♦  MISSION
 
This agency is dedicated to serving children in need.  We acknowledge the individuality and beauty of each child.  We acknowledge their need for security and acceptance.  We will endeavour to provide physical, emotional and spiritual healing and support to the best of our ability; nurturing a child to their fullest potential.
 
 
♦ MODEL OF THE FOSTER AGENCY
 
RockHaven Children’s Services Inc. is a treatment foster care agency in Central and Eastern Ontario providing individualized services to foster children with special needs.
 
 
♦ FOSTER CHILD PROFILE
 
RockHaven generally accepts and works well with children/youth in care that have one or more special needs that may include but not limited to ADD, ADHD, FAS, FAE, OCD, ODD, acting out behaviours, high anxieties, trauma due to abuse, neglect or even separation, physical/mental disabilities, and/or attachment disorders. Each individual profile is carefully reviewed for consideration where we then match the child's needs to the Foster Parent's experiences and skill set. 
 
 
♦ WHAT MAKES ROCKHAVEN A TREATMENT PROGRAM?
 
The children/youth placed in RockHaven require extra therapeutic and specialized support to stabilize a foster placement.  Also, the foster parents require extra support and training to meet the needs of the children entrusted in their care.  RockHaven will ensure that both the foster child and the foster parents’ needs are well supported.
 
RockHaven is a treatment program because of the services and supports provided to both the youth and the foster parents. RockHaven also provides extensive training to our Foster Parents and staff, who we believe are the primary therapists for youth in care.
 
 
Some of the supports offered by RockHaven include:
 
♦ Following the “Wraparound Process” by Dr. John Vandenberg, Ph.D.;
 
♦ Providing regular training sessions for the Foster Parents and staff with a clinician or certifiable program. Ie Safe Talk, Suicide Prevention, NVCI, Attachment based training, etc.
 
♦  RockHaven has adopted a holistic approach for eating and living for optimal health and wellness.  RockHaven also supports and recognizes the need for pharmaceutical intervention and the importance of finding the right balance for each individual youth. 
 
♦ Providing therapy sessions (weekly or bi-weekly, individual or group) for the children on an as per need basis, as well as sessions available for the foster parents to better understand and work with difficult behaviours displayed by a foster child in their care;
 
♦ Establishing treatment goals and success indicators at the child’s plan of cares
 i.e. goal: child attaining an “A” in math, success indicators might include:
attending class
completing assignments
making notable improvement in current grade.
The appropriate person, in respect to the goal, would be appointed to monitor and assist the child in reaching that goal;
 
♦ Providing a qualified one-on-one worker to assist and support a child’s needs.  CYW’s may even accompany a child to school and be active in the educational and behavioural components of the classroom, or may support the child in the community or home environment.
 
 
♦ BASIC SUPPORTS OFFERED TO ROCKHAVEN FOSTER CHILDREN
 
All foster children in the RockHaven program will receive the following:

1. Wraparound Process

 
The WrapAround Process identifies every child in care as an individual with individual needs. The WrapAround consists of a team of family members as well as professionals, is community based, and is culturally competent and unconditional. 
 
The team would generally consist of the foster parents, a RockHaven representative, some other family member or family friend who cares about the child; the natural parents can be included if the situation is beneficial.  The other half of the team would be professionals involved with the child, selected according to the needs of the child (teacher, therapist, social worker, medical or legal representative, etc.).  The team should include the child unless it would prove to be detrimental.  The team should consist of 4-8 members and only half should be professional. 
 
Community based means assessing the strengths and resources of the local community first before sending a child to a special institution or special school out of town, for example.
 
Culturally competent means the team respects the child’s culture, values and ethnic background, and services are tailored accordingly.
 
Unconditional means the team agrees to change services as the child and family needs change and never deny the child services due to severe disability.
 
RockHaven will diligently provide the tools for the children in care to succeed in all areas of their lives: academic, social, emotional, spiritual and physical.  RockHaven believes that each child has an area where he or she can experience success.  Ultimately success breeds success; success raises self esteem; positive self esteem allows children to feel confident, to risk more and allows them to succeed again and again.  Successful children become successful adults and that is RockHaven’s ultimate goal.
 
The procedure to develop the WrapAround Process is as follows:
1.  RockHaven will identify and recognize the strengths, values, preferences, cultural identity and norms of each child. 
 
2.  RockHaven works with the child and foster family to identify 4-8 persons important in the child’s life, to form a child and family team.   Members of the team could include the foster parents, natural parents, if applicable, a RockHaven representative, the Placing Agency social worker, a teacher or school representative, Child and Youth Worker, a therapist, a lawyer, doctor, the child (if capable) and any other important persons in the child’s life.  The team must not be more than 50% professionals.
 
3.  The child and family team looks at strengths, values, preferences of the child, family and the community.  The team produces a plan that is based on the strengths and needs of the child.  Needs are defined in positive terms, such as the need to succeed in school.  Goals are set along with success indicators for achieving these goals.  The appropriate person is appointed to support and monitor the child and the progress of the goal is reported back to the team at the Plan of Cares. 
 
4.  A crisis plan is produced by the child and family team.  The crisis plan is intended to help prevent crisis, but also to deal with them if they occur. 
 
5.  Outcome indicators are designed and outcome information is collected as the plan is regularly reviewed.  Without outcomes the WrapAround Process is not effective.
 
 

1. Two Week Camp

 
Each child will have an opportunity to participate in two weeks of camp during the summer months.  If camp is not an option due to behaviours or special needs the youth will have access to two weeks of relief to allow foster parents their vacation time.
 

1. Special Interests

 
RockHaven strongly supports children’s involvement in sports, recreational, community based activities and/or hobbies.  These activities allow the child an opportunity to feel successful, gain self confidence and self esteem, to learn about him/herself by being pushed to the limit and building dreams.  Community activities also give the child an opportunity to make friends and interact with peers.  Special interests may also give the older youths in the program an opportunity to gain work experience either in a co-op, summer job or other leadership role.
 

1. Life Skills Program

 
The purpose of this program is to recognize and deal with the issues of adolescents in care as well as peer pressure, education and careers, puberty and sexuality, self esteem, drugs and alcohol, choices and decisions including the decision to leave care at 16 or 18 years of age thus preparing the youth for independence.
 
♦ a Casey Life Skills assessment will be completed on each youth to identify their readiness for independence.
 
♦ CYC support will be available to work with youth on resume writing skills, mock job interviews, preparing youth for job readiness and responsibilities including, but not limited to timelines, punctuality, dress code, and respect in the work place. 
 
♦  life skills development including developing a budget, grocery shopping and meal planning, cooking and cleaning skills and laundry;
 
♦ focus on healthy active living and what one can do to maintain peace of mind, anger management,  physical activities and community involvement which may include volunteering.
 
♦ discussions on importance of education, in particular completing a grade 12 academic program, on decision making including sexual matters and the use of drugs and alcohol.   
 
All youth in RockHaven between the ages of 13 and 18 are eligible to participate in this program however, it is at the discretion of the Placing Agency and RockHaven to determine if the child would be a good candidate.
 
 

1. Summer Program

 
This program was established to provide structured and organized activities for the children in RockHaven during the summer months.  It is under the supervision of RockHaven Child and Youth Workers that activities and events are planned for the children. 
 
There will also be opportunities for fundraising, peer interaction, discussions of being in foster care with other foster children, overnight camping and developing and achieving personal challenges.
 
This program varies year to year based on the needs and supports required by the youth in care at any given time.  It is the Foster Parents responsibility to also ensure programming and activities for their youth on a daily, weekly and monthly basis during the summer. 
 
 
♦ ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AVAILABLE WITHIN ROCKHAVEN

1. Therapy

 
All foster children will have access to therapy.  The frequency and the amount of sessions will depend on the youth’s needs with a maximum of thirty six hours per year.  Topics discussed in therapy could include, but not limited to:
 
♦ anger management
♦ conflict resolution
♦ grief therapy
♦ separation anxiety
♦ self esteem issues
♦ personal issues
♦ attachment disorders
 
RockHaven may cover up to three psychological assessments for youth in their care.  This will be determined on the fiscal budget; how much therapy is being accessed the urgency for an assessment to be completed, the stability of a placement, etc.  It is at the discretion of RockHaven to negotiate funding for this support with the Society. 

1. Child and Youth Workers

 
Depending on the needs of the youth, RockHaven will provide a Child and Youth Worker for up to 40 hours a week per youth, providing additional tutoring, teaching life skills in the home or extra curricular activities in the community.  Generally, only youth that require academic support receive 40 hours a week.   CYW hours are implemented at the discretion of the RockHaven Management team and are intended to meet the treatment needs of a youth and not as a babysitter. 
 
 
3.   Monthly Relief
 
Each youth will access relief at least one weekend a month other than the months when vacation is being accessed.  Depending on the youth and foster family’s needs relief may be provided on a bi-weekly or weekly basis in some cases.   This will ensure a break for both the Foster Parents and the youth.  Any additional relief above the monthly weekend relief will be determined by the Wraparound team and part of the youth treatment plan.
 
 
♦ PER DIEM LEVELS FOR THE FOSTER CHILDREN:
 
Tier I   - includes the basic supports plus:
- up to twenty (20) hours a week with a Child and Youth Worker
&/or
- regular monthly weekend relief
                                    &/or
- access up to twelve hours of therapy
 
 
Tier II- includes the basic supports plus:
- up to forty (40) hours a week with a Child and Youth Worker
&/or
- bi-weekly or even weekly weekend relief
&/or

• access up to thirty six hours of therapy

&/or

• additional mileage for extensive travel to meet treatment goals (frequent home visits, transportation to and/or from school, etc)

 
 
♦ FOSTER PARENT PROFILES

• Our Foster Parents come from all different walks of life as well as different educational backgrounds. Life experiences play an instrumental role in understanding and caring for the youth within RockHaven. 

 

• You have strong skills to develop and implement programming to meet the treatment goals for the youth placed in your care. Strong communication and documentation skills are an asset as well as ensuring you are capable of completing paperwork in a therapeutic, professional format and timely manner. RockHaven provides training in these areas.    

 
 
♦ SUPPORTS TO THE FOSTER PARENTS:

1. Home Study – Each foster home will have an extensive home study and physical check done prior to placement to ensure the homes safety.

 

1. Orientation – The main care giver will have at least 20 hours of Orientation training (as described in the Policy and Procedure Manual) to ensure that the foster parents and family are adequately trained and have a clear understanding of their roles and expectations prior to placement.

 

1. Training – Foster parents are required to attend 80% of the training sessions to be kept informed and gain knowledge on how to work with special needs children.  Foster parents are also required to maintain certification in First Aid, CPR and Non-Violent Crisis Intervention.

 

1. Therapy – Foster parents can access the services of a therapist to recognise and understand the behaviours of a foster child in their home.

 

1. Support Workers – Depending on the child’s level of care, foster parents will have access to a Child and Youth Worker to assist in supporting a youth to meet their treatment goals. 

 

1. Supervisor – The supervisor will have regular contact and visits with both the foster child and foster parents to monitor and assist in stabilizing and securing a placement.  Foster families will have access to a contact representative of the agency for support and advice 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, in times of crisis.

 

1. Monthly Relief – Each foster family will have at least one weekend of paid relief per month.

 

1. Vacation – Each foster family will have two weeks of paid vacation a year.

 
 
♦ SLIDING SCALE PER DIEM
 
RockHaven believes in continuity of care and commitment to foster children.  RockHaven also believes a foster parent should be compensated for their commitment and their gained experience; therefore RockHaven has adopted the sliding scale per diem.  A new foster parent will start at $70/day/youth and increase their per diem by $1/day/youth for every year of experience gained and by showing improvement and willingness to take on more report writing and involvement with youth as well as actively participating in RockHaven training.  There will be a cap of $80/day which is attained after ten years experience.
The sliding scale is further explained in the Policy and Procedure manual.

---