Creating Helping Relationships with Foster Youth

The relationship foster parents and group home staff have with youth in their care is critical to helping them achieve successful outcomes. Explore practical guidelines for helping relationships with foster youth including how to develop relationships, elements of successful relationships, positive communication skills, ensuring youth needs are met, personal and professional boundaries, making decisions, and having a supportive role in their lives.

Instructor Paul Gibson, LCSW, is a Program Consultant with over 28 years of experience developing and directing programs for culturally diverse youth in residential, public health, mental health, and vocational services. He has more than 20 years experience as a licensed therapist and educator providing extensive trainings for youth service providers on working with vulnerable youth. He currently serves on the Mayor’s Transitional Youth Task Force in San Francisco.