Transcript Usma Nuu chah nulth

Usma
Nuu chah nulth
 Child & Family Services, since 1987.
 5001 Mission Road, Port Alberni
 1-877-722-3232 or (250) 724-3232
Delegated Social Workers
under the CFCSA
Larry Pond
Director
Ian Clark
Intake/Family
Service Team
Supervisor
Kelly Falkenberf
Family Service
Social Worker
Northern Region
Nichole Charlie
Intake Social Worker
Northern Region
Ruth Charleson
Family Service
Social Worker
Central Region
Gillian McRae
Intake Social Worker
Central Region
Leah Clutesi
Resource &
Guardianship
Supervisor
Daisy Edwards
Family Service
Social Worker
Southern Region
Kelly Lucas
Intake Social Worker
Southern Region
John Mayba
Guardianship
Social Worker
Geni Irlam
Guardianship
Social Worker
Sandra Karlsen
Guardianship
Social Worker
Crystal Ernst
Guardianship
Social Worker
Terry McDonald
Resource
Social Worker
Amber Severinson
Resource
Social Worker
Other Programs
 Family Group
Conferencing
 Aboriginal Supported
Child Development
 Youth Outreach
Worker
 Family Support
Workers
 Julie Fontaine
 Ruby Ambrose
 Penny Matthews
 Linus Lucas, Mark
Jenson & Eddy Mack
Why do we need Resource
Homes?
 Keep children & youth in their community when
they have been removed under the CFCSA.
 Relief/Respite homes to give a break for other
Resource homes & natural families.
 Special Needs Agreement; stabilize the Childs
health to return to parents, or parents learn
skills to care for child while child is in care.
How do children come into
care?
 Removed under the
CFCSA.
 Initially goal will be to
return the
child/children to
parents
 Voluntary Care
Agreement
 Special Needs
Agreement
How do I become a Foster
Parent?
 Call & speak with a Resource Social Worker, at
USMA Nuu chah nulth it is Amber or Terry at
724-3232/1-877-722-3232
 If you attending an information session; leave
your name & phone number for a Resource
Worker to follow up.
What happens next?
 You will be sent a Application package.
In it there is the
1. Application form
2.Consent to Release of information
3.RCMP Criminal Record Check
4.Criminal Record Information (self-report)
5.Medial Form (to be filled out by your GP)
I’ve got the package, now
what?
 A Prior Contact Check is completed
 Once you have filled out all the
necessary paperwork send it back to the
office.
 A Resource file will be created.
 Application is sent to supervisor for
approval
 Usually home visit scheduled.
 Home study process begins.
For a Regular/General Resource the study
is 6 hours and is done over several home
visits.
 Once home study is completed, it is sent
to the supervisor for approval.
 Once Approved, a Resource Home
Agreement is signed.
 You are ready to take placements!
Types of Placements
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Emergency
Relief/Respite
Short Term
Long Term
Restricted- you have relationship with the child
& Resource is closed once the children are not
with you.
 Regular/General
 Therapeutic/Levelled Homes.
How do I get a placement?
 Your Resource worker will contact you
when there are children/child that needs
a placement.
 You always have a choice, whether or
not you want to take a placement.
 If you agree, the Childs social worker will
contact you & arrange to bring the
children/child to your home.
Service expectations of
Regular Caregivers
 Care is focused on
reassurance,
consistency, & regular
parenting type activities
with guidance and
supervision needed to
develop normalized
social skills and to
ensure emotional and
physical well-being.
Service Expectations of
Level 1 Caregiver
 Focus same as REGULAR
caregivers.
 With additional skills:
 Demonstrated competence in
carrying out prescribed
interventions as identified in
the child’s Plan of care. Also,
caregiver is able to
differentiate between the
child’s transient symptoms &
long standing problems, and
knows when to seek
assistance from
professionals.
Service expectations of a
Level 2 Caregiver
 At this level- care, supervision and
treatment are provided in an environment
in which many activities are
therapeutically designed to improve the
childs’ social, emotional and educational
functioning and to teach pro-social,
adaptive skills.
Service expectations of a
Level 3 Caregiver.
 Same as Level 2, with the addition of:
 Care givers are responsible for adapting
strategies used with the child as required to
meet the needs of the specific child. The
caregiver may have specialized training to
provide some therapeutic interventions within
the family care home. Caregivers at this level
need to consider if it is appropriate for them to
have pets/animals in the family home.
For detailed expectations
 Refer to the Service Expectations
booklet.
 In it, there are detailed caregiver
expectations. As well as child
characteristic.
Types of homes we need
the most.
 Infant Homes. Particularly Caregivers
who are willing to become a Safe Baby
Home, which requires taking the safe
babies course.
 Sibling Groups, many sibling groups are
3+
 Homes of youth, 13-19. Focus on
teaching Independent living skills.
Support for Caregivers
 Your Resource Social Worker
 Fellow Caregivers, many communities have
foster parent support groups.
 Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents
www.fafp.ca
 BC Federation of Foster Parent Assoc.
www.bcfosterparents.ca
 Foster Parent Support Services Society
www.fpsss.com
 Foster Parent Support Line 1-888-495-4440
Other Things to know…
 Record Keeping. It is expected that
caregivers keep a log/progress reports
for the children in your home. Recording
progress, achievements, behaviors,
visits, etc. Reports are given to the childs
SW on a monthly basis.
 Life Books, for each child in the home.
 On-going training for caregiver.
Questions to ask
yourself…
 HOW WILL MY LIFESTYLE CHANGE IF
I BECOME A FOSTER PARENT?
 HOW CAN I BENEFIT FROM BEING A
FOSTER PARENT?
 WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT RAISING A
CHILD?
 HOW DOES MY FAMILY FEEL ABOUT
BEING A FOSTER FAMILY?
HOW DOES MY FAMILY FEEL ABOUT
BEING A FOSTER FAMILY?
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Does my partner also want to share his/her life with a foster child? How about my
own children?
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Have we discussed fostering as a family?
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Are we secure and stable enough to add a foster child to our family? Will this
cause undue stress?
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Are we both ready to give the time and energy to a child, or will one of us invest
more in a child than the other? Can we be a team?
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Could we share our love with a child without other family members becoming
jealous?
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How will a child fit into our religious life? Are we willing to allow that child to pursue
his/her own beliefs, or to choose not to attend church?
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How will my children accept another child into their lives? Do they want to
share their rooms, toys, friends, and parents with another child?
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How will I feel about a child being removed from my home?
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How do I feel about the child's birth parents and the problems they may
have?
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Am I able to understand that a child still loves his/her parents and that I
should not interfere with this relationship?
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What does my family have to offer a child who needs a good, stable,
loving home?
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Which of these questions do we need to discuss more thoroughly before
making a decision?
WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT
RAISING A CHILD?
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Do I like children? Will I be able to put up with the noise and confusion?
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How do I deal with my own frustration and anger? How do I handle other people's
anger and frustration?
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How easy is it for me to tell others what I want or need or what I expect from
them?
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How will I set my rules and enforce them?
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Am I able to give a child the love he/she needs? Is it easy for me to show love?
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What is discipline to me? Am I open to new ideas?
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What will I do if a child doesn't cooperate with me, or refuses to follow my rules?
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Can I keep the information that I learn about a child confidential?
HOW WILL MY LIFESTYLE CHANGE
IF I BECOME A FOSTER PARENT?
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What goals do I have for my life? What is important to me?
Do I have the time and energy to care for a foster child?
What age child will realistically be best for my family?
Am I ready to give up some of my freedom, or arrange my lifestyle to
include a child?
Will I be willing to spend my time at home more, and socialize less?
Can I afford my own expenses, knowing that compensation for having a
foster child will be only enough for the child's needs?
How will a child fit into my neighbourhood?
How will being a foster parent change how I want to grow and develop?
How much time am I willing to commit to a child?
Am I willing and able to take a child to counselling sessions, doctor’s
appointments, courts hearings and other regular appointments?
Am I willing to attend counselling sessions with the child?
HOW CAN I BENEFIT FROM BEING A
FOSTER PARENT?
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Do I like doing things with children? Do I like activities that children could do also?
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Do I want a child to be "Like me?" Should he/she call me Mom or Dad?
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How will I view a child's different values and ideas? Will I attempt to get the child
to accept my values?
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Do I want a boy or girl foster child? Do I want one, or more? How about brothers
or sisters? Teenagers? What ages?
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Do I want acceptance or gratitude from a foster child?
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Why do I really want to take a foster child into my home?
Thanks for Attending!