Before the Tide
Your house will be ready, and so will you. These are two very different things, but only one usually appears on your agency checklist.
You will understand your case plan, know what visitation really looks like on a Saturday, and learn what to expect in a courtroom before you ever have to be there.
You will learn how to protect your family's privacy and what steps to take if an allegation is ever made, all before you need this information.
You and your partner will agree on discipline, household rules, and responsibilities ahead of time, so you are not caught off guard in the middle of the night with a scared child.
You will know which ages, situations, and placements are a good fit for your home, and you will feel confident saying so.
You will start your first placement knowing what that first night is really like. Before things get busy, there is a window of time to see things clearly, ask real questions, and prepare thoughtfully before this journey asks more of you than you might expect.
Most families finish their licensing training feeling like something is missing. The classes explain the process, but no one talks about what it really feels like when a child arrives at your home.
Before the Tide was created to fill that gap.
This is not more licensing training. This is what comes next. Designed for families who have finished or are in TIPS and want to make the most of the waiting period, this six-week program gives honest, structured preparation for what the system rarely teaches and what people often only learn too late.
What is included
Six weekly live Zoom sessions.
Support around readiness, trauma, system navigation, placement preparation, and burnout prevention.
A structured curriculum that moves in phases.
Select insight from professionals who understand the foster care system.
A comprehensive handout binder and lifetime access to materials.
Real examples, practical guidance, and lived experience.
Group and private formats available.
What you leave with
• Eighteen take-home guides across the six sessions, built to still make sense the night you finally need them.
• A companion booklet to keep.
• A placement call checklist that lives by your phone.
Best for:
This is for families who have finished TIPS and are waiting for their first placement, families in training who want to learn more, individuals or couples who want to be fully prepared, and anyone who has ever thought, I wish someone had told me this sooner.
Disclaimer: Low Tide Lighthouse provides educational guidance rooted in lived experience, not therapy, legal advice, or licensed professional services of any kind. Services are delivered remotely and available nationwide. Please consult qualified licensed professionals in your state for legal, mental health, and casework needs specific to your situation.