Foster Parent Training Sessions Announced for Wilmington Area

BGHNC launches February–March classes to recruit foster families across New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties

WILMINGTON, NC — Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina is launching a new round of foster and adoptive parent training sessions this February and March, offering families in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties an opportunity to begin the licensing process closer to home.

The agency will hold a virtual information session on Thursday, February 19 at 6:00 p.m., followed by the start of in‑person classes on Monday, February 23 at 6:00 p.m. at Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church, located at 601 Causeway Drive in Wilmington.

The program uses the organization’s Teaching Family Model, a structured, trauma‑informed approach used across Boys & Girls Homes of NC, including its Lake Waccamaw campus. Participants complete a series of required sessions covering foster care dynamics, trauma, parenting strategies, and safety training.

Classes will run on Monday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with a mix of in‑person and virtual instruction. The full schedule includes:

Training Schedule
– Feb. 23 – Session 1: Foster care dynamics, referral process, mutual selection, licensing steps, and training expectations (in person)
– Feb. 26 – Session 2: Roles, responsibilities, client rights, and foster parent handbook (in person)
– Mar. 2 – Session 3: Child development and trauma (virtual)
– Mar. 5 – Session 4: Causes of trauma, sexual abuse, mental health, and substance use (virtual)
– Mar. 9 – Session 5: Attachment, grief, and loss (virtual)
– Mar. 12 – Session 6: Working with birth parents (virtual)
– Mar. 16 – Session 7: Impact of fostering on families (virtual)
– Mar. 19 – Session 8: Teaching Family Model overview and structured environment (virtual)
– Mar. 23 – Session 9: Service planning (virtual)
– Mar. 26 – Sessions 10–12: Teaching interactions, motivation systems, and program integration (in person)
– Mar. 31 – CPR/First Aid certification (in person)

The training series is designed for adults interested in becoming licensed foster or adoptive parents through Boys & Girls Homes of NC. The organization continues to seek families across the region to support children in need of stable, supportive homes.

For information about the virtual session or to register for the full class series, community members may contact Crystal Wooten, Licensing Social Worker, at 910.320.4118 or crystal.wooten@bghnc.org

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