Orientation & Training

Training, which will prepare you for parenting children who may have been abused or neglected, is required in both Oregon and Washington, and though each State differs in content and hours, both require Orientation and Pre-service training, prior to adoption. Orientation is an overview of the issues involved in foster care and adoption. It prepares prospective parents to better understand a child who comes out of the foster care system. In Washington State, you are required to participate in 6 hours of Orientation and take 30 hours of pre-service training classes. Class schedule information can be found on the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) website: www1.dshs.wa.gov. Or you can call 1-800-760-5340 for Pre-service class information and brochures, or visit your local Washington State DSHS office. In Oregon, Orientation is 8 hours, and the “DHS Foundations Training” is 16 hours. Class schedules can be found through the link to Oregon training above.