Out of Home Care Training

Out of Home Care Training

Ontario’s QSF Training and Resources for All Caregivers, Staff, and Licensees

The ministry has developed three training videos to provide an overview of each quality standard and how it can be implemented when caring for children and young persons to enhance service providers’ understanding and application of the QSF.

Module 1: Good start: Creating a nurturing environment
Module 2: Welcome: Planting seeds for success
Module 3: Everyday growth: Providing daily quality care

Other Materials: QSF Training Poster

Mandatory Foster Parent Training

Policy Directive: Residential Licensing 001-23: Training on the Provision of Foster Care (Directive) comes into effect on July 1, 2023, and sets out training requirements for foster parent applicants and current foster parents.

Options for training programs that might be considered by licensees to satisfy the requirements of the Directive are listed below. Licensees interested in using one of the training programs listed below for proposed or approved foster parents should contact providers of these training programs directly to confirm that the program satisfies the criteria of Directive 001-23. Any costs associated with a selected training, will be the responsibility of the licensee.

NOTE: Some of the training in this section is also available for licensees, other caregivers, and staff. Where available, the ministry encourages individuals to also consider completing the training outlined below.

    1. Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE) Pre-Service Training or Strong Parent Indigenous Relationships Information Training (SPIRIT) Pre-Service Training

    The PRIDE pre-service training course is available through the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) Learning Management System. If you do not have an account and need to register, please have an agency representative contact the OACAS at PRIDE@oacas.org.

    For information and registration for the SPIRIT pre-service training course, please visit: https://ancfsao.ca/home/about-2/ourwork/heart-and-spirit-training/

    2. Standard First Aid Training, including Infant and Child CPR

    For a list of providers approved by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to deliver standard first aid, including infant and child CPR, visit: https://www.wsib.ca/en/providers-approved-deliver-emergency-and-standard-first-aid

    3. Some Options for Training on providing Trauma Informed Care

    Note that the training programs listed below for Trauma Informed Care do not constitute an exhaustive list of all programs that may be used to satisfy the requirements in the Directive. Foster care licensees are responsible for ensuring that the training selected for their foster parents meets the requirements set out in the directive. If you are aware of a training program that you believe meets the criteria in the Directive and think it should be added to the list below, please email information about that program to QualityStandardsFramework@ontario.ca

    • Building a Culture of Safety Using Trauma Informed Approaches [formerly known as Becoming Trauma Informed - Foster Care]: Delivered by The Child and Parent Resource Institute (CPRI). To access each module, you must first complete a corresponding pre-survey, and an email link to the training will be provided.
      Module 1       | Module 2 | Module 3
    • Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Children and Youth: Delivered by the OACAS. For information and registration, please contact: TraumaInformedCare@oacas.org. Note this program is offered in English and French.
    • Embrace Trauma Informed Care with Children and Youth: Delivered by SafeGuards Training for Children and Adult Services. For information and registration, please visit: https://www.safeguards-training.net/course/embrace-trauma-informed-care/

    4. Some Options for Training on First Nations, Inuit and/or Métis Cultural Competency

    Note that the training programs listed below for First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis Cultural Competency training do not constitute an exhaustive list of all the training programs that may be used to satisfy the requirements in the Directive. Foster care licensees are responsible for ensuring that the training selected for their foster parents meets the requirements set out in the directive. If you are aware of a training program that you believe meets the criteria in the Directive and think it should be added to the list below, please email information about that program to QualityStandardsFramework@ontario.ca.

    • Becoming an Ally: Culturally Safe Child Welfare Practice with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Families in Ontario: Delivered by The Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario (ANCFSAO). For information and registration, please visit: https://ancfsao.ca/home/about-2/training/.
    • Specialized Training: First Nations Service Model: Delivered by The Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario (ANCFSAO). For information and registration, please visit: https://ancfsao.ca/home/about-2/training/.
    • Indigenous Cultural Competency Training: Delivered by the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC). For information and registration, please visit: https://ofifc.org/training-learning/indigenous-cultural-competency-training-icct/.
    • Building Relationships with Inuit Children & Families: A Cross-Cultural Competency Workshop: Delivered by Tungasuvvingat Inuit in partnership with Akiani Consulting. For information and registration, please email: ilinniapaa@tiontario.ca.
    • Inuit Cultural Sensitivity Training: Delivered by Tungasuvvingat Inuit. For information and registration, please email: ilinniapaa@tiontario.ca.
    • San’Yas Anti Racism Indigenous Cultural Safety Training: Delivered by Provincial Health Services Authority in French and English. For information and registration, please contact: Registration — San'yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Online Training (sanyas.ca).
    • Indigenous Cultural Competence & Humility online course: Delivered by the Indigenous Reconciliation Group (The IRG). For information and registration, please visit https://www.the-irg.ca/product/icch2/

Training on the Use of Physical Restraints

The use of physical restraint is an extremely intrusive measure that is prohibited under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 unless authorized by the regulations.  The CYFSA defines what a physical restraint is and prohibits its use unless it is in accordance with regulations. Part of the requirements in regulation are that persons who provide direct care to a child or young person must be trained in the use of physical restraint and less intrusive intervention measures before they may use physical restraint.

NOTE: Effective July 1, 2023, all service providers who permit the use of physical restraint will be required to receive training by a minister-approved provider. Additionally, all licensed children’s residences and staff-model homes, regardless of whether they permit the use of physical restraint will be required to receive training by a minister-approved provider as per O. Reg. 155/18: GENERAL MATTERS UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL (ontario.ca).

For information on the ministry’s approved list of training programs, please visit: Children and youth licensed residential services | Ontario.ca.

Looking for QSF Regulations Implementation resources? Click here.

Looking for Residential Licensing materials? Click here.

Looking for information on how to register for or access SOR-RL? Click here.