How long is foster parent training in Virginia?

Intercept Health's training is 12 sessions. Most families finish in 2 to 6 months, and the home study happens at the same time, so most families are certified in about 3 to 6 months.

How is treatment foster parent training different from regular foster parent training?

Treatment foster care is for children with higher emotional or behavioral needs, so the training goes deeper into trauma, behavior, communication and crisis. You also learn how to work as part of the child's treatment team.

Do I need experience to become a treatment foster parent?

No. Training is designed for people who are new to treatment foster care. What matters most is patience, flexibility and a willingness to learn.

Is there training after I'm approved?

Yes. Virginia requires training every year, and Intercept Health offers monthly trainings on topics like medication management, mental health diagnoses and behavior support.

When can I start training?

After you fill out the qualification form and attend an information session, your local team will help you apply and schedule your training.

Women talking together during a foster parent training session

Foster Parent Training in Virginia

Every Intercept Health treatment foster parent completes training before a child moves in, and keeps learning after. Our training prepares you to care for children who have been through trauma, using the same approach your child's treatment team uses. You don't need experience to start, just a willingness to learn.

Training at a Glance

Program: Pressley Ridge Treatment Foster Care training, used by more than 250 agencies across the U.S.
Length: 12 sessions
Timing: most families finish in 2 to 6 months, while their home study is underway
After approval: monthly trainings, plus 24/7 support from your local team
Required in Virginia: before you're approved, and every year after

What Treatment Foster Parent Training Covers

Our 12-session Pressley Ridge training is built around six areas:

Professional parenting (sessions 1 and 3): what's expected of a treatment foster parent, your role on the child's treatment team, and a "parenting tool kit" of positive parenting skills
Child development (sessions 2 and 4): how children grow at each age, and how trauma can affect emotional and psychological growth
Relationships and communication (sessions 5 and 6): building trust and healthy attachments, and talking with a child in ways that help them heal
Understanding and changing behavior (sessions 7 and 8): why challenging behavior happens, and practical ways to change it over time
Teaching life skills (sessions 9 and 12): the everyday skills children need at home, at school and later on their own
Conflict and crisis (sessions 10 and 11): calming conflicts and handling high-stress moments safely

How Long Does Foster Parent Training Take?

Most families finish training in 2 to 6 months, depending on the session schedule. You don't have to wait for training to end before the next steps begin: your home study and paperwork happen at the same time, so most families are certified in about 3 to 6 months. See the

full timeline to become a foster parent.

Employee going over requirements with potential foster parent

Virginia's Training Requirements

Virginia requires licensed foster care agencies to train every treatment foster parent before their home is approved, and to provide more training every year after. Finishing the required training is a condition of approval and of each renewal. State standards list the topics training must cover, including:

How abuse and neglect affect children
Normal child growth and development
Reunification, and how foster families support it
Behavior support and crisis management

Intercept Health provides the training Virginia requires, so you don't need to find classes on your own.

How Training Prepares You for Treatment Foster Care

Children in treatment foster care have often lived through abuse, neglect, loss or several moves. Training helps you understand what's behind their behavior and respond in ways that build trust. You'll learn:

Why a child may act younger than their age after trauma, and how to respond with patience
How steady routines, clear boundaries and positive reinforcement help a child feel safe
How to work with your child's therapist, caseworker and school, and speak up for their needs
How to take care of yourself and your family so you can stay steady for the long haul

Training also connects you with other foster parents in your area, so you're not doing this alone.

Ongoing Monthly Training

Learning doesn't stop once you're approved. Intercept Health holds trainings every month on topics such as:

Medication management
Mental health diagnoses
Communication skills
Behavior modification techniques

Monthly trainings are also a chance to meet other foster families near you. Between sessions, your local team is available 24/7 when you need help.

Start Your Journey

Training starts after you fill out the qualification form and attend an information session. Fill out the form today, and your local team will follow up with next steps.

START THE QUALIFICATION FORM

Want the full picture first? See every step to become a foster parent in Virginia, or learn what treatment foster care is.