NFAPA FOCUS Mentor Program

 

FOCUS is the mentor program of NFAPA. The acronym FOCUS stands for Families Offering Care, Understanding and Support. NFAPA's mentoring program is unique because it offers two types of mentoring processes: 1) situational mentoring is when families contact a trained mentor to assist with information, guidance, and direction when faced with a particular situation, and 2) facilitated mentoring through plan development, expectations of mentors, and overall evaluation of mentors.

The program is based on developing, supporting, and strengthening families both in short and long-term. Families who care for children in out-of-home care are a necessary and indispensable part of the human service system. Children in need can benefit from the hope and experience resource parents have to offer them. It is with that same hope and experience that these parents need in order to cope with the daily challenges of parenting.

By contacting an NFAPA Mentor, families can:

  • Learn to advocate for children and foster care/adoption services in a positive manner
  • Develop an understanding of laws, policies, court, and all aspects of the child welfare system
  • Assist families in locating community resources
  • Offer information to families as requested
  • Offer a listening ear when it seems that no one else wants to hear

All calls to an NFAPA Mentor, are kept confidential by the Mentor and NFAPA through a confidentiality agreement. By contacting NFAPA Mentors, families have an opportunity to be heard and to share their viewpoints and perspectives of the child welfare system in a non-threatening manner. By sharing with a Mentor, you are providing NFAPA with valuable information so that we can advocate for improved services for children and families.

All NFAPA Mentors are foster and or adoptive parents and receive initial training as well as continued training hours.  Most NFAPA Mentors attend summer conferences and in-service trainings to obtain information to help with their own foster/adoptive children but also to share with foster/adoptive families when they call needing support.  NFAPA FOCUS Mentors are here to help other foster and adoptive parents.  Give them a call!

Here are some pictures from the Mentor Retreat in September.  NFAPA Mentors received additional training on the Mediantion Center, Who to call in the chain of command, Ombudman Office, Guardian ad Litum information and Guardianship Training.

Mentor training-having fun!                             Mentor Training

 

Our Mentors can be Hip & Cool!                            FOCUS Mentors learn more to help you!
Who says training has to be boring.

 

There are over 60 mentors in Nebraska, here are just a few!
Click HERE for a list of NFAPA Mentors. 

 

 

If you have fostered for at least three years and would be interested in finding out how to become a FOCUS Mentor, please call us at 1-877-257-0176.