1. Program Training

2. Agenda Part 1 - Program Training Part 2 - Advocacy Training
Review Host Family Agreement
Criteria for Host Families
Day Hosts vs Weekend Hosts
The Process of Matching
Part 2 - Advocacy Training
What is Advocacy?
Kidsave’s Role in Advocacy
Host Families' Role in Advocacy
Tracking Your Advocacy
Role Play and Scenarios
Benefits to the Youth
Discussion Q & A

3. Host Family Preparation
Orientation
Training
Live scan
Assessment
Read
Complete all documents
Let immediate and extended family know about your interest in hosting.
If you want to adopt…
If you are a certified or licensed family…
Training – 12 hours Kidsave Host Training, Program & Advocacy Training OR FFA training/MAPP/PRIDE

4. Host Family Responsibilities
Commit to a minimum of two days a month for one year
Advocate
Provide a safe, stable, and nurturing home environment
Attend and transport youth to Kidsave events
Coordinate with caregiver to arrange visits
Maintain confidentiality

5. Host Family Responsibilities
Maintain contact with Kidsave
Familiarize yourself with medical procedures
Understand corporal punishment is prohibited
Attend support groups
Do not contact school, take out of state, start overnight visits, etc. without consulting with the appropriate professionals

6. Host Family Responsibilities
Complete online Weekend Host Family Reports after each visit
Allow Kidsave to share information about your host child
Understanding your host child’s adjustment will take time
If you are unable to see your host child on a scheduled visit, notify caregiver immediately
Advise Kidsave if you are interested in adopting
Reporting – child abuse

7. Host’s Financial Responsibilities
Food and care during the visits
Transportation and activities
CPR and First Aid certification
TB test
Photo memory book
Build a relationship on trust and not on material things

8. Paperwork Complete host family application Driving Documents
CPR and First Aid certification
TB test results
Online Weekend Host Family Reports

9. Kidsave and DCFS Roles Kidsave Recruits host families and volunteers
Coordinates monthly events
Connects youth with prospective hosts and adoptive families
Recruits, guides, supports and motivates community and volunteers
Provides host families’ education, training, and preparation

10. Kidsave and DCFS Roles Kidsave
Coordinates and facilitates introductory meeting
Provides host families with ideas and tools for advocacy.
Provides a Host Family Handbook
Facilitates orientation meeting for new youth
Facilitates support groups
Builds partnerships
Fundraising
On going contact and support to families

11. Kidsave and DCFS Roles DCFS DCFS Identifies youth Live scan
Approves families
Provides information about the youth to the host
Provides case management services for the youth
DCFS

12. Kidsave and DCFS Roles DCFS Has monthly contact with the youth
Prepares the youth for hosting
Assures that each youth is available for adoption
Prepares the youth for adoption
Completes an adoption assessment

13. Kidsave and DCFS Roles Both Kidsave and DCFS ADVOCATE
Provide support and crisis intervention
Commit to program improvement
Publicize the need for adoptive families
Provide support to families who are interested in adoption

14. What can present with my youth?
Your youth may present with some of the following behaviors, including, but not limited to:
Speech and language delays
Emotional and behavioral problems
Psychiatric history
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE)
Nutritional deficits
Attachment problems
Undetected health concerns
Inadequate medical and dental care
Learning disabilities
Developmental delays
Delayed/retarded growth and development
History of trauma, loss, physical and/or sexual abuse, neglect and abandonment
Neurological impairments
Sensory integration problems

15. Important Reminders
It’s impossible to predict how the child will transition into a hosting relationship
We cannot guarantee that the weekend hosting experience will be without complications

16. Criteria for Host Families
Know your own family
Communicate effectively
Know the children
Build strengths; meet needs
Work in partnership
Be loss and attachment experts
Manage behaviors
Build connections
Build self-esteem
Assure health and safety
Assess impact
Make an informed decision

17. Day vs. Weekend Hosts Day Hosts Weekend Hosts Certified or licensed
Not certified or licensed
Approved to have a youth spend time in your home
Overnight visits permitted using Prudent Parent Law and a social worker
Weekend Hosts
Certified or licensed
Social worker must consent for weekend hosting to begin

18. Approval Process Complete host application packet
Home assessment with DCFS Liaison
DCFS supervisor gives final approval

19. To Find Your Match Attend monthly events Transport youth
Kidsave discusses prospective matches with DCFS
MATCHING begins only after a family has been approved and approval takes time

20. Introductory Meeting
Goal -- all parties understand their roles and responsibilities
Attendees: caregiver, host family, youth, Kidsave staff and a social worker
Takes place at youth’s placement

21. Introductory Meeting
Opportunity to build a positive relationship with the caregiver
Discussion includes:
Arranging visits
Communication
Visits not being take away as a form of discipline

22. Hosting First Priority Then…
Get to know the child and work on building a relationship.
Honor where the youth is emotionally in regards to hosting.
Start out slowly with day visits
Then…
First home visit.
First overnight visit.
Complete weekend host family reports

23. Ending Early
If a host or youth wishes to end the relationship prior to one year:
Must involve Kidsave and the youth’s social worker
Based around the needs of the child
Do not discuss with the youth
Closure visit required

24. The Youth’s Team Foster Family or Group Home Case Mgr.
Primary Social Worker
Adoption Social Worker
Weekend Miracles Host
Foster Family Agency Social Worker

25. The Youth’s Team Judge Attorney Therapist School Personnel
Program Manager
Child's Advocate (non-host)
And sometimes more!