Services and Support

In-home support

Contracted support agencies, Community Care and Spurwink, provide Support Workers/Clinical Case Managers who meet in foster homes with parents and families on a regular basis. The Support Workers/Clinical Case Managers provide information and supports, including behavioral plans and parenting advice, to parents to assist them to improve the child's functioning in the family setting.

Support Groups

Regional Coordinators and Support Workers/Clinical Case Managers co-facilitate monthly support groups for foster parents in their regions. Look in your current Newsletter under the Regional News section for dates and locations in your area.

Annual Conference

Each spring, Maine Caring Families has an Annual Conference. This is a way to recognize our foster parents, celebrate the breadth of Maine Caring Families statewide, network with other foster parents and staff, and obtain training hours.

Regional Events

Special events are planned within each region. These may include picnics, holiday parties, training or other activities. Contact your Regional Coordinator or Support Worker to learn more or to share your ideas!

Advisory Committee

Maine Caring Families has an Advisory Committee, charged with providing input, feedback and practice recommendations to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) about the MCF program. The Committee, chaired by a foster parent, is comprised of foster parent representatives from various geographical locations across the state, as well as staff representatives. The Committee meets quarterly in Augusta.

Newsletter

MCF has a quarterly newsletter, "Maine Caring Families Connections". Staff from the Child Welfare Training Institute (CWTI) edits and formats the newsletter, but the content is driven by the needs of the Foster Parents and staff in the program.

Training Opportunities

Maine Caring Families Foster Parents must participate in at least 36 hours of training for the licensee(s)' combined hours of training, with a minimum of at least 12 of those hours completed by the secondary foster parent, if applicable, within the two-year licensing period. They must maintain a specialized foster home license and keep it in good standing. All Foster Parents are encouraged to develop a training plan to ensure they have the required hours and that the training is relevant to provide for the needs of the children in their home. It is recommended that Foster Parents seek input for their training plan from their licensing worker, their Support Worker and their Regional Coordinator.

Required Training

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Maine Caring Families requires that all Foster Parents be Certified in infant, pediatric and adult levels of CPR. Check with your Regional Coordinator about where CPR is available in your region.

Behavior Management

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child and Family Services has approved the use of a modified behavior management program used by The Spurwink School for Maine Caring Families. This revised program, called "Positive Behavioral Supports for Maine Caring Families Foster Parents" provides training and skill enhancement to support MCF Foster Parents in their work with children who have special needs. The program provides many tools for understanding behavior, preventing crises, and establishing effective limits and reinforcers. Please check with your Regional Coordinator about this intensive training opportunity. Remember, this is required of all MCF Foster Parents.

Other Training Hours

MCF foster parents are encouraged to take advantage of training offered from DHHS's Staff Education and Training Unit, and the Toolbox Trainings--information about these and other trainings can be found by clicking "Training" on the CWTI website (www.cwti.org). Each Regional Coordinator also manages a small account for registration fees for foster parents in their region to attend specialized or unique training offered across the state, and to purchase books/videos for a regional lending library. Costs for training for MCF foster parents is reimbursed under certain conditions with prior authorization. Training is also offered within Support Groups. Please check with your Regional Coordinator if you have any questions.