January 2025 Issue 82

Mentoring in Foster Care

Mentoring can be an important resource for youth in foster care. Many youth in foster care have experienced trauma, disruption, and instability in their lives and may benefit from the consistent support and guidance of a mentor. A mentor can provide a sense of stability and serve as a role model for the youth, helping them to develop positive relationships and build life skills.

Mentoring can also help youth in foster care to feel more connected to their community and to develop a sense of belonging. It can provide an opportunity for youth to explore new interests and activities and to gain confidence and self-esteem.

There are many different mentoring programs available for youth that will focus on typical child/teen areas, such as education, career development, or sports, while others provide more general support and guidance. It can be helpful to find a program that is tailored to the needs and interests of the youth and that is able to provide the right level of support and guidance. There are also programs that have been created specifically for youth in foster care. These mentors will have an understanding of the unique situations our youth experience.

• AASK
• Arizonans for Children
• Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Boys Hope Girls Hope
• Florence Crittenton
• Free Arts
• Future for Kids
• Girls on the Run
• Hope & A Future
• New Pathways for Youth
• YMCA

Youth in care are not the only ones that can benefit from mentoring. Foster parents can play a valuable role in supporting and mentoring birth parents as they work towards reunification with their children. Many foster parents have a strong commitment to supporting families and helping to preserve the bond between parents and children.

Foster parents can provide support to birth parents in a number of ways. They can provide emotional support, by offering a listening ear and a non-judgmental space for birth parents to share their thoughts and feelings. Foster parents can also serve as role models for birth parents, showing them what it looks like to provide a loving and supportive home for children. They can help birth parents to develop parenting skills and to understand the needs of their children.

It is important for foster parents to remember that their role is to support and mentor birth parents, rather than to take over their role as parents. Foster parents should respect the birth parents' autonomy and decision-making authority, and should work together with them to plan for the reunification of their children.

Overall, foster parents can play a valuable role in supporting and mentoring birth parents as they work towards reunification with their children. By providing practical and emotional support, foster parents can help birth parents to develop the skills and confidence they need to provide a safe and loving home for their children.

Parenting Classes

OLR Training

Effective immediately, OLR is strongly encouraging all foster home licensing agencies to participate annually in the one-hour virtual training provided by OLR’s licensing concerns team regarding licensing concerns processes, as well as completion and submission of Unusual Incident Reports. Although this training is not required for foster families, foster families are strongly encouraged to attend, and attendance hours will be counted toward renewal hours. Please reach out to your licensing worker to participate in this virtual training.

Foster Care Review Board

Adoption Tax Credit

Tax season is coming up quickly. Be prepared and knowledgeable regarding how foster care and adoption affect your tax preparation. Note: DCS employees are NOT tax professionals and CANNOT answer tax questions. Your assigned Specialist can provide you with the SSN of the children in your care or a letter stating placement dates if an audit occurs. Consult a tax professional for further questions.

• IRS Topic 607: Adoption Credit
• IRS Publication 4694: Raising Grandchildren
• IRS Qualifying Child Rules
• 1040.com Foster Parent Tax Guide

FAS/KSS Provider & Foster/Kinship Caregiver High Five Nomination Form

OLR Supports is focused on the fostering community in the areas of recruitment, retention, and recognition. We believe that it is important to promote an engaged and inspired fostering culture.

We appreciate the fostering community’s dedication to the children and families that are in DCS care, and we want to hear all of the good works so that we can give recognition and thanks for the impact you have on this community every day.

Please complete an FAS/KSS Provider & Foster/Kinship Caregiver High Five Nomination Form when you want to recognize a foster family, a licensing worker or agency, DCS Specialist/Supervisor or other employee, community partner, attorney, CASA, judge, mentor, or other fostering community member.

ASA Now

ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.

Warmline Supports Kinship and Foster Families

The Foster Parent Warmline is available for kinship families and licensed foster parents. While not an emergency number, Warmline staff can assist with information, timely communication, and support. It is not intended to discourage or replace direct and regular communication between the DCS Specialist and the out-of-home caregiver. You can reach the Warmline by calling 1-877-KIDSNEEDU (1-877-543-7633). Please be prepared with your name, the child's name, DOB, and dates of placement/departure, as well as an explanation of the issue. The Warmline is manned by staff Monday-Friday 8am-5pm (AZ time), excluding state holidays. You may also send an email to Warmline@azdcs.gov and include the above information.

Children's Heart Gallery

More than 70 percent of the children in need of forever families are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. For the remainder, special recruitment efforts like the Heart Gallery are used to connect them with a forever family.

The children featured in the Heart Gallery represent all ethnic groups and range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.

Josh T.