Family Connections Program Information - Amara

Family Connections Program Information

Working as a team

Together, parents and foster/kinship parents can make sure that the child they both care about is best supported while in out-of-home care. Amara’s Family Connections Program helps parents, caregivers and others involved in a child’s life collaborate and build relationships centered on what’s best for the child. 

An Introduction to the Family Connections Program

Learn how building child-focused connections between parents and foster/kinship caregivers helps children involved in the child welfare system. This animated short video will walk you through the main elements of a Connections Conversation. Click the yellow start button on the right to watch this video. 

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Who’s Involved in a Family Connections Meeting?

  • Parent – Parent of a child who is currently in foster or kinship care
  • Caregiver – Foster parent or relative caring for the parent’s child while experiencing out-of-home care
  • Parent Mentor – A parent who has successfully navigated the child welfare system and can coach other parents involved in child welfare through the steps to reunify with their child
  • Caregiver Mentor – Current or former foster or kinship parent who has had relationships with parents while fostering children

How It Works

Step one: Parents and caregivers each work with a peer mentor through the process. Parents are matched with a Parent Mentor. Caregivers are matched with a Caregiver Mentor.

Step two: Parents and caregivers talk with their mentors in preparation for the first Connections Meeting.

Step three: The Parent Ally and Caregiver Mentor work together to lead a Connections Meeting where the parent and caregiver will meet for the first time. This discussion will include:

  • Introductions and information about each other/each other’s family
  • Update on child/ren (from the caregiver to the parent)
  • Information about the child’s routine (from the parent to the caregiver)
  • Information about what the child dislikes and likes (from the parent to the caregiver)
  • Family traditions and culture
  • Plan for communication and relationship building

Step four: Parents and caregivers talk with their mentors after the initial meeting to receive additional support.

Support this Program

The Family Connections Program model was created in collaboration with other local nonprofit and governmental organizations. Believing in the power of this approach to transform and improve the experience of families impacted by foster care, Amara has invested in making this program possible. We continue to seek funding to expand this program to more counties across the state. Join us in realizing our vision by making a gift to support our work with children and families today.

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