Enrichment

The Training Department ASCI offers Educational Enrichment Opportunities thru our SARKS Model (Strengthing ,Assessing and Recognizing Kinship strengths) by providing a series of workshops focusing on getting Kinship Caregivers certified or re-certified as Kinship Caregivers (foster parents). Kinship Caregivers are required to complete a 24 initial training hours to be certified and 15 annual training hours to be re-certified. The age requirement for Kinship Caregivers is that they must be at least 21 years old.

The Educational Enrichment Workshops are designed to provide the Kinship Caregivers with opportunities to learn and understand the process in becoming a Kinship Caregiver, as well as the roles and expectations of the Kinship Caregivers, staff of A Second Chance, Inc. and Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families. Re-certification Educational Enrichment Workshops may include outside professionals from other social services as well as A Second Chance, Inc. staff.

The Training Department is staffed by experienced professional trainers, who have varying topics of expertise which provides the Kinship Caregivers with opportunities to relate to current developmental, social, legal, educational, mental, and behavioral health issues involving their kinship foster children and families.

The Training Department provides the Kinship Caregiver with a monthly calendar of both the certification and re-certification Educational Enrichment Workshops. These are mailed out to the Kinship Caregivers.