Mentoring Foster YouthSan Francisco Unified School District

Introduction to Training This training was developed to support

mentors interested in working with foster youth. Through a series of interactive activities you will have the opportunity to improve knowledge of effective strategies for supporting and empowering foster youth. The training will take about 45 minutes. Upon completion, please fill out the training evaluation by clicking on the link on the last page.Materials Required: - Pencil - 3 Sheets of Paper

Learning Objectives Increase awareness about the unique needs

of foster youth. Improve understanding of foster youth

strengths and challenges. Increase awareness of the benefits of

mentoring foster youth.Improve knowledge of strategies to support

foster youth in mentoring programs.

Ice Breaker – Change Exercise Take a close look at everything you are wearing.Now take the next minute to change 5 physical

things about what you are wearing. (i.e., roll up sleeves, take off shoe)

Without changing anything back, change 5 more things about what you are wearing.

Once again, without changing anything back from the first two sets of changes, select 5 more things to change about what you are wearing.

Please stop and move to the next page without changing anything back.

Reflective Questions

What did you notice about change?How did the changes make you feel?Why do you think we started with this activity

when talking about foster youth?

Change We like to begin with the change activity because,

as you may have experienced, continuous change is often difficult.

To enter the foster care system, youth go through numerous steps before their initial placement. The following slide describes the entry path for many of the foster youth that you will mentor. The entry process into the foster care system is complex, and requires that youth interact with numerous adults.

Mike’s Story Part I Mike is seven years old, one of nine children all under

the age of fifteen. He was raised by his grandmother who recently passed away and is currently residing in a single parent home with his mother. Mike’s mother suffers from severe mental illness and has been in and out of the home throughout his life.

For the last three weeks Mike’s mom has been missing from his home and is unreachable. During his Mom’s disappearance, Mike has been periodically missing school.

The next slide outlines the entry process into foster care. We will continue Mike’s story after the foster care entry slide. Please pay attention to the number of adults Mike comes in contact with during this process.

Report filed about alleged abuse/neglect•Call screened and report prompts an Emergency Response Investigation

Emergency Response Investigation• In-Person CPS Investigation •Evidence of abuse or neglect substantiated

Child removed from home to short-term placement in protective services•Relatives identified•Child protection center•Court petition filed/Detention hearing (48 hours after child in custody)

Team Decision Making Meeting (TDM)•Team determines “best fit” for placement, may be placed with relatives (ideally 1 day after removed from custody)

Jurisdiction/Disposition Hearing (held within 15 days)•Child becomes a dependent of court•Family Maintenance or Reunification plan

Placement options• Relative• Long term foster placement• Adoption• Residential treatment• Group home• Short-term foster care• Guardianship

Mike’s Story Part II

Pre - Removal Post –Removal 1. Teacher2. Student Advisor , Principal,

Secretary, or Attendance Clerk3. Emergency Response Worker4. CPS Worker (Assigned if case goes

to court)

1. Child Protection Shelter Worker(s)2. Non-Guardian Relatives3. Team Decision Making Meeting

(TDM) Facilitator4. Translator (as needed)5. Community Based organization

worker(s) (i.e. tutor, mentor, wraparound service provider)

6. Judge7. Attorney8. Psychiatrist, Doctor9. Social worker/CPS Worker10. Court Appointed Special Advocate

(if assigned)11. Therapist12. Foster Youth Services Liasion

Once the school makes a CPS report due to unexcused absences, Mike begins to come into contact with a myriad of adults . The process starts with an investigation, and is followed by removal from his home due to founded neglect. He is then found family members to care for him, and a court hearing regarding guardianship is held, where the court decides if his mother is fit to parent. She discloses her mental illness, and a reunification plan is developed for Mike to return to his mother when her health is stabilized. Mike is placed in the custody of a relative, and then returned to his mother’s custody. Several scheduled follow up visits with the CPS Worker occur six months later.

Foster YouthIn 2007 approximately

496,000 foster youth were in care across the United States.

California has the largest percentage of youth in foster care; the current count is at 100,000.

Approximately 2300 youth emancipate (age out) in CA each year.

California Foster YouthEveryday nearly 100 children in California enter

foster care 54 will be reunified with their families, but 10 will

re-enter care within 3 years17 will stay in four years or more11 will be adopted or permanently placed with

relatives and 2 will re-enter within 3 years10 will exit for “other reasons” – death,

incarceration, institutionalization, abduction4 will run away3 will “age out,” or emancipate out of foster care

San Francisco Foster YouthIn San Francisco 340 youth emancipate each

year1 in 4 will end up homeless70% will indicate they want to go to college

Only 10% will enroll in college. 65% of the general population will enroll

Only 4% will obtain an associate degree or certificate

Only 2% of all emancipated youth will actually obtain a bachelor degree

(HEY Stats Sheet)

Mentorship

What is the role of a Mentor? Deep Listener – Really paying attention to the

verbal and nonverbal information being passed.

Reflection/Inquiry – Assisting mentee to reflect using inquiry.

Feedback – Proving feedback to the mentee when requested.

Sharing – Inserting yourself and giving examples of how you have done things. Support the mentee to move to next steps in developing new interest and skills.

Attributes of a “Good Mentor”?ConsistentGood

listenerUnderstandi

ngOpen

mindedCaringGood energyKnowledge

of systemsDedicated

Focuses on strengths

FlexibleTime to

commitPositive role

modelPositive

attitudeEmpathetic

Can tolerate ups and downs

ZenNot overly

invested in immediate change

Process oriented

Present

What are potential strengths & barriers foster youth bring to mentoring?Strengths BarriersGood at reading

peopleLots of life

experiencesSurvivors/

Transferable skillsIndependent/mature

Many rotating people in their life

Move a lotExperienced

adversity/hardshipsWalls up/Need to do

things independently

Reflection Activity – Part 1 Think of a mentor that you had at any point in

your life. Use the following activity to reflect on the relationship between you and that mentor.

1.Write down 5 barriers that your mentor might have faced when initially considering mentoring you (i.e., distance, class, work, substance dependence)

2.Now write down 5 strengths that they had that helped them to overcome the mentorship barriers

Reflection Activity – Part 2Now think of yourself as a mentor to a foster

youth. 1. Write down 5 barriers that you as a mentor

might face when initially considering mentoring (i.e., relationship – teacher/student, ethnicity)

2. Now write down 5 strengths that you have that will help you overcome the mentorship barriers

Why Is Mentoring Important for Foster Youth?Mentoring programs:

Reduce school absences Improve overall academic performance Increase college participation Improve attitudes and behavior in relation to schoolReduce drug and alcohol use (especially among minority

youth)Reduce likelihood of hitting othersLess likely of committing misdemeanors or feloniesEnhanced positive attitude toward elders and toward

helping Improved parental relationships and support from peersSelf Worth

Herrera, C et.al, 2007) (Jekielek, S., Moore, K. & Hair, E. 2002) & (DuBois, DL, Holloway, BE, Valentine, JC, & Cooper, H., 2002)

Strategies for Mentoring Foster Youth1. Learning – Introduce youth to new experiences and activities.

Provide opportunities for youth to have exposure to you as an individual, a large percentage of mentoring is all about watching.

2. Reflection – Provide time in your mentoring activities for the youth to have an opportunity to reflect. It is often during these reflection times that youth are able to gain ownership over a new skill or technique. Reflection helps build self awareness.

3. Action – Once youth have learned a new skill or technique mentors should give them the opportunity to test them out. This will allow the youth the opportunity to practice while mentors provide additional support.

Discovering Learning Ideas for working with YouthIntroduces youth to new experiences and activities.

1. Take a piece of flipchart paper and fold it in half and then in half again to form a book.

2. Choose the title of a popular song for the name of your book. Write that title on the front cover.

3. On the inside of the front cover (page two), list a table of contents.

4. Write your name and birth date 5. Description of your favorite color, animal, sport…6. On page three, draw a picture of your friends or family. 7. On the back cover of the book, draw a picture of what you

plan to do in the future. Where will you go? Who will you go with? Etc.

8. When the book is complete, have the mentee tell their story, using the book as a visual aid.

Hands on Activity – Helping mentees uncover areas of interest.

Encouraging Reflection Ideas for working with Youth Provide time in your mentoring activities for the youth to have an opportunity to reflect.

You inherited a successful restaurant from Chef Charlie, a good friend. The only problem: Charlie was very disorganized. The only recipes you have found are on torn strips of paper. You have to make sense of it all, and quickly! The restaurant is opening tonight, and you have to have the food ready.

Materials Needed Cut Recipes (Separate the Title, Ingredients, Instructions, etc.)

Mentors should begin this activity by spreading the strips of recipe on the table Ask mentee to put steps in order as quickly as possible. The recipe must make sense. When done, have them announce “bon appetit!” to signal the end of the game. Once the mentee calls “bon appetit,” have them read/review their recipe in order. Ask them reflective questions about the process:

What was your favorite part of the activity? What was your least favorite part of the activity? What was something new you learned/discovered? Was the activity something you would want to repeat?

You may practice this activity by planning activities together. Write down all of the steps of an outing. (i.e., going to museum – select type of museum, get directions, travel…) Or supporting the youth to write down steps, put them in order, and check them off as you complete them.

Hands on Activity – Helping mentees develop reflection skills.

Supporting ActionIdeas for working with youth Once youth have learned a new skill or technique mentors should give them the opportunity to test them out.

Take out a sheet of paper and write mentees name in the center and draw a large circle around name. Now connect six smaller circles with lines.

In the six smaller circle ask mentee to name six or more activities or subjects in which they enjoy or feel confident.

Next discuss how you might be able to build upon some of their strengths and talents during mentoring sessions.

Now brainstorm a list of activities that would combine the skills developed during learning and reflection with the mentees natural talents.

Hands on Activity – Helping mentees discover strengths and talents.

Final Reflection ActivityThink of a specific foster youth Write down 5 barriers that they will face on

their road to healthy adulthood.Write down 5 strengths that they have that

will help them to overcome those barriers.Write down 5 positive mentor

attributes/strengths you bring to the relationship.

Write down 2 activity ideas you could do that build on both your strengths and will build skills for the youth

Thank You!

Please complete the training evaluation herehttps://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FYTraining

If you would like more activity ideas go to www.healthiersf.org/mentoringforsuccess