Training Resource Center: Foster Parent Mentoring Program

FY 2017 Attachment 2: Scope of Work Foster Parent Mentor Program The Foster Parent Mentor Program (FPMP) specializes in one-on-one, intensive coaching relationships that provide newly approved resource parents with emotional support and encouragement, skill reinforcement, and parenting strategies unique to providing out-of-home care. These one-on-one mentoring relationships are designed to enhance the quality of care provided and stabilize initial placements. The program matches newly approved Foster Parents (mentees) with veteran Foster Parents (mentors) for their first six months service. Mentors seek to assist mentees with applying skills learned during the initial pre-service training, Partnering for Safety and Permanency – Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (PS:MAPP). Specifically, mentors are trained to assist mentees with the transfer of knowledge from the initial PS:MAPP training to “real world” events and situations as they navigate the first months of being a foster parent. Additionally, mentors model and encourage appropriate partnerships within the child welfare system, offer parenting strategies unique to providing out-of-home care, and help mentees identify resources unique to their service region. Goal: The goal of the Foster Parent Mentor Program is to enhance the quality of out-of-home care provided and stabilize initial placements. Objective 1: Recruit, screen, and train potential mentors. Two Program Coordinators conduct mentee orientations across the state at the conclusion of the regional pre-service training. As the budget will allow, Orientations will be provided by the Program Coordinators or by Foster Parent Mentors who are assigned by the Program Coordinators. The purpose of the Orientation is to inform and prepare potential Foster Parents for partnering with a mentor and to collect valuable matching data. Program Coordinators consult with each regional R&C Supervisor and staff at least once yearly to assess their mentor’s effectiveness, receive recommendations concerning their continued service, receive recommendations for recruiting new mentors to ensure that sufficient mentors are available to serve the projected recruitment plan, and develop mentor initiatives needed to address concerns common to those being newly approved in the area. Program Coordinators will conduct these meetings either in person or by conference call. Program Coordinators will be available by phone and email to provide program updates and receive feedback from Recruitment and Certification (R&C) supervisors and DCBS Central Office staff. Upon receiving recommendations for potential mentors from the regional R&C Supervisor and staff based upon their projected recruitment plans, Program Coordinators will recruit those recommended and provide mentor orientation training for all those responding affirmatively. Program Coordinators will seek to coordinate mentor orientation training to coincide with other scheduled meetings within the regions. Objective 2: Assist in matching of mentors and mentees. Upon receiving notice from regional staff of newly approved foster or foster-to-adopt parents, Program Coordinators will make an appropriate match with a trained mentor. Given that participating in the mentor program is strongly urged and deemed mandatory, forcing participation is both unproductive and impossible, and for a limited few that transfer to the state with multiple years of experience such participation may be unnecessary. Nevertheless, Program Coordinators will seek to facilitate and manage matches with those being newly approved as requested by R&C. Objective 3: Provide consultation and technical assistance to mentors. Program Coordinators will provide match management for each match. This includes technical assistance and/or consultation to assigned mentors. Program Coordinators will inform both mentee and mentor of office hours and contact information, as well as contact information for after-hours availability. In terms of match management, Program Coordinators will use a “Four Touch System” for each match initiated. This system will include a combination of phone calls to mentor and mentee, short questionnaires, and an in-depth match evaluation. Objective 4: Compile data on occurrence of mentoring. Program Coordinators will maintain a database to assist with managing accurate and pertinent demographic information on all mentors and mentees. Additionally, data collection will include information from all Mentor Monthly Contact Summary Forms submitted by mentors actively matched. Mentors provide reports regarding their match to Program Coordinators on a monthly basis. Program Coordinators regularly provide each R&C Supervisor with matching and contact data as it pertains to their region and in time frames they deem appropriate. Program Coordinators will provide approved mentors all documents necessary to receive monthly stipends and allowable reimbursements. Program Coordinators will maintain records on each match. The University of Kentucky utilizes sub-recipients for grants.