail Tanya Hammar the Education Coordinator directly.

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What are the fees?

The fees for trainings that are listed on the http://www.cocwtraining.com/ website range from no cost, $7.50 or $15.00 per person. CDHS has defined the range of fees as the main training funder.  The state does not prohibit anyone from attending their classes; however staff and foster parents who do not work for a state or county agency (they are paid directly by the state or county) are required to pay a registration fee.  If a participant is a County Department of Human Services employee or is someone is a current foster parent licensed through a County DHS agency, there is no fee to attend. 

If a participant is employed by a Child Placement Agency or is a foster parent licensed with a Child Placement Agency that is listed under FCAAC (formerly CPA Network) Child Placement Agency (CPA) Network Member Agency http://www.childplacementagencies.org/pages-pub/directory.php or with the Colorado Association of Family and Children's (CAFCA) Member Agencies http://cafca.net/cafca_memberlist.html the fee is $7.50. If a participant is not affiliated with any of the above, the fee will be $15.00.

The grant that funds COPARC classes specifically states that we are to provide free educational services to families who have finalized adoptions from child welfare.  We understand that the topics we cover may also benefit foster families as well as child welfare and mental health professionals, and we welcome these individuals to attend.  However, our budget is unable to provide free education to all and we must ask these attendees to cover their materials costs.  We try to keep our class fee to $5.00 per class, so that we remain affordable.

Additional training classes that may be offered through the Education Center may or may not have fees associated with them. Check the website or accompanying class flyer for fee details.

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How do I get a class/training in my area?

If you are interested in having a class scheduled in your area or learning about other training opportunities through the Education Center, contact Denise Leffingwell by email or (303)755-4756, ext. 264. 

If there is a COPARC class you would like to see in your town, please contact your Resource Coordinator or e-mail the Education Coordinator directly.

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Who do I contact if I would like more information on becoming a contract trainer for the Education Center?

To discuss contract training opportunities with the Education Center, please contact Denise Leffingwell, Senior Director of the Education Center by email or at (303) 755-4756 ext 264.

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What should I do if I want to be notified about upcoming classes/trainings that will be scheduled in my area?

The best way to ensure that you will be notified about upcoming trainings is to register with The Adoption Exchange on our website here. We frequently email flyers about upcoming trainings.  Additionally, it is helpful to check the website regularly for any updates on classes or events.