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Therapy with Adoptive and Foster Families - Certificate Information

Continuing education hours

Participants receive a CEU certificate upon completion of each workshop.

For mental health therapists there are 100 contact hours of continuing education available for the full certificate program. For child welfare professionals there are 82 contact hours of continuing education available. CE hours may be used toward Oregon and Washington counseling or social work licensure renewal. They may also be appropriate for Oregon psychology continuing education and are NBCC certified. Continuing Education Units from Portland State University are typically accepted in all states. Check with your licensing board or professional association to verify.

Postgraduate training certificate

For mental health therapists, a postgraduate certificate (100 hours of CEUs) can be earned by completing all program components. To earn the full certificate, mental health therapists must be admitted to the program and successfully complete all requirements. The Certificate can be completed in one year if the program is started in September and all workshops/courses are taken in consecutive order. All courses are offered one time per year. Professionals can enter the program at any time during the year.

Activity Hours
Workshops (on campus/video streaming and online)
96
Program Wiki
2
Final paper
2
Total
100

See Admissions for an application packetpdf and admissions requirements.pdf

Oregon directory: Mental health professionals who earn the certificate are part of a core group of clinicians who are available to serve adoptive and foster families throughout Oregon. In 2009, adoptive families were receiving adoption assistance on behalf of 10,500 Oregon children. In addition, there are 8,466 children in foster care on any given day. A directory of mental health professionals who have completed this training is available from Oregon’s Department of Human Services, the Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC), Oregon licensed private adoption agencies, and this website. See the Directory of Therapistspdf for more information.

The 100 CEU hour Postgraduate Training Certificate requirements include:

  • Admission to the program
  • Certificate program Wiki (2 CEU hours)
  • Seven on-campus workshops (8 days, 56 CEU hours total), also available through video streaming
  • Four online courses (10 CEU hours each, 40 hours total)
  • Final paper: four-page paper (2 CEU hours)

Post-certificate opportunity

Structured Educational Consultation Group

Upon completion of the Therapy with Adoptive and Foster Families training certificate program, licensed therapists – psychologists, counselors and clinical social workers – are invited to participate in the Structured Educational Consultation Group sponsored by Cascadia Training, a program division of Northwest Resource Associates, the parent group of Oregon Post Adoption Resource Center (ORPARC). Cascadia Training offers this consultation group to assist therapists in the practical application of emerging theory and research in the treatment of trauma for the specialized populations of foster care and adoption. This group meets several times a year to continue their learning through presentation of therapy cases and casework issues. Participation is optional, cost is incurred by the therapist, and CEUs are available through Cascadia Training.