PRIDE PROGRAM

PRIDE is a model for the development and support of resource families. It is designed to strengthen the quality of family foster care and adoption services by providing a standardized, structured framework for recruiting, preparing, and selecting foster parents and adoptive parents. It also provides foster parent in-service training and ongoing professional development.

PRIDE is the result of a national cooperative effort. The program was developed through a multi-year project initiated by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Child Welfare League of America. The project involved the collaboration of 14 state child welfare agencies, one private family foster care agency operating in several states, one foster parent association, two national resource centers, one foundation, and several universities and colleges. The name was selected by foster parents and adoptive parents in Illinois. It stands for Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education.

The program is based on the philosophy that the value of family life for children, however family is defined, is compelling. Because of this, knowledgeable and skilled foster parents and adoptive parents are integral to providing quality services. They, like social workers, should be qualified, prepared, developed, selected, and licensed or certified to work as members of a professional team equipped to protect and nurture children and strengthen families.

PRIDE is a twenty-seven hour comprehensive pre-service training for foster/pre-adoption services. This training is required statewide for all adults (18 years of age or older) residing at the same residence.

Idaho Child Welfare Research & Training Center (ICWRTC) partnered with Idaho Universities to execute The Foster Parent Initiative originated by the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare. This project is funded by Title IV-E Funds and modeled after the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA).