Foster and Kinship Care Education

• Select your class from our website (go to the "Classes" or "Clases en Español" page), or select your class from the flyer that you may have received.
• At least three days in advance of the class, click on the Registration Link for your class.
• Complete each field on the registration page.
• You will then receive an email with the "Click Here to Join" link.  Please note that if you register early and are not be able to find your "Click Here to Join" link email,  you will need to register for the class again by going to: www.saddleback.edu/el/fkce , go to the "Classes" tab, find your class , click on the Registration Link, and register for the class again.  This will immediately generate a confirmation email with a new "Click Here to Join" link that you can click on to join the class.
• Write the date of your class on your calendar as a reminder of your upcoming class. You may also receive an email reminder prior to class from the instructor.
• On the day of the class, “Join the Class” by clicking the link on the invitation to join the class.
• You are not required to have a Zoom account to join a class.
• Before you attend class, please review the Zoom Etiquette for Online Classes document.
• You must be present for the entire class time to receive credit. There will be a class evaluation at the end of  class.

Overview

• Your camera must be on the entire class.
• You must be present for the entire class time to receive credit.
• Your instructor will have questions for you in lieu of a paper class sign-in sheet.
• When the class instruction begins, follow the Zoom Classroom Expectations listed below.
• At the end of class, you will receive a link in the chat box to complete a class evaluation.
• When the class is completed, you will receive a certificate of completion.

Zoom Classroom Expectations

Zoom Etiquette

• Be on time.
• Frame yourself in the camera correctly.
• Mute yourself when not speaking.
• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Have the right lighting in front of you.
• Look into the camera/computer and limit distractions.
• No multitasking Remember, this is a classroom.
• No children in class.

This is a Classroom

• We expect you to be present, participate and not distracted.
• There are no children allowed in class. If you are caring for kids, you can’t focus fully on the class. If childcare is an issue, please select a class time where you can participate undisturbed.
• Everyone else can see you! You need to be sitting upright, no lounging in recliners or in bed. Please be dressed appropriately for a class.
• NO DRIVING DURING CLASS. You will be removed immediately form the class for your safety and the safety of others on the road.
• Stay in a stationary location during class.

Chat Box

• Open your chat box from the bottom of your screen and keep it open the entire class.
• You can make comments or ask questions from the chat.

Video / Audio

• Make sure we can see your face on the screen & you have a light source behind you and your face is not totally visible or is dark, please move to a spot with better light on your face.
• You need to be close to the camera so we can see your face clearly and entirely, not just your eyes or half your face.
• If you are off camera for more than 10 minutes total during the class time, we can not give you credit for the class.
• Your audio will need to be muted during instruction. If you need to talk, click on audio on the bottom left to find the unmute option. If you push the space bar, this will unmute you as long as the space bar is held down.

Certificates

• You will receive your certificates via e-mail within 2 weeks of completing your class.

You must pre-register to ensure your place in the class. All Foster & Kinship Care Education classes are free.

In the class schedule, you will find a wide variety of in-person courses to provide you with the knowledge and support to be the best caregiver you can be. Please note that all approved resource caregivers must do eight training hours every year.

How to Register

Go to the  "Classes" or "Clases en Español" page and view or print the Schedule of Classes. Select your classes. Follow the registration instructions listed under the location of your class.

Please note there must be at least two participants for classes to be held. Classes start promptly at the start time indicated in the schedule. In order to receive the full credit hours for a class, you must arrive on time and attend the entire class.

Canceling your registration: If you need to cancel your registration, please contact the instructor or registration site and update your status.

Priority registration is given to Resource Families (prospective, new and/or licensed) and respite caregivers. However, space permitting, most of our classes are open to the community. We encourage social services staff, juvenile probation officers, group home staff, foster family agency homes (FFAs), and family and friends of resource families to participate in our classes. Children are welcome when childcare is offered.

Questions? Please send us an email scfkce@saddleback.edu.

All FKCE classes are free.

All FKCE classes are offered either Online and/or In-Person.  As Covid restrictions ease, we will be able to offer more In-Person training.

Children are welcome when childcare is offered. See each site listed in the class schedule for details.

Join us for our quarterly FKCE Advisory Board meetings.

Meetings are currently held remotely.

Contact Martine Wehr at mwehr@saddleback.edu or (949) 582-4217 for dates of our upcoming meetings.

Our classes are primarily for adults who are caring for children in out-of-home care. We may occasionally offer a class where youth may attend with their resource parent, but that would be clearly stated in the class description in the class catalog.

If you require a disability accommodation to participate in a class, please contact the Saddleback College FKCE program office at scfkce@saddleback.edu at least 14 days prior to the class for assistance.

Saddleback College offers supportive services to current and former foster youth through the Bridges to Foster Student Success (BRIDGES) Program.

The California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) has recognized that there is a significant deficit regarding youth from foster care attending higher education. Acknowledging this need, they are sponsoring a concerted effort called the Foster Youth Success Initiative (FYSI) to bring issues affecting these youth to the forefront and to improve the ability of these youth to access post-secondary education and benefit from the support services that are available but are often unknown to them.

If your youth needs help to register for Saddleback College classes, visit the EOPS section of our website.

Have questions about Financial Aid? Visit the Financial Aid section of our website.

After a foster youth has registered as a Saddleback College student, they may elect to meet with an Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) counselor to learn about the many support resources and programs available to them on campus.