Creating a Family offers evidence-based, trauma-informed training for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents and professionals to understand and learn strategies to support children exposed prenatally to alcohol and drugs.

Workshop for Parents

This evidence-based, trauma-informed workshop, presented in three sessions, helps parents recognize the signs and symptoms of prenatal substance exposure and train them on techniques that work best with these kids. 

The workshop is presented in three sessions. Participants will need to be able to attend Session 1 and Session 2 and then you will select your Session 3 from one of the age-specific options.

• Connect with other parents through facilitated discussion.
• Learn supportive strategies.
• Each session is 90 minutes and presented on Zoom.
  • Includes discussion and scenarios (sessions are not recorded)
• Participants receive access to a resource library and a certificate of completion (4.5 CE hours for all 3 sessions)
  • Participants have the option to attend all three age-specific sessions. (7.5 CE hours for 5 sessions)

Learning Objectives:

• Apply knowledge of symptoms and strategies to address issues in children of various age levels.
• Learn to recognize the primary symptoms and secondary impacts of prenatal substance exposure.
• Understand and learn the process and available resources for diagnosis.
• Understand the five keys to support family success.
• Learn a 3-step approach with strategies to support your child.

Find Upcoming Workshops

We offer workshops throughout the year. Each workshop is presented over five sessions (2 1/2 weeks). Parents can attend individually or with a partner.

Train Parents Working With Your Agency

Are you an agency that would like a group of your parents to be trained? Email our team at info@creatingafamilystaging.mystagingwebsite.com for more information.

Training for Professionals

Based on extensive research, the US government estimates that 10-11% of all children born in the US have been impacted by prenatal alcohol or drug exposure.* The rate of prenatal exposure for kids in the foster care system is significantly higher. [Source: US DHHS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration] Their challenging symptomatic behaviors create tremendous stress on parents and caregivers, resulting in these kids experiencing a significantly higher rate of placement disruptions. [Joseph et al., 2022; Petrenko et al., 2016]

Train Parents Working With Your Agency

Are you an agency that would like a group of your parents to be trained? Email our team at info@creatingafamilystaging.mystagingwebsite.com for more information.

Train the Trainer – Prenatal Substance Exposure Workshop for Parents

Would you like to train your agency’s families on prenatal substance exposure? The train the trainer program will train your staff on best practices for presenting this workshop. Qualified trainers will learn the current research on prenatal exposure to alcohol and drugs and how this workshop is designed to be presented.

Available in 2025. For more information, please email info@creatingafamilystaging.mystagingwebsite.com.

Training for Child Welfare Staff

This facilitated training is designed for child welfare staff. The training discusses the warning signs and symptoms, the long-term impacts, and what to know about seeking a diagnosis for prenatal substance exposure. It delivers strategies for supporting kids and families and provides access to a resource library for child welfare staff.

This training is currently being piloted with 11 child welfare agencies across North Carolina and is being evaluated in partnership with the UNC School of Social Work. For more information on scheduling a training for your staff, please email info@creatingafamilystaging.mystagingwebsite.com. Available in 2025.