COVID-19 Resources For Your Foster Home
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every aspect of society in myriad ways, and foster homes are no exception. Our Therapeutic Foster Care team hasn’t stopped working during this pandemic. It’s available as much as ever through Telehealth appointments and website resources. In the meantime, our team wants to share plenty of other resources you can utilize in your foster home to get through the pandemic. RELATED CONTENT: WATCH: A&C Foster Care Parent Shares Her Experience Adult & Child Health foster home guidelines Our team has devised this list of guidelines for foster parents to follow during the pandemic. As usual, our team is available to answer your questions. Please call 317-893-0207 or email Lynn Farmer, our Community Outreach Development Specialist, at [email protected]. Government resources
Our Foster Care Services Are Still Here For You During COVID-19. Here’s How We’re Doing It.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, it turned our lives upside down. Fortunately, our Therapeutic Foster Care team adjusted so the foster care services they offer won’t suffer. From virtual meetings to more flexible training, the team maintained services, and improved them in some instances. “We have the ability to be more flexible with our trainings as they are able to be offered virtually,” said Julie Stewart, Adult & Child Health’s Director of Child Welfare Services. “This has given us the opportunity to review our training schedule and see where we might be able to make some additions and/or adjustments with trainings that are being offered.” Here’s a look at the services that remain available, some new resources and how the team changed some foster care services: Foster care services virtual meetings “We continue to provide our full spectrum of services,” said Lynn Farmer, Community Outreach Development Specialist. “From licensing new homes, to maintaining certification/license, to providing the clinical/support services determined necessary.” The virtual trainings will be more convenient for foster families, even in a post-COVID world. “We are offering more trainings online, making it easier for parents to attend,” Farmer said. “We have also started offering an online version of CPR/First Aid (pictured above). This allows parents to take the classroom portion of the training online, and then they only need to be tested on the physical maneuvers (chest compressions).” Virtual training and service provision is new to most, but it offered unforeseen benefits, according to at least one Therapeutic Foster Care team member. Dakota Reynolds, Therapeutic Care Specialist, said some youth and parents could focus more during the sessions together. She also enjoyed sharing a more personal side of herself with clients by introducing them to the pets she has in her home. What’s new? The team recently set up a virtual support group for foster parents. They offer the meetings multiple times during the day to try to gauge what fits best into people’s schedules. Therapeutic Foster Care also can allow foster parents to assist directly with virtual supervised visitations with biological family members. That assists in building bridges for youth. “Having the opportunity to provide services virtually has allowed us to figure out creative ways to make connections that might otherwise be difficult due to scheduling/location of siblings and/or biological families,” Stewart said. In addition, the foster care services licensing process has become more virtual out of necessity. “We have the ability to send forms electronically and can also drop off/pick up paperwork through ‘no contact’ methods,” Stewart said. COVID-19 specific foster care services resources In addition to this one-stop shop of resources, the team offered this frequently asked questions list for foster parents to utilize. Among the examples: Q: “What if someone in the household has a fever? If they have no known connection to the coronavirus, is a fever alone enough to stop visits? A. You should notify Adult & Child Health and the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) immediately. Any individual with a fever should be treated as if they are potentially positive for COVID-19, and quarantined until fever-free for 48 hours. Continuously monitor the person’s condition. If symptoms worsen, seek medical assistance as previously outlined. Stewart said the team will treat COVID-19 cases in foster homes on a case-by-case basis. “We are working with our foster parents to help them come up with individualized plans about how to help them in this case,” she said. “For example, if a foster parent contracts the virus and becomes too ill to care for the child, we work with them to develop a child care plan to ensure that the youth’s need will continue to be met.” Whether a family member contracts COVID-19 or not, Farmer emphasized self-care during the current stressful environment. “As the stressors mount, from isolation, home schooling, work/financial pressures, it is imperative that foster parents take care of themselves,” he said. “We recently started a virtual support group that meets at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. every other Tuesday.” Want to learn more about becoming foster parent through our Therapeutic Foster Care program? Learn the basics, call 317-893-0207 or email Lynn Farmer.
Why Foster Parents Should Attend The Every Child Symposium
Are you a licensed foster parent in Indiana? Are you in need of training credits? We have a solution for you! The Every Child Conference, set for March 14, is a one day symposium on behalf of Indiana’s vulnerable children. They are bringing nationally recognized speakers. The best part? Foster parents will earn 5.5 hours of credit, get lunch, and it’s only $25 if you register before Feb. 14 and $30 if you register afterward. The details for foster parents who wish to attend When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 14 Where: Eastern Star Church, 5750 30th St., Indianapolis. Cost: Early bird (before Feb. 14), $30 general, $25 for adoptive, foster care or Safe Families; cost increases by $5 on Feb. 14. More information: email [email protected] Who will speak? Kristin Ballard Ballard is a dedicated mother, wife, and philanthropist. A passionate and tireless volunteer, she regularly supports the Indiana Department of Child Services, Hands of Hope, Books For Youth, and the Indianapolis Colts Women’s Organization. A champion for children, when she’s not supporting her own family, Kristin spends time advocating for children and families in the foster care system. While Kristin and her husband, Chris, were raising their three children, they also began caring for two cousins of their family who they eventually adopted through foster care. RELATED CONTENT: Interested in more training opportunities? Here’s our 2020 training schedule Willie Moore Jr. Moore is a nationally syndicated radio personality, actor, social media influencer, activist, musician, husband and father of four children. Moore has proven that innate charisma, abundant creativity, and a passion for empowerment can translate in the faith-based community and the general market. As the host of the top rated “Willie Moore Jr. Show,” Willie reaches over 1.7 million people weekly. Outside of entertainment, Moore is an advocate for adoption and foster care. As the President of the WILFLO Foundation (named after his forever family Willie and Flora Moore,) Moore brings awareness to the adoption and foster care system. Each year, thousands of African American families sign up to be foster parents and/or adoptive parents through these efforts. Willie continues to tour the world bringing inspiration through his innovative storytelling and comedic approach to speaking and music that’s transforming lives throughout all generations. RELATED CONTENT: See how our Youth Development Program is Helping its Participants Excel Stephanie Fast Fast was abandoned at a young age, she wandered the war-torn countryside of Korea. Due to her biracial ethnicity, she was abused and violated in every way. Finally, she was discarded and left to die in a garbage dump. A World Vision nurse miraculously rescued Stephanie and placed her in an orphanage. Around the age of nine, a missionary couple came to her orphanage. Overlooking her physical and emotional state, they listened to the voice that spoke to their hearts. David & Judy Merwin, setting aside their desire to adopt a baby boy, obeyed that voice and adopted Stephanie. Despite the lavish healing love her adoptive parents poured into her, Stephanie’s past tormented her throughout her teens. A profound personal encounter with Jesus Christ enabled her to exchange her pain with Him at the cross and see her identity and purpose in the light of God’s love. Stephanie shares this message with anyone who will listen. Over the past 30 years, her story and teachings have been on TV, radio, in magazines and other people’s books. She recently wrote her first book; She Is Mine. Stephanie and her husband reside in Portland, Oregon, surrounded by their children and grandchildren; her childhood dream lived out in reality. In addition to these dynamic speakers, there are a host of others scheduled to present:
Foster Care Christmas Party 2019 Photos
Our Therapeutic Foster Care team hosted 83 guests at its annual Holiday Party on Dec. 7. All of the kids engaged in crafts and games. They decorated cookies, made picture frames, got their faces painted, participated in a cake walk, and played cornhole. The parents had a chance to network and get to know each other a little better. Adult & Child Health Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Yoder attended, along with Board of Directors Chair Tom Gaunt and his wife, Jeanne. Director of Child Welfare Services Julie Stewart helped make picture frames, and the rest of the elves helped with the other activities. Everyone had a great time! Here are some photos from the party (photos courtesy of the Therapeutic Foster Care team).
