LINK Families

Project Plans

New Realities

Legal Foundations

Keys to Success

LINK Home

• Buddy / Mentoring programs. Some formal structure required. (See NACAC Parent Group Manual 3)
  
  
• Formal Foster Parent Association / Agency linkages and or meetings. Formalize parent group / agency advocacy procedures. Ombudsman / liaison programs.
  
  
• Improving parent / agency relationship projects. Foster parent conducted / developed caseworker training programs. Parent Association to sponsor Caseworker of the year awards, social events
  
  
• Establish clothes / school supply closets, negotiate Department Store clothing/shoe discounts
  
  
• Respite Partner Family programs; recruit churches or volunteer groups to provide respite. Match families. Respite registry.
  
  
• Warm lines, different than buddy programs. Publish list of Phone numbers and/or email addresses of experienced parents with expertise in specific areas. Information and Referral number.
  
  
• Local foster parent resource manuals with local service provider guides (annotated by foster parents). Think about non-traditional services such as barbers who are great with kids or stores who give out free cookies. Include local policies & procedures for DSS and service providers and a list of foster parent names and numbers. Think about selling ads to cover costs.
  
  
• Parent Group foster parent training and information projects - speakers, newsletters, briefing papers, brochures, web sites, electronic bulletin boards or discussion groups.
  
  
• Advocacy based projects: rate increase campaigns, "Child Watch Programs" to increase community leader / local officials awareness of foster care issues, (See Children's Defense Fund website), or advocacy/assertiveness training for foster parents.
  
  
• After - School / Weekend Respite Programs for Kids: Think about libraries, miniature golf courses, youth centers, churches, movie theaters, sporting event tickets. Projects developed and sponsored by FPA/Agency/Community Agency or Business partnerships. Camps or weekend retreats.
  
  
• Foster parent nights out or weekends away sponsored by local businesses or service groups.
  
  
• Tutoring programs, solicit donated computers for kids.
  
  
• Foster care youth development activities: newsletter, radio programs, employment programs sponsored by businesses. Youth involvement in recruiting activities: Youth Speakers bureau, youth authored newspaper articles.  
  

05/16/05