Foster Caregiver Training and Support Collection

Foster Caregiver Training and Support Collection

What does successful foster training and support look like? Foster caregivers have the tools they need to be successful. Foster caregivers have access to regular training opportunities and are respected, supported and empowered by staff members and volunteers.

Foster programs that are most successful in the area of foster training and support have the following key characteristics:

• Foster caregivers are trained in a low-barrier way.
• Resources for foster caregivers are easily accessible.
• Fosters caregivers can get peer-to-peer support through a mentor program or another method.
• Foster caregivers have a way to ask questions and get timely answers.
• Ongoing education is available for foster caregivers who are interested.

This collection contains Maddie's University courses for foster caregiver training as well as many examples from successful programs and plug-and-play resources. 

keywords: foster collection

  • Marketing a Foster Pet
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Use marketing techniques to find adopters for pets in foster or in the shelter

    This course will give you the inside scoop on successful pet marketing. You'll learn tips and tricks for taking great photos and videos and writing social media posts that will help you find adopters for foster and shelter pets. The course is directed to foster caregivers but is equally useful for shelter staff involved in pet marketing. This course was developed in collaboration with HeARTs Speak. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 0.75 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.

    open adoption, dog, cat 

  • Using Social Media to Help Shelter Pets Shine
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Help pets connect with adopters via social media

    Created in collaboration with HeARTs Speak, this course will help foster caregivers as well as shelter and rescue social media administrators successfully market pets on social media to find adoptive homes. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 0.75 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.


    marketing, facebook, twitter, instagram, video, photo

  • Feline Communication: How to Speak Cat
    Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn all the ways cats communicate with us and other cats

    This class takes you through the three forms of feline communication: vocalization, body language and scent. Each section provides descriptions of the various forms, along with photos and videos that help you translate what the cat is conveying.

    NOTE: All Maddie's® University courses operate best on the Google Chrome browser. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 2.0 hours of continuing education credits by the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and National Animal Care & Control.

  • Bringing a New Dog Home
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn techniques for introducing dogs to new people, interacting with children, house training, dealing with separation anxiety, and more

    This class will be useful to foster caregivers and adopters, as well as foster care managers. As a foster caregiver, you can have a huge impact on the life of your foster dog. Your care and attention is critical in helping that dog find the right match. As an adopter, your new dog needs your help to make a comfortable transition to a new environment. Short videos model techniques for introducing dogs to new people, interacting with children, house training, dealing with separation anxiety, and more. It is recommended you take this class in conjunction with the class Helping a New Dog Adjust, which will give you even more training tips.

    This course has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.

    training, behavior, dogs, puppies, foster, adopter, adoption

  • Helping a New Dog Adjust
    Contains 3 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Give your foster or adopted dog the support they need to transition to a new environment

    In this class, short videos will help you understand your dog's body language and give your dog the basic training they need to be successful in their new home. Presentations cover enrichment and boredom; jumping and mouthiness; and the special challenges of that puppies present. This class is appropriate for fosters, adopters, and the shelter staff members who work with these groups. It is recommended you take this class in conjunction with the class Bringing a New Dog Home. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 0.75 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.

    training, behavior, dogs, puppies, foster, adopter, adoption

  • Introducing a Foster Dog to New Dogs
    Contains 2 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Learn techniques for introducing dogs and monitoring behavior

    This short course covers techniques for introducing dogs as well as understanding what dogs are communicating with their body language. 

  • Caring for Orphaned Kittens
    Contains 4 Component(s), Includes Credits

    Help orphaned kittens thrive!

    This course is designed to give caregivers the essential information they need to help orphaned kittens thrive. It should be useful to both seasoned foster parents and those just getting started saving lives.  Videos and other materials cover the initial examination, bottle feeding, stimulating the kitten to defecate, bathing, transitioning to solid foods, and administering probiotics. 

    This course has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.

    neonates, neonatal