Family Assessment/Parent Preparation Classes – A 24-hour series of interactive workshops designed to prepare prospective adoptive and foster care parents to bring a child home. This course is focused on understanding the child’s perspective from a developmental view, with special attention given to enhancing attachment between child and parent. It provides hands on tools that support parenting a child in transition to permanency.

Download a schedule and registration requirements for an upcoming Family Assessment/Parent Preparation Class

Bridge Builders Basic Parenting Series - Our Basic Pre-adoption Series is conveniently offered on both weekdays and weekends. Families must be referred through Orange County Social Services. This series is free and taught in English and Spanish.

Basic Pre-adoption Series

• Class 1 - Becoming an Adoptive Parent of Children with Extra Needs
• Class 2 - Lifelong Issues in Adoption
• Class 3 - Special Needs Child Development
• Class 4 - Creating Positive Attachments # 1
• Class 5 - Creating Positive Attachments #2
• Class 6 - Parenting the Abused and Neglected Child
• Class 7 - Parenting the Substance Exposed Child

Bridge Builders Advanced Parenting Series – After completion of the Bridge Builders Basic Parenting Series, parents and caregivers may continue their education with the advanced program. Families referred through Orange County Social Services are invited to attend free of charge. We offer both an ongoing Love and Logic Series, and specialized classes in a variety of topics.

Love and Logic Parenting Series

• Class 1 - Raising Responsible Children
• Class 2 - The Love and Logic Process
• Class 3 - Control that is Shared
• Class 4 - Ownership of the Problem
• Class 5 - Opportunity for Thinking
• Class 6 - Let the Consequences with Empathy Do the Teaching

Register for a Love and Logic Parenting Series

Specialized Advanced Classes
Bridge Builders also offers Specialized Advanced Classes on a variety of adoption specific topics. Below is a list of some classes we have offered in the past:

• The Normal Development of the Adoptive Family
• Therapeutic Parenting
• Talking to Kids About Adoption
• Exploring Birth Family Issues
• Exploring Transracial Adoption Issues
• Infertility and Adoption
• Anger Management with Children
• Positive Discipline: Tools and Techniques
• Advanced Attachment
• Creating and Utilizing Lifebooks
• Our Journey to Adoption: Adoptive Parent’s Panel
• Parenting the Sexually Abused Child
• Parenting the Traumatized Child
• W.I.S.E. UP! Strengthening the Coping Skills of Adopted Children
• Teens and Adoption
• That’s a Family: Celebrating Family Diversity
• The Healing Power of Play
• Parenting the Hyperactive/Impulsive Child
• Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Parents Knew

Register for a Specialized Advanced Class

Information on Bridge Builders Educational Counseling services

Information on Bridge Builders Support Groups

Click here for information on our Online Classes