There's a lot at stake, so a brief conversation about the nature of the 48 hour requirement might help.

Courses which are promoted as "self-study" or as
"a correspondence course" are prohibited by the State.

A course promising "a special deal for you" which is less than 36 hours of actual face-to-face course time combined with no less than 12 hours of homework -- is not a State approved course. The figure "36 hours" is the minimum amount of time to be spent face-to-face.

If a course provider offers to teach you a course in a restaurant, a coffee shop, a library, etc. these, too, are not acceptable practices.

And, finally, all 48 Hour course providers are required to provide "prospective participants" with written information about the course they offer.

If you're speaking with a 48 Hour course provider who fails in any of the above points....read on:

The reason for the State's requirements are easy to understand: The majority of prospective individuals considering the act of opening their home to provide care for society's vulnerable lack foundational information particular to this activity -- whether from a caregiving perspective or a business perspective. Too many folks, probably more similar to you than you might imagine, have already gone before you and certifiably proved this point.

Additionally, state legislators have discerned the State has a certain obligation to our society's vulnerable, and has acknowledged the benefit we all receive from everyone having a choice about where and how they receive their personal care -- to include the option of families opening their homes to meet such needs.

The best way to promote the delivery and probable receipt of pertinent and significant information before one makes the momentous decision to open one's home is to require all such individuals to be physically present during any variety of educational courses approved by the State on this topic.

There is simply too much at risk -- in the lives of the folks you'd be caring for, not to mention your own livelihood and business -- to require anything less.

Frankly, that last sentence is pretty hard to argue with. The course is merely a combined total of 48 hours -- not too much to ask for when you consider what's at risk.

Your own peace of mind is worth something, too.

So, don't inflict unimaginable grief upon yourself and risk losing your certificate and your license all because you "got a deal" for something that ended up being worthless. Don't do it.

Patronize providers who demonstrate integrity in the marketplace and report questionable providers to DSHS.

Simply provide a description of what you know is going on to:

DSHS / ADSA
Training, Communications & Development Unit
P.O. Box 45600
Olympia, WA 98504-5600
E-mail: TrainingReports@dshs.wa.gov
Fax: 360-725-2646