Arizona bill would require trauma-informed training for foster parents

The Health Committee of the Arizona House of Representatives has taken up two bills related to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the current legislative session. In addition to legislation to create an ACEs Study Committee (H.B. 2198), a second bill (H.B. 2476) has been heard in the Health Committee that would require trauma-informed training for foster parents and employees of a child welfare agency who have direct contact with children place with the agency. The Department of Child Safety would be required to provide three hours of training to all foster parents and individuals who maintain foster homes. The training must be completed within two years from the time that the foster home is licensed or the individual becomes employed by a child welfare agency. A co-sponsor of the bill is Rep. Regina Cobb (R), Vice-chair of the Health Committee, who is also a co-sponsor of the ACEs Study Committee bill.