Course Description
Talking to a child or teen about the termination of parental rights (TPR) can be one of the most emotionally complex and spiritually sensitive moments in foster care. This course equips foster parents, caregivers, and child-serving professionals with trauma-informed tools to approach these conversations with wisdom, compassion, and clarity. Participants will explore how children process TPR at different developmental stages, learn when and how to begin these discussions, and discover ways to partner with the case team for support.
We’ll cover how to use language that is both truthful and gentle, how to handle loyalty conflicts and grief, and how to offer hope for the future while honoring a child’s past. Special attention is given to creating emotional safety, responding when a child avoids the topic, and integrating faith-based encouragement without minimizing pain.
This course includes real-life scenarios, developmental insights, and practical quiz-based learning to help you navigate one of the hardest conversations you’ll ever have—with grace and confidence.
CEU Certificate: 1 Hour
Course Instructors
Chaplain Ted Stackpole serves the foster and adoption community with deep compassion and commitment, drawing from years of experience as a spiritual leader and advocate for vulnerable children and families. He is an ordained minister and an endorsed chaplain with the Assemblies of God, offering guidance, hope, and pastoral care to those navigating the complexities of foster care and adoption. A devoted father of eleven, Ted enjoys spending time in the great outdoors and hopes to one day fulfill his dream of exploring the rugged beauty of Alaska.
Dr. Melody Aguayo is an Adoption Trauma Coach with a doctorate from Capella University. She is the adoptive mother of two 20-year-olds, whom she and her husband adopted as infants from Ethiopia. Melody and her husband have been married for 25 years and have known each other since childhood. Before her children moved out, her beloved mother moved in, adding another layer of richness to their multigenerational home. Melody is passionate about simple, meaningful travel—often adventuring with her family on a shoestring budget and proud of taking trips overseas for less than most people spend on a long weekend in the Smokies. She thrives in the great outdoors and enjoys hiking, kayaking, and camping whenever possible.