Project: MAP4Fostercare
The training phase is a pivotal element of our MAP4Fostercare project, directly aligned with our primary objectives of creating new upskilling pathways and enabling adult learners to enhance their key competencies. This work package emphasises mentorship as a form of continuous learning, promoting local learning centres and innovative learning spaces.
Within the MAP4Fostercare training phase, we implemented a comprehensive training programme structured around five interconnected modules. These modules were designed based on the findings of the research phase and aim to strengthen foster parents’ competencies through a holistic, practice-oriented learning pathway. Each module addresses a key dimension of foster care while contributing to a shared framework of inclusive, reflective, and supportive caregiving.
MAP4FosterCare Training Program
Module1: Coaching Competencies
The coaching competencies module focuses on strengthening foster parents’ capacity to support both themselves and others through coaching-based approaches. Participants develop skills such as active listening, constructive feedback, and reflective questioning, which can be applied to caregiving challenges and peer support processes. This module also contributes to building a culture of mutual learning and collaboration among foster families.
Module 2: Cultural Differences and Diversity
This module focuses on strengthening foster parents’ awareness of cultural diversity and its impact on caregiving practices. It supports participants in recognising and respecting children’s cultural backgrounds, family histories, and identities, while fostering inclusive communication within the household. The module encourages foster parents to reflect on their own assumptions, adapt everyday practices to diverse needs, and maintain respectful relationships with children’s biological families.
Module 3: Psychosocial Development
The psychosocial development module addresses the emotional, relational, and developmental dimensions of foster care. It equips foster parents with trauma-informed perspectives and practical tools to support children who have experienced adversity. The module emphasises emotional regulation, trust-building, boundaries, and reflective caregiving, while also supporting foster parents in strengthening their own resilience and self-awareness.
Module 4: Philosophy for Children (P4C) Facilitator Competencies
This module introduces foster parents to dialogical and inquiry-based approaches that support children’s critical thinking, empathy, and emotional expression. Through the Philosophy for Children framework, participants learn how to create safe spaces for reflection and dialogue, enabling children to articulate experiences, explore perspectives, and develop a sense of agency. The module supports foster parents in facilitating meaningful conversations as part of everyday caregiving.