Foster Parent Mentoring Program
Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties
The Foster Parent Mentoring Program is scheduled to begin in January 2006. For anyone interested in becoming a mentor or having a mentor assigned to them, please contact Kenny and Jenny Goff, Mentor Program Coordinators, at 863-307-3678.
Program Goals:
- Offering guidance to new foster families
- Offering direction when dealing with "system" issues
- Offering a supportive ear to families in crisis
- Offering resource suggestions for child/family needs
- Offering support and grief counseling when a child leaves
Program Qualifications:
To qualify for the mentoring training program, interested individuals must have the following experience:
- Be an active licensed foster home
- Be screened and approved by Mentor Program Coordinator
- Have at least two years experience as a foster parent
- Complete the designated training program
- Have a positive working relationship with the agency
Mentor Responsibilities:
- Assist foster parents with information that will promote positive communication between the parents and human service agencies.
- Offer foster parents solutions to problems that may occur.
- Assist new foster parents and guide them.
- Offer foster parents resources within their community.
- Encourage education and training required to maintain license.
Training Program:
It is important that the mentoring program help new foster parents better understand how the whole system works, from the court to the agency and other community services. Therefore, each mentor must have a clear understanding of all aspects of the system in which the child is served. The Mentor Program is a way to retain foster parents and help them understand all the "red tape" that is involved on both sides: the agency and foster parents. Who better to talk to than another foster parent about problems?
Content of the Mentor-training Program:
- Foster care licensing
- Understanding permanency planning
- Understanding the role of the caseworker
- Understanding the role of the juvenile court
- Understanding protection and safety issues and the agency's process in abuse and allegation investigations.
- Placement policy and procedure.
Job Responsibility
- Assist foster parents with information that will promote positive communication between the parents and human service agencies.
- Offer foster parents solutions to problems that may occur.
- Assist new foster parents and guide them.
- Assist foster parents to locate resources within their community.
- Encourage education and training required to maintain license.
- Serve as a sounding board and provide support relationships to foster parents.
What Mentors Can Do
- Call upon or visit personally with foster parents.
- Encourage foster parents to attend a support group in their area.
- Field calls from foster parents.
What Mentors Must Do
- Stay objective in all situations.
- Keep all calls confidential unless the situation requires an investigation for abuse and/or neglect.
- Log, for mentor use only, information about the call and any follow-ups.
- Send a basic monthly report to the Mentor Program Coordinator.
Qualifications for Mentors
- Be an active and licensed foster home provider.
- Have at least two years experience in the area of foster care.
- Complete a training provided by the Mentor Coordinator.
- Have a positive working relationship with Heartland for Children and all CMO's.
Training Program for Mentors
- Foster care licensing policies
- Understanding the role of the caseworker
- Understanding the role of the juvenile court
- Understanding protection and safety issues
- Learning effective communication and listening skills
- Understanding the agency's process in abuse and allegation investigations