Placement Survival Training | First Days & Weeks with a Foster Child

Know before the call comes

Join the waitlist to get notified at launch and receive a pre-enrollment discount. Early access opens first to the list.

Course Overview

What You’ll Learn

The First 24 Hours: A Step-by-Step Guide

Exactly what to do from the moment you say yes to a placement — who to call, what to gather, how to set up the space, and what to say to the child when they walk through your door.

Navigating the Intake Process

What paperwork to expect, what questions to ask the caseworker, what information you may never get, and how to advocate for the child when records are incomplete or unavailable.

What Children Experience During Placement

See placement through the child’s eyes. Understand the terror, grief, confusion, and survival responses that drive behavior in the first days — and why they have nothing to do with you.

Building Safety Fast

The specific words, routines, and physical environment choices that communicate safety to a dysregulated nervous system — before the child has any reason to trust you.

First-Week Routines That Actually Work

How to create predictability and structure in week one without overwhelming a child who has never had consistent routines — or who has had their routines violently disrupted.

When to Call for Help — and Who to Call

Know the signs that a placement needs additional support, how to access crisis resources, and how to communicate with caseworkers when things are harder than expected.

Audience

Who It’s For

New foster parents preparing for their first placement
Experienced foster parents who have struggled with the first week and want a better framework
Foster parents expecting a sibling group or a child with unknown history
Kinship caregivers who received a call with almost no notice
Anyone who has said “I wish someone had told me this before they arrived”
Foster parent support workers looking for training resources to recommend

Format

What’s Included

3 self-paced video modules (approx. 30–40 min each)
Placement Day Checklist — a printable download included with enrollment
First-week conversation scripts: what to say at bedtime, at meals, and after a meltdown
Intake information worksheet to use during the caseworker handoff call
Emergency resource guide template you can fill in for your county
Certificate of completion (may count toward required training hours)

Modules

Course Breakdown

Module 1

Before They Arrive: Intake, Paperwork & Preparation

What to do in the hours between the call and the child walking in. Includes the questions to ask, the spaces to prepare, and the mindset to bring.

▶ Video + Intake Worksheet

Module 2

Day One: What the Child Is Experiencing

See the first night through a trauma lens. What the behaviors mean, what the child needs most, and how to respond with calm and warmth even when things go sideways.

▶ Video + Conversation Scripts

Module 3

Week One: Building Safety & Knowing When to Ask for Help

Creating the routines and environment that tell a scared child it is safe here — and recognizing when you need more support than you currently have.

▶ Video + Resource Guide

Bonus

Placement Day Checklist

A printable, room-by-room checklist covering everything to have ready before a child arrives — from bedroom supplies to important documents to what to have in the fridge.

⬇ Printable Download Included