Change a child's life.
They'll do the same for you.

They know neglect, fear and abandonment.
They need to know love, hope and commitment.

Maryhurst has parterned with Mockingbird Society to bring this innovative program design to Kentucky.  The Maryhurst Mockingbird Family Model is based on the features found in strong, healthy families and serves to create and extension of family in foster care:

• Unconditional care
 All kids deserve a safe, warm and nurturing home.
• Support for caregivers
Take good care of the adults who take good care of children, including nearly 24-hour respite care.
• Connections with siblings
Promotes siblings living in close proximity.
• Cultural relevance
Children do best when connected with the culture they identify with.
• Continuity of care
Helps kids stay in the same neighborhood, the same school, even the same soccer team.

The program creates clusters of 6 to 10 satellite foster homes with a hub home.  The hub home provides respite care, resources, training and family-focused social activities to build a micro-community of social support among the foster families.
 

Become A Foster Parent

Family Treatment Homes
Join the Maryhurst family - become a Family Treatment Home. Foster families are given specialized training to provide a balance of structure and nurture in their homes. This gives our youth a solid foundation to work through issues related to abuse or neglect and continue their journey of hope.

Maryhurst offers regular "respite" care to our full-time treatment foster parents. One or two weekends a month, a youth in therapeutic foster care stays with another foster family. This gives the full-time foster parent some time to re-energize and the youth a chance to form other healthy relationships. Some families choose to become certified only to provide respite care. This is a valuable service that provides many of the benefits of fostering without the full-time commitment.

Requirements for Certification as a Family
Treatment Home

• Completion of training classes
• Information regarding family background and suitability of living environment
• Criminal and Abuse/Neglect background checks
• A home study

Rewards of Fostering include:
Foster parents can't take the place of mom or dad, but they can reap some of the same rewards:

• The deep satisfaction that comes from making a difference in a child's life
• Financial assistance above the cost of care
• The opportunity for personal growth
• The chance to form lifetime relationships

Treatment foster parents must meet the
following qualifications:

• 21 years of age or older
• Single or married
• Financially stable
• Physically healthy enough to care for an active
  young person
• No history of abusing or neglecting children or adults

Foster Parent Pre-Service Training
Applicants are required by state regulation to successfully complete 36 hours of pre-service training to become certified as Foster Parents. Requirements include satisfactory attendance, completed homework assignments and the ability to demonstrate the skills learned during training. The training will primarily focus on the following subjects:

• Effective Communication
• Motivation
• Special needs of children
• Working with a team
• Rewards
• Common diagnoses
• Discipline
• Documentation

Upcoming Foster Parent Information Classes

Maryhurst Campus
1015 Dorsey Lane, Louisville (in the activities center)

Tuesday, April 2nd 6-8pm

Hardin County Public Library
100 Jim Owen Drive Elizabethtown (in the study room)

Tuesday, April 23rd 6-7:30 pm 

Maryhurst, the oldest child welfare agency in KY, is starting foster parenting classes for those with or without experience. 

Potential Parents:
Must be at least 21 years old
Complete a preparation training course 
Submit a criminal background check (doesn't have to be spotless)
we accept all lifestyles
single, married, or divorced welcomed
See why ABC's 20/20 chose Maryhurst as a best practice model for kids in foster care:
http://abcn.ws/TjL7na

Click here to see a brochure containing more details and information

If you are interested in becoming a Foster, Adoptive or Respite parent with Maryhurst, please contact Shameika DeVane or by phone at (502) 499-1570 for more information.  Maryhurst is a privately-operated, not-for-profit agency receiving referrals from the Kentucky Cabinet for Families and Children and KY Impact Plus.