Prospective Caregivers

Congratulations on beginning your journey to become a foster care, kinship care, or adoptive family.  If you are being licensed through a county agency, this site will provide you with the information you need to register for, and complete, the mandated Preservice training curriculum.  If you are being licensed through a private foster care or adoption agency, please contact your agency for training information.

If you haven’t already selected an agency, we recommend you take this step prior to starting the training.  Information on selecting an agency can be found here: Choosing a Foster Care Agency   To find agencies near you, search this Service Provider Directory.  The state of Ohio website, It Takes Heart, is a great resource for those just getting started.

Preservice  is a 24-hour training curriculum that is mandated for prospective foster care and adoptive families. Kinship caregivers may also be asked to attend Preservice training. The curriculum consists of three self-directed courses and 12 instructor-led courses that can be taken virtually or in-person. The training is standardized, so you can attend the Preservice training at any OCWTP location in the state.  

You will register for the courses yourself through the CAPS LMS. 

Please use these additional tools to assist you in getting the most out of the Preservice Training curriculum:

• This Preservice Tracker can help you keep track of what courses you have completed.
• If you have children in your home, use the Preservice Youth Version to help prepare them for their foster sibling(s).
• When you register for the Preservice training curriculum, you should also register for Post-Preservice Refresh in CAPS LMS and complete the refresher modules as you go. This supplemental course will help you retain the key lessons of Preservice long after the initial training is complete.
  • Watch a brief video
  • Review the full instructions