If your question is not answered here, please email us at info@fcpwa.org.
The Family Connections Program is a framework to build relationships in foster and kinship care between all the important people in a child’s life.
A Family Connections Program parent mentor is a parent who has experienced the child welfare system first hand. The parent’s lived experience and program training help them support parents whose child(ren) has/have been placed in out-of-home care by child welfare, and who want to connect with their child’s/children’s caregiver to help support their child(ren).
A Family Connections Program caregiver mentor is a foster or kinship caregiver with lived experience in caring for children experiencing out-of-home care and in building relationships with parents so together they can best support the child(ren) they all care about. Caregiver mentors are trained in strengths-based relationship building and in ways to support caregivers.
Anyone can learn more about the Family Connections Program and relationship building between parents and foster/kinship caregivers by attending our virtual Connections 101 presentation. Connections 101 is paused for summer 2023 and will resume October 4th from 1 – 2:30 pm. RSVP here.
Please send us an email at FCP@Amarafamily.org to get started.
Anyone involved in a child welfare case is welcome to refer a parent or caregiver who they feel would benefit from the Family Connections Program. We will then reach out to the individual to invite them to participate.
We welcome referrals at any point in a case. We have found that building partnerships between parents and caregivers is beneficial at any time, but is particularly needed any time a transition is planned for a child.
You can make a referral by completing our online intake form. If you have questions, please email us at fcp@amarafamily.org. We will respond as quickly as possible.
While it is important for children to see their parents and caregivers working together, Family Connections conversations include only adults. However, participants are encouraged to engage with one another in front of the child, such as a bedtime Zoom story or a park meetup.
In order to create a relaxed, friendly environment for the conversation between parents and caregivers, attendance is limited to participants and their Family Connections Program mentors.
