|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 | |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Seven Hills Behavioral Health
Parent Aide/Parent Mentor Services
Family Support Services
Being a parent can be both a joy and a challenge. There are times when the challenges can be overwhelming and supports are needed to overcome them. Our Family Support Services program provides families with the opportunities to build healthy relationships that form the foundation for a lifetime of positive growth.
Our goal is to assist families with developing or restoring sustainable routes to healthy, self-reliance beyond involvement with our program and other services.
The formation of a mutually respectful, trusting relationship is the first of many steps to accomplishing the family’s goals. Family Support Specialists develop strong working relationships with parents by caring, being honest, focusing on the family’s strengths and empowering the family members.
A Family Support Specialist is a trained, professionally supervised individual (volunteer or paid) who assists parents under stress and those whose children are at risk of abuse and neglect.
Through this relationship Family Support Specialist can provide an array of the following services:
- Parenting Education- provides parents with skills to guide and encourage their children as they grow. Parents can learn age appropriate techniques and alternatives for discipline.
- Child Development- provides parents with information on how children think, feel and act as well as what to expect at certain developmental stages to increase their sense of ability and effectiveness.
- Home Visiting- provides parents with on-site services designed to assist them with accomplishing the goals of the family development plan in a comfortable, familiar environment.
- Life Skills Development- provides families with opportunities to strengthening their home management skills such as- budgeting, nutrition, time management and communication.
- Information and Referrals for Specialized Services- help families gain access to services that meet an identified need.
- Supervised Visitation- provides parents and children a safe place to meet and spend quality time together. Drop-off and pick-up is available to avoid difficulties that may arise.
Parent Mentor Program
The Parent Mentor Program provides mentoring and support resources for ethnic and linguistic minority parents and other caretakers of children and adults. The primary focus of the Parent Mentor Program is to provide crisis intervention. This is effectively done through daily stress reduction skill building, problem solving and the development of problem solving skills and by assisting parents in accessing important and available community supports.
The population most often served by the Parent Mentor Program are linguistic and cultural minority parents and caretakers who have been the subject of a supported 51A. The program supports parents and caretakers whose children may be at risk for placement or whose children have recently been reunited with their parent(s) or caretakers from a temporary placement situation.
Service Duration and Intensity
- The Mentor provides services for a minimum of three months and a maximum of six months.
- At the three-month mark, a case conference/review is scheduled with the family, their Mentor, Program Coordinator and the DSS worker. This meeting is intended to determine continuing services and a proposed case closing target date.
- The Mentor provides a minimum of six-eight hours per week of direct service to the family.
- Extensions on the length of services may be requested and will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Service Elements
Parent Education and Support
- Provide ongoing education and coaching in relation to parent skills development.
- Provide information on domestic violence, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS prevention and education.
Advocacy
- Advocate on health, education, mental health, housing, legal and financial assistance.
- Focus on well-being of the children and address issues with parents such as supervision of children, hygiene, and cleanliness of home environment.
- Serve as a link between school and parents, especially in cases where a language barrier is evident.
Linkage to Community Supports and Resources
- Assist parents and children in understanding what is available and how to access a particular resource themselves.
- Help Find Employment
- Assist with citizenship process
- Enrollment in ESL classes
- Assist parents with locating support groups
Desired Outcomes of the Combined Program Components
- Improve stress management and parenting skills
- Increase the family’s utilization of community supports and resources
- Reduce risk factors contributing to abuse or neglect
- Eliminate new 51A reports or reopening of a DSS case
- Increase the family’s overall self reliance and independence
Contact Parent Mentor Services Program Coordinator to set up an initial meeting by calling
Franklin: 508.679.0962.
New Bedford 508.996.3147.
Behavioral Health |
Copyright © 2006 Seven Hills Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
